A few minutes of tv . I am now an arch-criminal

Our children often forget that we are getting older and do not have the energy and strength to keep going all day, let alone three days running.

I would tell your DD and spouse that you cannot cope with the amount of care they expect, it is too exhausting and if they insist that you be on the go all day for three days, then they had better find care elsewhere. Alternatively negotiate how much tv he can watch each day and what programmes, while you have a chance to sit down with him

As for the idea that it will make him have temper tantrums and behave badly for the rest of the day, I have never heard such ridiculous nonsense. That will only happen if you let him watch violent and unpleasant movies. There is nothing on children's tv, at least not in this country to wind up a small child.

My children would have nodded off though M0nica and then problems at bedtime would probably crop up.

There's more to watching TV than "watching TV" I think.

You really need to question this baby sitting malarkey. If you can't allow the child a few minutes TV time then just tell them they will have to look elsewhere.

I'm 10 years younger than you and couldn't cope with a toddler 3 days a week.

It's just too much, especially if you are subject to unreasonable rules.

I agree with lemongrove, there's a reason 70 year olds don't have their own toddlers, and how many childcare facilities look for 70 year old staff? I'd be telling them that all day is just too tiring without some rest time, so you'll be having to reduce to just mornings from now on. I'd bet that would concentrate their minds that perhaps half an hour of suitable children's TV isn't such a bad thing. I could not do all day care for 3 days a week even with a half hour rest. Toddlers are exhausting!

Sometimes my childminder used to do 'stuff' I thought she wouldn't do, like her husband taking my son to the off licence
They need to get a grip

I've never heard such nonsense.
For Goodness sake,
I'd have just laughed in the DP's faces and said
'If it doesn't suit then get paid child care'
Me and DH gave both of our DC's 3 days a week free child care(3 kids in all)
We always asked for their guidance re. feeding etc but if they'd have kicked up a fuss about such a silly thing then they would be looking elsewhere.
CBeebies is great.
We miss it now the DGC's are now at secondary school.

Hi MittensMum. DGD has stayed here 2 days and overnight this week (school holidays), and afterwards I was very tired.
She's been part of my life her whole life, she's really good, sleeps well, but it's tiring. I'm younger than you, and haven't done 2 days a week regularly since she was tiny.
Simply put, granny's house, granny's rules.

Than goodness my children NEVER EVER dictated what I should or shouldn’t do with my grandkids when I had them They knew I brought them up well and completely trusted my judgement I think it’s outrageous to be so structured
If yours want free child care from a trusted person then they need to relax
If they want it all so perfect do it themselves I feel cross on your behalf

I absolutely sympathise with you! My own DC learnt so much from TV, and I used to love snuggling down with them at the end of the day to watch a film or programme.
As is the way of the world, they have rebelled against their own upbringing and issued a fatwah on all television for their own children. (No matter that they can play mindless video games whilst eating meals....don't get me started!)
I looked after a young GS from the age of 11 months to 18 months 3 times a week and strictly complied with the parents' wishes. On his last day, he accidentally stepped on the remote control and the 60 inch TV on the wall (rented apartment), sprang into life. He nearly passed out with astonishment!

I looked after various grandchildren 5 days a week up until I was 68, 10 years ago, but I certainly couldn`t do it now. They were allowed to watch children`s TV whenever they wanted, but it wasn`t that much because they`d get bored with it.

Free or not I would have shown my children the door if they dared to tell me off like that. I don't know how you manage to look after them for so long. I'm 70 and mine would be watching more than 20 minutes. Tell your children you either look after them your way or not at all. And don't let them speak to you disrespectfully.

BlueBelle

Than goodness my children NEVER EVER dictated what I should or shouldn’t do with my grandkids when I had them They knew I brought them up well and completely trusted my judgement I think it’s outrageous to be so structured
If yours want free child care from a trusted person then they need to relax
If they want it all so perfect do it themselves I feel cross on your behalf

Your house, your rules and if they don’t like it there’s always nursery school. Blinking cheek.

MittensMum

Sorry BlueBelle, lost my concentration for a moment.

I don't understand there problem. i only ever let my kids watch BBC childrens tv and same with dgc. No adverts and less cartoons etc.
I would be more exhausted if i didn't have 10 mins with dgs on an afternoon i don't think AC know how tired we get constantly on the go.
You have my sympathy MittensMum.

Chewbacca, VERY interested in your response. If there was a rule of no sweets ever would that change in your house?

I can't say Kim19 because my DS and DIL don't have any hard and fast rules regarding sweets (or anything else) for their children that aren't common sense, so I don't have to consider it. If it was a case of one of the children having an allergy to something, then obviously "rules" would be followed very carefully; my DS had several allergies as a child and so I'm fine with dealing with food intolerances. But I'm lucky; none of my GC have any allergies and their parents attitude to child raising and parenthood is the same as mine.

I agree with NotSpaghetti on this one. If this is a hard and fast rule then ask your family to collect him earlier as you need a rest.
You need to negotiate the rules when he is with you MittensMum three days a week is a lot of child care for an older grandparent. They are lucky to have your help.

I suppose you could insist on a replacement activity that your grandchild can and will do entirely alone.
Ask them for suggestions, and they'll probably say "oh just let them watch tv then".

nadateturbe I agree entirely. MittensMum your grandchilds’ parents sound like they have come down with a bad case of control freakery! They as like as not, read a book or two about how to “have it all” ie. a compliant/placid child and full time careers. These Gurus forget that unless the childmindng is professional and bespoke aka expensive, said child will mingle with others and develope their own little aspirations in this case watching television for a bit. Always thought it brutal to stop a child nodding off in the car. Of course it’s all the pressure to be dynamic and in control in all situations as a parent, that results in these outbursts. They won’t give themselves a day off (metaphorically) and become humourless and lack the stamina to deal with the @#£&*! that real life has a habit of throwing at us all. Smile knowingly to yourself Smitten a few short months down the line and they’l l be praising CBeebies to the high heavens and hopefully realise how churlish and mean they were to you in your own home. ??

As long as you don't let him watch Eastenders or Corrie, I can't see what the objection can be.
Oh, I think Emmerdale can be violent too.

Always thought it brutal to stop a child nodding off in the car.

Are you inferring that my rendering of Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream is brutal?

You could be right, I am fairly tone-deaf. ? ?????

I've never liked waking small (or even big) children up.
It seems so mean, when they just can't keep their eyes open.

You have my sympathy MittensMum. My DH looked after 2 grandchildren 7.30-6pm every weekday from birth until I cut down work hours, then I helped 2 days. We often watched TV and sometimes they dozed off, but it was just after lunchtime so they didn’t sleep just before home time.
Our DC are grateful for what we did but I'm afraid in your situation I’d be asking for them to be picked up earlier.

MissAdventure

I've never liked waking small (or even big) children up.
It seems so mean, when they just can't keep their eyes open.

Actually, if she'd had her dinner and it was later eg sixish, I didn't (I'm not a total meanie ?), so she could go straight to bed.

It doesnt feel so mean when they're trying to prise your eyes open at 4.45am the next morning.