Feeling used

Three would be a bit much! It shoud read 'there'.

I think you should be proud of yourself with your DD coming to you for the care of her children you are obviously well loved by your DD and her children to be given such a responsibility.

I don't read the original post as jealousy! Nor as resenting the time given to the other grandparents. I don't think "just enjoy your time with your grandchildren" is a helpful response. I don't think her post is about "time with the grandchildren". I think the OPs concern is about her lack of time with her family - not just the grandchildren. I suspect she is feeling that she is only seen as good for the childcare but not worth bothering to spend time with as a family - whilst "Family time" (ie all the family together) is clearly what happens with the other grandparents.
There IS a clear difference between enjoying time with the grandchildren and spending time as a family, INCLUDING the grandchildren!!

Emelle I have real sympathy with you and know how you feel! Tread carefully in any conversations about it though!

Madgran77 Very well put.

I mentioned to the other gran that they were lucky to be closer than us and see far more of the GC.
Oh but we get them when they're sick, she said! which was quite true because DS & DiL have full time jobs and if one of the children is unwell of a morning her mum gets a call.
Luckily we like the other sets so there is no animosity or jealousy though I get a pang occasionally when a little voice pipes up with some innocent remark about where they went with the other GPs.

Totally agree with Madgran77. I do love that mother daughter/son time. I childmind my DGD 2.5 days a week and my DD often takes time for a chat when she picks up and also invites me round if DH is away for a few days. It does make me feel that I am not just a childminder but a mother too.
I must say I would not want to go on holiday with any of my children and families for more than a long weekend. I love when they come and I love when they go again.

Thank you MadGran77, you have summed my feelings up so well. I'm not jealous at all but would like me and OH to be included in whole family time. I will heed your wise words and be careful in any conversations I have.

Why would you feel used. It seem' s quite fair for them to have holidays with in-laws but children pop in and out to you frequently. Why not ask whole family around for dinner and take it from there.

The problem is that "asking them round for dinner and taking it from there" is not really the issue!! The OP isn't querying the holiday! She isn't querying the childcare! She is feeling that whole family time is in short supply and she is feeling a bit taken for granted!! There is a good possibility that a dinner together at her house will become the grandchildren inevitably expecting the Granny/Grandpa to follow the same routines as on childcare days .....and the parents are happy to have a rest!! Now ofcourse it is possible to refuse to provide those routines, etc etc etc but in reality that creates issues to be dealt with and parents inevitably ask " oh would you mind?" to save unnecessary hoo ha ...and so on ...and basically "family time" is taken over!! Now if you haven't experienced this you will have "easy solutions" to this ..."just" this ..."just" that ...but if it happens to you then lots of other issues, dynamics, feelings come into play over time and it isn't "just" anything!!

I think she just wants to socialise with her daughter (and partner) for a whole few hours, not just say a quick hi at drop-off and pickup. She probably wouldn't mind too much if they relaxed while she dealt with the kids, at least they'll still be there chatting. Kids will probably run off and play anyway leaving the adults to talk

I think you’ve summed it up perfectly Madgran and I can well understand Emelle’s feelings. There have been other threads saying much the same.

It would be lovely to have social time with DD instead of the quick 'hello and bye bye' during the hand overs and to clarify, we have to make a 180 mile round trip to take care for/visit the family so it requires a little more effort and planning than just calling round.

Emelle Yes!

That’s a long way Emelle! I’m only a 10 minute walk but I do the caring on my own. ?