Are any of you grandmothers that babysit your grandchildren?

Yep I hear ya. I've been watching both sets of my kids children for 7 years almost 8. two 7 years olds, 1 6 year old, 1 5 year old and a 1 year old. I wouldn't trade that time for anything but I'm exhausted. LOL

I watch my 2yr old DGS for 10 hours a day just 2 days a week and I'm exhausted when I get home.  I wouldn't give up that time with him for anything but there is no way I could do it 5 days a week.  

Wow you guys are amazing! I can't begin to imagine how tired you must be. We only see the grands for a weekend or so with their parents and we're beat by the end of the visit.

I truly hope your children appreciate how much you give them and your grandchildren.

I usually watch my 2 every other Thursday evening.  Mid November to Mid December will be more, however, in the evenings.  I have made some fun plans (bowling, baking cookies, a movie) that will cover most of the time.  They are 5 & 11.  Able to play with each other.  I did watch the baby from almost birth 5 hours a day from December - June, everyday several years ago.  I will never trade this experience with anything else.

My kids respect me & my time.  I am the primary child carer in the evenings, as both go to school.  They insisted on home day-care, which I was very grateful for.

Boundaries -- gotta make them & keep them.

When I was growing up, my mom told me that when I had kids, she would let me know when she would babysit. She was much more graceful letting me know (compared to how I just said it), but it always stuck in my head that when I decided to have kids, they would be my responsibility. My good friend just had her first child at 43, and her mom flat out told her that she could only do two days a week. Her husband was pissed. I was just shocked that they thought they could ask her in the first place.

OP, I don't have grandchildren (and have done my darnedest to keep from having them early), but I do say a big kudos to you for doing what you do. Kids are exhausting. As a teacher, I did notice that kids who had a lot of grandparent time/support were often some pretty well adjusted kids.

I can understand why you are worn out. You do a lot! I am a sahm, and still get worn out! I have 2 teens and a recent college graduate and even though they are older, they are still a lot of work. You schedule makes me tired reading it!

My parents watched my niece and nephew 3 days a week until they were 3 and started preschool. My sil is a teacher, so they had school vacations and summer off. My niece is 3 yrs. older than my nephew, so they didn't have to watch both at the same time. And they were pretty easy kids, so it wasn't too bad. But it would have been hard if they did it 5 days a week all year. And the other nice thing was if my dad wanted to go to the gym or the store, my mom could watch them. And she could shop and dad could watch them.

I have a co-worker that retired, and now she takes care of her 4 grandchildren. She seems to work harder now that she's retired, and I'm pretty sure her kids don't pay her either.

My mom used to watch my kids. And she has never in her life called in sick. Whether it was her job before I had the kids or with the babysitting. My kids once told me that she was crawling around the house because her legs were in pain. I felt TERRIBLE. She never told me she was too tired or not feeling well. After the crawling incident I let her know that it’s ok for me to take some time off work and give her a rest. She no longer watches my kids, but I do wish she was more honest about her health. I absolutely would have worked something out with my job.

I'm a nanny..and grandmother age (no grandkids.. now or maybe in future). I would find it tiring to watch two such little kids 8 hours a day 5 days a week.. i don't do that. you would have to take a nap when they nap and be super organized and spend lots of time out. it is tough. I'm good for a few days a week but otherwise forget it.

I'm amazed that you do that for them. I'll validate you. I can't imagine asking that of either my parents or my ILs doing that. Bless you.

I watch my grandkids 5 days a week.
Ages 8, 3 and 1 1/2.

I also have another 3 yr old I watch for 2 hrs a day, 4 days a week.

I will have 3 additional kids, ages 5, 3 and 1, for 3 hrs a day for one day a week soon.

This is my full time job now. I had always worked with kids as a mental health therapist. Now I providing childcare in my home and I love it. I do have to say, I am more than exhausted on many days!

Wow that is a lot. That is amazing. My parents watched my kids, but they would have never done that much.

I live with DS and DIL and their 3 YO girl. I adore it! I officially witch her 2 days a week, but it ends up being a lot more because DIL often needs to go to the gym, or an apt, Ora quick trip to Target, and also DS works from home, so I keep DGD occupied so he can run his business. They are very appreciative, and try hard not to abuse the set up.

The hard part for me is that I’m left with less time and energy to spend equivalent time helping my DD, and she resents it.

It is, quite simply, a labor of love.

I'm the granny-nanny for my one and only grandchild. We moved in 2010 after my DH retired to live near our only child, her husband and her child, our only grandchild.

From the time he was 3, I became his full-time child care provider, from 6:00 am to 5 or 6 pm. I cared for him all day and took him to pre-school, doctors appointments, etc. Once he started school full time, I started (and still do) going over to my DD's house by 6:15 am, where I clean up her kitchen, make DGS breakfast and pack his lunch. When he was small, I had to bathe and dress him and pack his school bag for school - so glad he's old enough to do that himself now. Ha. He has always gone to private school, so no bus. I take him to school every day and pick up him up. Up until last year, after school I would get do homework with him. Several times a week, I would drive him to the ice rink (and wait for him) for hockey practice. In the warmer weather, add baseball practice to that routine.

Now that he is in 7th grade, it's all a bit easier, because he gets himself up, takes his shower and gets dressed himself. I still go over, but later, at 6:30 am. I clean the kitchen, make his breakfast, pack him lunch and take him to school. In the afternoon, I pick him up and make him a snack. And then there is the occasional trips to the hockey rink and/or baseball practice. Once or twice a week, during the day, I make a dinner that can my DD can warm up or finish making when she gets home. I occasionally will pitch in and help the grandchild do a load of his laundry or clean his room with him if he asks.

This is our daily routine, 5 days a week during the school year. DD is administrative in a school system, so while her schedule is similar to his, there are days when he has different days off, and she only has about 3 weeks in the summer and he has much longer and is with me. My DH still works, although it's part-time about 35 hours per week. He occasionally picks up the grandchild from school and do the hockey practice drive. I hate the after work traffic and am so grateful when he volunteers to make that drive!

I've been doing this for going on 10 years. I am paid nothing. This is a labor of love. It is good for my soul. I like to think it benefits my DD, SIL and grandson in a way that cannot be measured by money.

Honestly, this child affects who I am and who I try to be in such a positive way. I sincerely try to model behavior and measure my words in every way. While I often try and fail, I keep trying. This is, he is, my legacy. It's why I try to be kind on this message board. It's why I stay out the political messages. As a one of the much vilified, hated, disparaged Baby Boomer generation, there is absolutely nothing I can do to change a bunch of strangers misperception of me and my generation. However, I can try to ensure that my one and only grandson, may one day, long after I'm gone, say " I miss my Grammie. I know she loved me and I loved her. She was a good person who tried to do the right thing. All.the.time." THAT will be my legacy.