Good post Flossie
What this discussion boils down to is that we are all different.I loved being a Mum, and I was very tired a lot of times, as we had nobody at all to help out, even for an hour or two, but, even if my own Mother had been alive and living near, I wouldn't have expected her to do more than visit, and maybe take a small child to the park, or have a walk with the baby in the pram.I gave up work until the children were school age, and it meant that we didn't have much money, the budget was very tight, but I was there for them.
We don't want any regular committments now but babysit now and then, or have the younger DGC for a few hours, again, now and then.I find it tedious too tbh, albeit with some nice moments within it.I like children, but they can be very wearing.