Grandparents picking children up from school

[Mischance]

I am now 71, and have atrial fibrillation.

I pick 2 GC up from school twice a week and bring them home to have tea with me.

I am unsure whether I should continue to do that - even though I really want to as I love their company - and my DH has just died so it feels even more precious time to me.

Are Mums on here still having grandparents pick up their children?

I won't be. But I don't rely on it for childcare. If I did I'd be looking elsewhere.

My DMil is collecting my three this afternoon, she always does on Monday’s, she is happy to do that (late 60’s and DFil is 70) i will chat with her later to see if she is happy to keep doing it. I am happy for her to if she is.

My PIL are both 70 and are still looking after DS 21mths and taking/collecting DD to/from school, twice a week. We've told them as and when they wish to stop we will sort it out for us work-wise. At present they are happy to continue but neither has any underlying health issues and both are fit and healthy.

Should say at this stage I am, who knows going forward.

My parents are still looking after my DC once a week, including a school pick up, but they are 63 and 59 and in good health. I have given them the option to stop at anytime but they were not impressed with the idea.

We are asking PIL not to, I'm wfh as my office is shut so can pick up myself without the commute. It's not worth the risk to them

I am aware that I seem to feel more protective about the grandparents' lives than they do about themselves. You have an existing condition though, which does put you in a different category of really needing to be careful.

AF is an underlying condition.

My Mum has it, I’ve stopped going to see my Mum with my kids due to her having AF. So if she did my childcare I’d be trying to temporarily change it

My mum is 66 and has hypertension. She is pretty much self-isolating and won't be seeing my kids in person for Mother's Day or Easter. We'll keep in touch via WhatsApp video call and messages and on the phone. She doesn't normally consider herself at all vulnerable but in this situation she does.

I do though think it's her decision, if she wanted to see them and I knew she understood the risks, I wouldn't stop her.

I’m keeping my DC away from my parents (who we normally see a lot) because my dad is 74, immunocompromised and particularly prone to respiratory illnesses. We are chatting by Facetime instead

I don’t need them for childcare though. If I did it would be tricky but I would try to use after school clubs or share care with friends if I could.

Can you set up a regular Facetime slot with the GC?