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By Anonymous
23 January 2008 12:30
I’m retired but I often look after my grandchild while my daughter is at work. I do enjoy having her but I do have my own life and sometimes I feel a little taken for granted. How do I approach my daughter about it?
By Yours Relationship Expert
Many families have no alternative but for both parents to work. And, because childcare is so expensive, millions of grandparents are childminding, cooking, shopping and generally coming to the rescue. A *report at the end of 2005, found that 39 per cent of grandparents would prefer a life free from too many family duties. In the Yours 21st Century Gran survey in 2004, four out of 10 of you now look after two grandchildren for an average of 56 hours per week. 65 per cent say they enjoy it, and only five per cent receive any payment. This may be because of not liking to ask, not being offered in the first place, or simply refusing to take any money.Whatever the reason, until parents can apply for Child Tax Credit for grandparents (at present, they can claim only towards the cost of nanny or childminder) grandparents are still considered a loving - and free - option. If you're happy with this, then that's fine, but to stop you feeling taken for granted, why not set up a contract? For example, you look after them for three days but can’t work extra without consultation. And you won't be free for short-notice evening babysitting unless it's a real emergency.
* London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
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I'm fed up with being used as a cheap babysitter - how do I approach my daughter?
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Lydiard says
When will parents realise that a child is their own responsibility and not that of their own parents'? Why should grandparents, who have already brought up children and sacrificed spare time, full time jobs or luxuries for many years, be taken advantage of and used as cheap babysitters? If you can't afford to have them - or are unwilling to do without so-called necesseties like another car or expensive holidays - simple. Don't have the children. They aren't parcels to be passed around.
14 May 2008 20:43
When will parents realise that a child is their own responsibility and not that of their own parents'? Why should grandparents, who have already brought up children and sacrificed spare time, full time jobs or luxuries for many years, be taken advantage of and used as cheap babysitters? If you can't afford to have them - or are unwilling to do without so-called necesseties like another car or expensive holidays - simple. Don't have the children.
14 May 2008 20:42
14 May 2008 20:41
Ponteliz says
Tell them as it is right from the start and stick to it.
09 May 2008 20:41
