Do you think grandparents should help to babysitting their grandchildren?

[Summering]

Originally Posted by Cunucu Beach

If grandparents want to babysit their grandchildren, their lives and the lives of the grandchildren are the better for it.

Loving grandparents in a child's life are a blessing that the children will remember for their entire lives.

I love how you worded the above Cunucu Beach......
I found being at the births, life enriching......Being with them on vacations and outtings rewarding.
Rocking them, putting the baby to bed straight from my arms.....singing the little one to sleep. Precious to my soul.
The children make our life whole, we enjoy each other.
I don't think it should be a given that grandparents babysit. But, I think we should fit in a good chunk of time for that. Its pure bonding......it feels good...I feel blessed.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Cunucu Beach

...Loving grandparents in a child's life are a blessing that the children will remember for their entire lives.

Thanks !
Hopefully this just isn't a NE thing.... but if my NE grandparents wouldn't have taken me in for ~ 4 mo/yr, I would have been leaving home at age 12 instead of waiting till 16.

Grandparents were a very special impact on my life (even sitting around ALL DAY SUNDAY 'visiting').

I learned that other people need help even where you are busy. (I spent many days helping my G'pa build steps, ramps, remodel, or mow for widows or widowers, or Canning / painting / mending with G'ma) We always offered rides to town or shopping, we helped in gardens of neighbors, we rebuilt barns that burnt, fixed people's cars, stopped to fix flat tires, stopped work on a hot hot afternoon for a '7-up float', drove 'beater' cars so they could give generously to others, and often scolded me for 'hurrying' everywhere

My own kids really missed out by having 'modern' grandparents that were too busy taking cruises and 'full-time' RV-ing, tho I know many of that type that still treasure their grandkids, and spend time with them; And I'm grateful for that. Our's would see the grandkids once / yr, usually while transiting at the airport. They never touched, hugged, or took them to dinner (a serious loss for each).

I'd say, do what you can. Don't do it under obligation. Some are not 'cut-out' for it, so don't be an additional problem for your kids and grandkids, just politely decline. Everyone has their place in life... find your's and enjoy the journey. If you can't be there... pray for your grandkids... they need it (I sure did... and will be forever grateful to my 'late' grandparents for doing so)

[TexasHorseLady]

There IS a difference, however, between being a loving grandparent and being a babysitter for kids who are working.

My grandmother was wonderful. I visited on my own for a week once a year, and at Christmas, and when we'd go to the farm just for a visit. It's only now, as I'm approaching the age she was then, that I realize just what an impact she had on my life and how much I'm turning out like her in so many ways.

She didn't, however, babysit for me (except for that one week, and that was more me spending time on the farm with my cousin of the same age) while my parents worked.

My other grandmother died before I was born.

My children's grandmothers, both of them, were great grandmothers and my children benefited from having them in their lives. Never mind that they lived in different cities - the time spent with them was precious. They didn't babysit while I was working, either, though they would have in a pinch. As an adult with children of my own, it was my responsibility to find childcare if needed, and I did.

I would LOVE to spend a great deal of time with my grandkids, when they come along. But I also view my children as adults with responsibilities to their own children. Hopefully I raised them well enough that they will be up to the challenge, and I can be the grandmom, not the "substitute Mom".

[nancy thereader]

(I sure did... and will be forever grateful to my 'late' grandparents for doing so)

They sound as if they were wonderful, jan, And, I'll bet you enriched their lives, too. How lucky you all were.

[JERSEY MAN]

My wifes mother had 9 children. She loves her kids. She loves her grandkids. She has watched, loved, babysat, lived and enjoyed all of her grandchildren. My mom unfortunately(that's her choice) thought watching grandkids from time to time was a chore and she didn't really want to do it. My MIL to this day enjoys being with her grandkids and great grandkids. My side liked to visit for a couple of hours and on the holidays and left without any hassle. It's each ones own choice. But it seems that my children bond better with my wifes side.