Anybody still looking after Grandchildren ?

Our DD and SIL are making other arrangements we won’t be able to look after the grandchildren as we are both high risk, all seems very sereal

My teen DGD wants to stay with me if her school closes.

The economy would grind to a very abrupt halt if/when schools are forced to close Greenfinch . Okay for those who are retired or working in the public sector I suppose.

We usually run our grandchild to his weekly boarding school (60 miles) and take him home on Friday. His parents have decided they will do this at the moment. His father called this morning but wouldn't come in 'as it might not be safe'. He did say, though, that our grandchild would still be staying with us two nights as usual this week. Logical? No....

Exactly the same as Petunia. Business as usual until told otherwise. 2 preschoolers 2 days a week. Parents in emergency services. Mid 60s no underlying health issues - just carrying on and hoping for the best.

I'm torn by this, we're both late 60's in good health and up till now have the GC after school on one day when they stay for tea.
DH mentioned yesterday that we should think about stopping this while the current situation continues.

At the weekend DIL asked if we were worried about having them.

I'll wait till someone makes a decision for me.

ps Despite his concerns it didn't stop DH playing golf this morning, and sharing a car with one of his friends.

My eldest daughter has just had her 2nd baby. She’s isolating the family (which I agree with) my sins with gas symptoms so they are all under lockdown. My middle daughter is self employed (and symptom free) so I’m doing my usual babysitting 4 days a week. He’s 18 months so keeping my distance isn’t an option. I’ll keep watching him as long as I don’t show any symptoms.

We travel to London once a month to stay at DD home and care for/do school and ballet rubs etc for a 3 year old and 6 year old. We are both mid sixties and in relatively good health except hypertension and ME. Both DD and SIL are police officers so if they close the schools I don’t know what they will do. We may have to have grandchildren stay here for a while. It’s not ideal but I guess we cross that bridge when we get there. I think that worry is almost worse for my DD than catching it herself. ??‍♀️

I really should preview before I post! My son’s wife has symptoms not the gobbledegook I just posted.

We will continue to look after our GC. There’s no reason not to. And what are the parents supposed to do if we cancel on them?

Yes. We have three gc staying every Thursday night and do the school run for the twins. The 14 year old is at special school and there are many children there with multiple disabilities. They lose a few children every year to flu or pneumonia. My daughter and her dp work late on Thursdays. I’m intending to carry on as only just 70, but hopefully she can rearrange her after school meetings. As they are teachers we were have the Easter holidays off anyway. No sign that any of the schools are closing.

We have cared for our 11 year old since he was born- his mum has a very demanding job and absent dad. We are more like a second set of parents. However, I am approaching 70 with COPD. As a family we have decided that my 80yr old husband and I should completely self isolate. We saw our DGS for the last time yesterday and he completely broke down. We have FaceTime and have said we will still help with homework etc remotely. We are heartbroken about this separation but know that it’s better to be apart for a few months than to be wiped out by this virus. I do think the Govt. should introduce social distancing now. It’s been proved to work in other countries. Stay safe everyone ?

So glad this thread has been started as I was beginning to think we are the only ones in this situation. DD1 a teacher and DD2 a nurse so we have no alternative but to provide child care and nursery transport. This is in spite of being mid seventies with DH receiving chemotherapy. What do we do!

Gorgeous (IMO) great grandchild asleep on my settee. Still seeing young grandchildren. We’ve no option really my terminally ill DiL needs constant care so we cover child care. Not seeing friends though just immediate family.

I’ve travelled to Stevenage to look after my GS as usual. I’m in my late fifties and not too worried.

Yes- have 5 month old here with me atm

We usually do lots of childcare in the school holidays. My DIL was recently made redundant and although looking for work not very hopeful in this climate so she will likely be home during the Easter break. We will keep away as my DH has health issues. Will speak on the phone and facetime and just get on with it. I think we are in a fortunate position but I do feel so sorry for those on their own though - they are the ones who really need to be in our thoughts. Stay safe everyone.

Puts in all in perspective morethan2. I looked after my DGD until she went to school last year. She now has a brother but mummy is on maternity leave until June. I shall carry on my granny duties from June if asked. I would hate not to be able to as I had so much fun looking after my DGD when she was tiny I would hate not to have that close bond with DGS. Sad thing is their other nanny lives in Spain and was due back for a month at Easter!!!!! But when you compare it with what morethan2 has to contend with my worries are minimal.

dancing feet. That’s exactly what I thought this morning. I thought everyone was going to say their not looking after grandchildren, glad to see we’re not alone, and still going strong for now.Hope everyone remains healthy.

Our youngest DD works full time as a Nursery manager, and our 3 DG are used to calling in to us on their way home from school for a drink and a snack, until their mum finishes work a couple of hours later. DD then comes to pick them up, and often stays for about an hour chatting to us.
We are both in the high risk group, as is eldest DGD as she suffers badly from Asthma and frequent chest infections having been a premature baby herself. DD doesn’t seem to realise the risk, and has already asked if DGD could join us in isolation once we enter the Lockdown phase.
This rather worries me on a number of levels, l don’t think l am physically and mentally up to looking after a rather fussy and sometimes stroppy 13year old, who has been spoilt rotten over the years by DH, and is used to getting pretty much all her own way! DD has also told DH that she fears that DGD would not survive if she stayed at home with them as they would be at such risk of catching the virus, So DH has agreed already to allow DGD to move in with us as soon as her school closes and we enter Lockdown!
I’m dreading meal times with her, she refuses to eat any canned or Frozen foods other than Pizza, she ‘Grazes’ out of the fridge, which will Probably be quite bare due to lack of online delivery slots and shortages in the supermarkets.

We have our Grandson two days per week with a sleepover and intend to carry on.

I look after my youngest Grandson all day Friday and sometimes odd afternoon’s and evenings.!
My eldest Son has been in touch from America and insisted i self isolate and do not look after my Grandson.!
Also ask family and friends to drop shopping off etc.!
He will send me some money to help, which is obviously very kind.!
I am worried about telling my youngest that i cannot look after my Grandson and must be careful as i am unfortunately one of the high risk.!
I honestly do not know what to do as i am usually the one helping folk.!!!
Confused.! ?

Mine are at school but I help out two days a week with school runs housework etc. If schools closed I would do a bit more but not every day

We had planned to carry on school run and before after school care but my daughter decided last night that it was too risky and has managed to organise other arrangements.

Continuing as normal for now doing the school run and after school care. When schools close we will be doing more. Both in our 60's and neither high risk but may have a re think if situation is prolonged. Not sure we have the stamina for one thing!