What to do about childcare and Pil

[Mommypoppins]

Pil offered to have the children everyday so I could go to work full-time and they wanted the kids to be with them rather than a childminder. I pay petrol as they have to collect the kids everyday from school my dilemma is they come back and cook twice a week for us all and help out which is great.

Sometimes I find it hard coming home with a house full, I feel guilt leaving them when I should be taking care of them and I do a long full week like most mums.

I feel I can not ask them to look after the kids at the weekend, we don't go out anymore as a couple as know one to have kids and I would not ask pil as this would be very selfish.

Should I go back to childminder and get her to have kids one day a week , or find another childminder for all week, or stay with pil.

My parents are elderly and unable to help ,

Also they have the kids three days in the holidays but my childcare for the other two days has fallen through so should I put them in a kids club for the week instead.

Can't you pay for a babysitter or swap babysitting with a friend if money's tight?

TBH my parents have mine up to twice a week and I feel awkward asking for extra on top also.

With all the money you are saving on childcare why don't you pay a baby sitter for the weekend?

If your mostly happy with the care they are giving you children o would stick with, you are saving yourself a fortune on childcare and have a supportive family supporting you.

If they are reasonable people why not discuss this with them?

I don't think you have anything to lose. What does dh think about it?

I'm assuming you have ruled out hiring a sitter?

That's some seriously generous childcare! If however you aren't happy for whatever reason and can afford it then perhaps look at paying for childcare. Or could you work less if the houseful/ guilt is getting to you?

FWIW you shouldn't ever feel guilty about going to work to provide for your kids!

Dh would not be happy with a sitter he would hate a stranger to be in our house taking care of them I would not be comfortable with it tbh.

I think I have found a summer camp that can have them on a day to day basis which solves that in the holidays.

Thank you for all your advice.

How about a mix of PIL and a child-minder? This gives your children some variety, gives your PIL some of their own time and means you can probably ask for the odd favour so you can go out at the weekend. We do this now and DS prefers it. He still gets to see the Grandparents but also has lots of other kids and things to do with the childminder.

In the holidays, we do a mix of Grandparents, child-minder and sports clubs.

I think I'm going to do a mixture Lucyccfc like you suggested I think that is a perfect solution thank you for all of your input.