Childminding by grandmothers

You could say " I can't do it in your house( for the above reasons) .

Or you might also say " I can't promise a regular schedule day care, but I could do an occasional day or overnight stay at short notice, in my own home.

IF you can childproof your own home into a very safe and comfortable place so that any visits to you are as stressfree and happy as possible for you and GC.

I too think you are right to refuse. We looked after our first grandchildren for one day a week before they started school. But when another grandchild arrived 10 years later I had to say I couldn't manage it . I just didn't feel confident, those ten years make a real difference. My daughter understood ( I think!)

I think you are right to refuse. Over a certain age it's not easy looking after an active toddler. Not fair on you or the child.
From age 60 I looked after two of my GCs for the next twelve years. I wouldn't have felt able to take that on at age 76.

Fallingstar

Ten years younger can mean a lot, health and energy wise, I am the same age as you and though I have done my share of childminding in the past I couldn’t do it now, am struggling physically to care for my
DH, is just not the same as we get older. Well done you for saying this at the get-go are so many posts on here from GNs who said yes then ended up really struggling.
Stick to your guns, they will get over it, and enjoy being with your GC without being exhausted.

Totally agree with you there. We looked after my GS on an almost fulltime basis for almost two years from when he was two - and it was hard work. Under the circumstances -my son and GS were living with us and son worked shifts - we had no option, but I couldn't do that now.

No, my eldest GC’s other granny and Grandpa similarly refused to take on a regular childminding commitment. They were a bit older than me but very fit and would sometimes have both boys (once no.2 arrived) for a night but as the granny said, if you commit you have to be reliable and at our age, who knows what might happen.
I agreed to do an early nursery pick up one day a week, playtime, teatime, bath and bed so that DD could put in a late day at the office. I used to stay overnight and, so that she could be at her desk by 8, I would see to GS in the morning, take him to nursery by 9.30 and then be on the road home (1 1/2 hrs) . SIL was often gone by 6.30 so I think it helped. I could not commit to more but enjoyed this time with GS and 15 years later I suppose I do actually feel closer to him than the other 5 grandchildren.
Too many grandparents seem to be willing martyrs to their AC and grandchildren- of course we want to help especially in an emergency but one has to be realistic too. If they can afford childcare, why not, but of course if finances are tight one might feel differently.

Of course you're not being completely unreasonable Jules they've asked and you've declined.

If you can afford it you could offer to pay for a day or 2 in nursery instead.
This is what we did. We didn't want to be tied to regular childcare but said we would step in if there was an emergency

Ten years younger can mean a lot, health and energy wise, I am the same age as you and though I have done my share of childminding in the past I couldn’t do it now, am struggling physically to care for my
DH, is just not the same as we get older. Well done you for saying this at the get-go are so many posts on here from GNs who said yes then ended up really struggling.
Stick to your guns, they will get over it, and enjoy being with your GC without being exhausted.

That is a big commitment especially if you have travel time too.
The other gran is 10 years younger and married, so assume it woukd be two of them which makes a lot of difference.
At 76 they are expecting too much from you , you have your life to enjoy after working a lifetime presumably.
As has been said, be there ‘as and when’ on an occasional basis, but a commitment of two days a week can be very tiring when you are older and doing it all on your own.
Finding a nursery shouldn’t be a problem especially if they are in well paid jobs.

No you’re not being unreasonable, my BIL and SIL had the same dilemma, almost the same situation. They said no, it was a bit frosty for a time bit the parents did come up with another solution.

I think you know your limitations and it is up to you to decide whether or not you want to do this. They shouldn't have assumed that this would be okay.

If they have well paid jobs, they at least have the option of paying for external childcare.

You're not comfortable with this and you don't want to do it so you are not being remotely unreasonable in refusing this request.
I'm roughly your age and it would tire me out.
I'd do them the occasional favour e.g. if they are going out and can't get a babysitter or in an emergency but that would be it from me.
And I do mean occasional.

No, you are definitely not being unreasonable. Looking after a toddler of that age, especially if they are particularly active, is not an easy task and I'm not even sure I'd be up to it these days, and I'm a good few years younger than you.