While doing my too-often perusal of The Women’s Colony, I came across this gem. It’s about grandma being grandma and herself too, and not always being ready to watch her grandkids at the drop of a hat. She has a few things of her own to do also!
A wee sample …
Tonight my beloved daughter called to see if I would babysit her two children on Saturday night. I love my grandkids (ages 3 and 5) to pieces, but if I said yes, it would be the third time I’ve watched them in one week. I declined and told her I had already had plans to see a movie and have dinner with her dad. I could hear the irritation and disappointment in her voice. I rarely say no to her frequent requests to watch the children so that she can go out to dinner with my son-in-law (love him too), go to her book club or go out with the girls for a night on the town.
Guess what? Grandma’s tired. Grandma has a life. Grandma has places to go and people to see.
I was so glad to see this this grandma’s perspective aired, and enjoyed the comments on it also. I get the very occasional babysitting from my father-in-law, but hesitate to ask much and know he’s got a lot going on. I don’t live near any other family really, and often wish I did (not just for the prospect of free babysitting!).
How much kid-minding do you get from family? Ever feel guilty about it or sense that they feel taken advantage of? Curious.