Reality vs expectations

We started 10 years ago, but as we got older, so did DGS. We stuck to our guns one day a week, with the odd evening (other GPs do that mostly as they have a spare bedroom and are 10 years younger).
But now he is older, it is more about feeding and hosting a friend or delivering/collecting from various friends. I do not think I could manage a toddler any more.

Recently they have been ducking out for last minute holidays meaning we take up the slack, and DH gets a bit cross. While we do have sympathy for the sheer cost, parents are now getting more "free" hours for younger children, so perhaps it will ease a bit?
You really do have to have a plan of what you can cope with and stick to it, saying sorry you are booked. Do set limits though if you cannot cope with long days (mine can be 12 hours in the holidays). It helps if you are in contact with the other GPs to sort out what suits you both

Lots of different experiences and good advise
When we started a few years back looking after one GC for. a couple of days a week it wasn’t so bad but after the second one came we find it a lot more tiring not least from having to watch their good and bad interactions like a hawk
We cover for other requirements through the week and it can amount to daily support for quite a few hours per day now
Also we’ve picked up several nasty bugs which have left us drained for weeks
This is what is prompting a rethink !!
We are older now and less resilient

Ironically I've just landed here from Mumsnet where all of them seem to think that grandparents should do more childminding, think that we have too much money and shouldn't be getting state pensions. All in one generation. Where did this self entitlement come from? We never got or expected so much from our parents

I wonder what their thoughts will be in years to come when they're GP's .

As most of the generation who expect all this child care had their families in their mid/late 30s, and assuming their children do the same, they will be well into their 70s before they become grandparents, if they live long enough to have grandchildren.

M0nica makes a good point. My own children have had their children in their late 20s and I was fortunate to be already retired by 60, so able (& willing) to do regular childcare. I would not be so willing in my 70s.

Smileless2012

I wonder what their thoughts will be in years to come when they're GP's .

Interesting innit?

We had our first when I was 17, I was a Nan by 40. Our daughters were Nans at near 50 years old, considerably too old for raising GC.

If my grandchildren have children in their late 30s like their parents. Those parents will be in their mid 70s before they become grandparents.

M0nica

If my grandchildren have children in their late 30s like their parents. Those parents will be in their mid 70s before they become grandparents.

Quite normal today, innit?

REKA

We live quite close to 5 of our grandchildren. We were never asked to do regular child caring. I'd have said very sorry, not going to happen.

We're there for emergencies but could never have coped with daily/weekly care.

I find that sad. I never was asked to have set times to have grandchildren, but chose to have them a couple of times a week. I also helped out when needed and invited them round often at other unscheduled times. I loved their company but didn’t want to be tied down to regular days again after years of minding my own children.
I was never expected to have the grandchildren regularly. My daughters, to whom I am very close, always made sure I had my own life. When I looked after the grandchildren, it was because I wanted to, although I would always help out in an emergency as well. We still have a great relationship. My granddaughter, the only girl, and I are particularly close and she visits a lot. She now has a baby boy, my first great grandchild, and I adore him.
I think the point I am clumsily trying to make is that you can get great pleasure from grandchildren and great -grandchildren and you’d be daft not to take advantage of that while you can. But y don’t have to sacrifice your own plans to do that.

Yes I think the choice should be ours not enforced by our children and expected after doing so much in the past
Of course we want to see and develop relationships with our GC
We can’t give the same in our seventies as we did in our thirties and we are more vulnerable to eg bad backs and bugs