Grandparents have done that for many generations and never considered it a chore - it would seem to me the modern grandparent is selfish.

I agree with the above--I know many that have given up their layter yars for their selish chilren.

I wouldn't mind if I minded the grandkids sometimes --if I had any-- but NO way would I take on full time

These are very different and more difficult times than when we were raising our kids. The cost of living is higher and many are working in casual or part time jobs whereas most of us enjoyed permanent full time employment. I am fortunate enough to work full time from home, so I can also look after my grandson a few days a week which allows my daughter to work part time as a swimming instructor. Its no great inconvenience to me and allows me to bond with the little guy.

I dont believe that child minding should be thrust on grandparents, but it would be churlish not to help out where we can......especially if the load can be shared around to allow for holidays, trips etc. After all, if we cant rely on FAMILY, who can we rely on?

I think there are far more selfish young parents out there than there are selfish grandparents. I agree, of course,  that grandparents should help if they can and want to but there are so many young people having children who don't or won't take full responsibility for them. Of course there are many good families with good parents who are helping with their grandchildren BUT there is a huge increase in children being virtually abandoned by their immature, dysfunctional, and/or single parents who dump them on grandparents.

I have two friends to whom this has happened and several others I know of from my U3A.  There is even an anofficial support organisation now called "Grandparents Bringing up Grandchildren".

One friend is a professional woman whose daughter got involved in drugs, had a child to an unknown father, couldn't "cope" and now is looked after full-time by the lone grandmother of 62 who is trying to juggle a full-time job with childcare. My step d-i-l in her early 50s is giving up her Friday off work to babysit her twin grandchildren - mother is a lawyer but doesn't want to pay childcare!  One of our U3A members had to drop out because daughter of 37 "demanded" that she be home and available for childcare. 

I don't believe that life is any more difficult now, people are often just lazier and not prepared to put in the hard yards and parents give in to them. I worked full  or part time throughout having my three children and I never expected my parents to save me having to pay for childcare - I paid it even though it took a big lump out of my earnings and only asked my parents to babysit for the occasional evening out, which I think most of us did.

I babysat when I could for my grandchildren but not to the extent of it interfering with my own life and they knew that and accepted it and made other arangements if they needed to. We are now seeing the consequences of the ME generation.

Just one remark our generation were the parents of the ME generation so what does that say about us?

At the moment I am enjoying looking after a 14 and 11 year old while their parents have their 1st time weekend away in 16 years and gone East. The other grandparents have the 22 month old first time ever they have helped and my daughter will also be babysitting her little niece to help them out as with a torn shoulder I cannot physically manage a toddler.i have helped out  when each one has been born, asked by my daughter in law because her own mother was "just to busy" with her social life even tho' her mother  has never worked. I refused to childcare regularly but often took them for nights or weekends so their parents could have a break even tho.' I worked full time and that pleasure was all mine and now I have a close relationship with my grandchildren. Babysitting has its' rewards.

Having just got back from looking after my elder 2 I must say the times spent with them over the years have been well worth it being my own choice then it has never been a chore and now being able to chat with them is really good. The 3rd one had her other 2 grandparents to focus entirely on her for the weekend because with older siblings she has never had that total attention before in her short life. Really the best type of child care as a grandparent is like this and their parents came back very happy and relaxed.

I have had friends who did regular weekly childcare and when they had reached their 70s they were pretty exhausted by it, there has to be a balance.