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I have two little ones of my own and I look forward to the day that I can hopefully help to watch their little ones. I sure dont want them to worry about their kids being watched by nonfamily like I do just because its a two income world now adays. I will take care of my grandbabies any day of the week while my kids work hard to provide for their kids future.
And that's your choice, which I think is the entire point - grandparents shouldn't be expected to babysit, but they can choose to make the offer and do so.
FWIW, if you find a good day care situation, you don't have to worry about your kids being taken care of by "nonfamily". This I know of from experience with raising two kids and having to work outside the home at periods during their lives.
Last edited by TexasHorseLady; 12-30-2008 at 09:31 AM..
Reason: typo
Only if they want to. It should not be required. They had their turn at raising children. These are the "golden years" and should be spent however they want to spend them.
Ok, what if they and their parents live with you? I love all my grandkids, enjoy them, love having them around, and watching them with all the milestones in their young lives. But, I am in my fifties, and work, and have a life. I don't mind watching them once in awhile so mom and dad can go out for awhile. But, not all the time. In this time that we live in, it is very costly to get a babysitter, or put them in daycare. I do have to remind the kids, that I am not a live in nanny that they can just take off when they want to. Sometimes it is a no win situation.
If they want to. On a day to day basis, many grandparents would not be ready to take this on due to health issues, energy levels, etc. I don't know too many grandparents who babysit their grandkids everyday while the parents work.
1. Leave things the way you found them or better.
2. Be nice even if you don't feel like it.
3. Treat others the way you wish to be treated.
4. Do your best.
^^^ Sunnydees rules to live by. I'll add to that,
5. Do something every day to make someones life at least a tad better
If a grandparent does it for one of their grandchildren, then it's expected that they would be glad to do it for all. Where would they draw the line? Yes, for these, No, for those?
As the grandparents age, there will be more and more grandchildren. And less and less physical and mental strength to handle them. The G'parents need to be getting out, seeing friends, doing things that they never had time for before. They do not need to be stuck at home with the kids everyday.
I like not having to child-proof my home anymore. I like being able to leave medications on the kitchen table without worry about child-proof caps. I like having kitchen knives in a convenient drawer instead of up on a shelf out of reach. I like living in a house that is set up for MY convenience. There is a big difference between my house now and when the young grands came to visit.
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