My son and his partner have asked for support with childcare when his partner goes back to work after maternity leave for one day per week. However prior to her going back, he has asked me to look after my GC one day per week so that his partner is free to look after the house and prepare food without also looking after GC. I agreed to do this on a couple of occasions provided I was free, but he is angry that I won't do it as I have made some other arrangements for some of the days. I cut my full time work to 3 days a week to accommodate helping out, but did not expect the ensuing argument. I told him that from August I will be looking after GD one day a week every week for the next 3 years. Further, when I picked up my GD last week at 7:00 a.m. his partner was in her pyjamas and announced that she would be going back to bed and was going to spend it catching up with TV then was going to pamper herself before a night out with friends. This is not acceptable. I work 29 hours over 3 days to enable me to have Thursday and Friday off with the promise to them that in August I am committed every week that GD's care, but not every week before then. It has resulted in his saying he has changed his mind and I suspect he will not allow us access now. They can't afford extra childcare which is why we agreed to help, but I do not wish to be blackmailed and bullied into helping out while his partner stays in bed all day, nor will I be disrespected. I also have two other adult children whom I wish to be around from time to time, as well as a home to look after, an elderly mother and try to fit in some leisure time. When I suggested he looks after GD whilst his partner has some free time at weekend, he says that time is spent with friends or shopping. Frustrated and unhappy with son and his partner. Any advice would be gratefully received
