Grandparents Pulling Double Duty

In this “Grandparents pulling double duty” article I will address the idea that grandparents are naturally seen as caretakers/babysitters for their grandkids.

I was going for my usual 5km run along the coast of Seatoun, Wellington when I passed an elderly lady, she must have been in her late 60’s pushing a pram with a newborn. I immediately thought to myself, she was most likely helping her son or daughter, looking after the little one while the parents get some well needed rest.

Is it nowadays a fixed stigma that grandparents take the role of part-time caretakers for their grandkids, or has it always been this way? I mean they have already been through the experience of raising their own kids, having to show patience, understanding, resilience and giving up a part of themselves for a large period of their lives. Now a lot will argue, giving up a part of yourself when you have a child is a given. But even if some may believe this, let us not forget it’s a full-time job raising a child and it doesn’t come easy even at the best of times.

“ Realizing the challenges of parenthood, you learn to quickly realize what your parents had to go through and find a deeper appreciation of their efforts to not only raise you, but in helping to raise your own kids. ”
Oliver Petri

If you are a grandparent raising a grandchild, please Click Here for more information!

Is It Really An Expectation

So, it begs the question, is it nowadays a welcome relief when grandparents do decide to become part-time caretakers or is it an expectation by the parents. An expectation more so today, because life has become busier, more hectic and a lot of parents hold two jobs to keep them going.

I believe it should not be an expectation that parents can drop their kids off at the grandparents’ house whenever they need some rest and having their grandparents pull double duty. Grandparents should not be seen as designated babysitters. A lot of grandparents offer their help out of love and wanting to be part of their grandkids lives which is amazing, but parents please be mindful when asking for help.

“How to keep a strong bond to your kids as an absent father” Read More Here…

Always keen to hear my reader’s thoughts and find out about their experiences, so please leave a comment below about this “Grandparents Pulling Double Duty” article.

Devout to all my readers, Thanks Oliver