How much do you help out with childcare/childminding of the grandcildren?

[wrinklygran]

We love to have the grandchildren for short periods, during half terms and holidays. As neither of us are 100% fit, we would find them exausting full-time. Many people we know take on care of their grandchildren while still babies as a matter of course, so that their daughters/daughters-in-law can go back to work. (full time nursery care being too expensive)
Doesn't this change the relationship with the grandchildren? Isn't it exhausting for the grandparents at a time when they need a break? Your views please

my daughter still lives with us with hubby and baby.i help out with her on my days off or when they are not well.i do enjoy having her around but will miss them when they get there own place. but i do agree it can sometimes be tiring.

my mother tried to have my dd 2 das a week but gave up as she found it too exhausting. My mother was 52 at the time. MIL is 68 and struggles to have dd for any length of time so I just don't ask any more

I have both my grandsons saturday and sunday afternoons while my daughter works shes a single mum( her partner left her,but thats a thread in its own right} I also babysit whenever she wants to go out. I love having them we are just one big family my house is their house they often stay over night.I dont find it exhausting but im a youngish grandma Im 48.I still have a 15 year old ds at home so house is always full of his mates as well! I wouldnt have it any other way

I'm a childminder so often spend time during the week with DGc. I hate it if I don't have the 2 boys to stay over on a regular basis but all the cold and tummy bugs have meant it's not been happening as often as i'd like.

I love them all coming down and us all eating together but as DP and I are veggie and DS in law fussy eater this doesn't happen very often.

Being a grandmother is one of the best things in my life, I adore them and can disciuss them for ours with my daughter.

I always offer to have gc.Some live far away but we visit as much as possible. Have 12year gs who always stays with us during school holidays. We have great relationship and have great fun together.

I have my gc every saturday its always been my day, (unless they are doing somthing special as a family,) and they stay over then we take them home sunday morning- we love it, the GC love it as we always do something fun, and their mums and dads get to do what they want with worring about sitters

I love spending time with my grandchildren especially as they live abroad. I love to do the things I did with my own kids like swimming, going for walks, picnics etc. However it must be tiring for grandparents who have to look after grandchildren while parents work especially of they have them all day every day.

wow - what an old thread! not a granny myself but my mum has offered to have my baby one day a week.

I think it's unreasonable to expect grandparents to look after children just so DDs can go back to work. I think this is a cheek-my own mother made it quite plain to me that she wasn't going to do this for me, and I don't blame her!! Many people take this for granted, however; I even know of GREAT grandparents doing it!! I don't think you are unreasonable to put your foot down firmly if you don't want to.

I'm a divorced 53 year old bloke who looks after his 2 year old grand-daughter during the working week while my daughter and her husband work. Yes, it can be tiring, and it's not always totally convenient, but she'll start school in a few years. The kids pay me about half of what daycare would cost, which almost covers the mortgage on my small seaside house here in South Australia. I'm self-under-employed building musical instruments, so I can get out to the workshop in the evenings, on weekends and while the bub's having a snooze. I'll never be well off financially, but I get rewarded with lots of giggles, chatter, hugs, drooly kisses, big smiles and crappy nappies, which more than makes up for the money!

I look after my little grand daughters as much as I can (at least once a week, often overnight), but I still have a full-time job. I love every moment I'm with them, and I can always sleep it off the next day. Feel very lucky to have them all near. It's fascinating to watch their personalities develop and we have a lot of laughs.

I enjoyed bringing up my own kids (the youngest is still at home) but with grand children I feel I get all the enjoyment with none of the responsibility.

And PoppaRob, you've got a good arrangement there. I agree that not having loads of money doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself, and the time you're spending with your grandchild is very precious.

I look after my eldest gd from being 3months old now she at school but she still comes to me at holidays and every tue we pick her up from school. I have 2 more gd which i look after while my daughter and her husband go to work it is tiring but i would miss not having them and you get loads of rewards whating them grow up