Just need a rant.

Please take care of yourself. Book some dates for yourself and tell them you will be unable to care for your grandchild. I am now exhausted because I did not care for myself. I am waiting for surgery. Do not wait until a crisis happens start caring for yourself today even if it is only a visit to the library or tea with a friend. Please be kind to yourself now.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

They are enjoying free childcare. You are tired and need a break too.

I would have said, if you looked after your grandson full time before lockdown, what has changed now? Until I read, his mother is not working and she is just tired? Is it more than tiredness though Minigrandma? I think I would like to get to the bottom of why a mum who isn't working can't look after her child on a daily basis. Is she ill? Does she have other problems? Being tired can be a sign of lots of things so unless you probe you won't know what is the cause.

IF, there are no reasons why, then you need to assert yourself and tell the parents, you need a break. Doesn't have to be nasty and you can arrange to babysit or whatever but they do need to arrange full time childcare if the mother can't look after her own child.

Gosh I am reliant on my parents for SOME childcare but your son and dil are taking the absolute mick. I couldn’t sleep at night knowing I was at home all day but my parents were shouldering childcare AFTER they said it was too much.

You need to do more than rant op! What’s wrong with your dil?

In your position I would give a date, perhaps the end of the month, after which you would be unable to do regular caring. They need to arrange nursery care if the mother cannot step up to care for her own child.

Perhaps offer to have DGC until just after lunch? If DiL gets tired easily she should still be able to manage half a day.

Think about what you actually can and want to do. Would you still like to look after GC for say 2 days a week still? Or have you had enough and are ready for a complete break? When you've decided, you will have to have the conversation and, as sodapop has said, set a deadline and stick to it.

Errrr! The child is theirs NOT yours! You certainly need to put and end to being put on and expected to look after a 2 year old when the mum is it home all day! If she's not well enough to care for her own child she should arrange for nursery care!
You state that you are not in the best of health?! Stand your ground, you've done your bit, time to be firm!

Full time with a two year old. That is hard work and I understand why you want to stop. Rant away here but you do need to speak to them again. If you can offer a day or two if you feel you can or else say you will help in emergencies but dont offer more because we none of us are getting any younger and small children are very tiring. I have the tee shirt, I know. You are entitled to a life of your own, which you wont get by doing full time child care. If the mother is home all day anyway there is absolutely no reason you should still be expected to do the childcare.
If they agreed earlier then they shoukd be looking for alternatives. Think you might have to be firm.,good luck.

Minigrandma I know it is difficult but you do need to have a conversation with the parents and tell them your own health is suffering.
Are you able to cut down the time you have your grandchild or do you need to give up altogether?
Maybe the minding could be split between nursery and you. That could take the strain off you if you could manage a much shorter time.

Is this your daughter or DIL? I’m guessing the latter. What a difficult situation, but not one that should continue. Could you offer to help her in her own home? Start big and then work down if you follow me. Doing less and less. What about other family members? Presumably, your son, son in law? is working. It’s one of those things where you’ve got to break the cycle. Are they bringing him to you every day, or does he live with you? Please don’t continue though, certainly not to the detriment of your own health.

Why are you still doing it Minigrandma you have already said its too much for you.
I would give them a cut off date e.g. one month's time to make alternative arrangements and then you are unavailable. I would have some pressing appointments on the first few days. You need to take care of yourself now. Good luck.