My story about looking after our grandchildren

Increasing numbers of grandparents are providing childcare for their grandchildren, research suggests.

Insurance provider RIAS has found three quarters of British grandparents now regularly help out.

The piece about grandparents providing free childcare didn't go out as planned on the 6pm BBC News but has been posted to the BBC News Website Jonathon Cooke and Justin (?) the camera man were with us for over an hour and I must say a big thank you to them for putting us all at ease and being incredibly sensitive when it came to working with very young children.

Dear Daughter said a lovely piece to camera about how much they would struggle financially without our help and how they are more than happy for us to care for the boys as they are happy and safe with us. For example, to cover childcare costs for two children for a full day at work would require twelve hours working at minimum wage - yet a huge majority of families find both parents have to work to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.

Where I said that we get no recognition for our contribution to the economy, I meant from the government, instead of just NIC credits perhaps a guaranteed living wage for all like that recently proposed in Switzerland could bridge this gap? Many grandparents on the Gransnet Forums take a cut in income to help out some dip into their savings and some, in extreme situations, go into debt to help with childcare.

Alongside our time and financial input, age and health can also carry consequences. It may seem trivial, but the fashion for huge buggies cripples me, the sheer combined weight of child and Chelsea tractor style buggy eats up most of my "spoons" (see fibromyalgia and spoon theory) plus not being able to pace myself or have a nana nap on grandson days can leave me drained for days. All that said, I would not have it any other way, if there is a gap of two or more days between us having the boys we both miss them terribly, they bring a freshness and joy to our days plus of course unconditional love which is priceless.