by Dawn Hawkins

Created on: May 14, 2010

Grandparents aren't meant to be built in babysitters but there will be times that they won't mind watching their grandchildren for a while. It is an excellent time for grandparents to spend with the people that make their world shine. The grandchildren and grandparents get to know each other much better when grandparents babysit their grandchildren. It is a pleasure for grandparents to spend time with their grandchildren in most cases.

It can be a burden to the grandparents to babysit. They should only babysit when it is convenient for them or when they feel that there is a good reason that you want them to babysit. Grandparents should never be used like a daycare. That takes the pleasure out of being a grandparent and isn't really fair to them. Many grandparents don't know how to say "no" when they are asked to babysit. They fear making the parents of the children angry. That leaves the question about how much time they will get to spend with the grandchildren if they say "no". The point is, grandparents should never be put in the situation where they have to worry about whether they will get to see their grandchildren.

It is suggested that you be fair to your parents about watching your children. Give them a chance to offer first. If they don't offer, there may be a reason they didn't. Take that into consideration. If you abuse your parents as built in babysitters, they will start to feel differently towards the grandchildren. You don't want that to happen because when it does, your parents end up losing out no matter what happens. It is not their responsibility to watch your children. It is their responsibility to have fun with their grandchildren. It is their right to spoil the children and then send them home.

If grandparents decide that they want to spend a lot of time with the grandchildren beyond what normal grandparents do, that is their prerogative. But they have to have a choice. If the grandparents feelings aren't considered, there will be major problems in the relationship that everyone currently has. Grandparents aren't supposed to raise their grandchildren. Sometimes when they babysit, it comes to feel like they are raising them. Hard feelings surface and the fighting begins. Use grandparents sparingly when it comes to babysitting. If you don't, everyone will be sorry when the relationship goes South.

Learn more about this author, Dawn Hawkins.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.