More and more families are hiring a granny nanny. If the grand parents do not live close by families are turning to hire a granny nanny for the next best thing. We have seen this trend increase here at www.nannies4hire.com with the Obama familily moving in there grand parent.

Michelle,

I wonder if the reverse is true as well...granny nanny who no longer can afford to care for the little ones and has to go back to work now that retirement funds have dried up.

Cindy

Cindy, I wondered that as well. That would certainly hit families doubly hard. Please keep us posted if you write about the topic in your fantastic column.

I recently called in my mom to care for my 2 and 4 year old. She just retired and our arrangement is going great - it benefits both of us - we get a break on the cost of a nanny and she gets enough money to make retirement work - both of which are needed right now. But, most importanly - it's great because my kids are with their grandma which is who I'd want them to be with if not with me or my husband. I'm hoping someday I will get to do the same for my kids if they decide or have to work.

I am lucky to have 2 sets of grandparents in the area and each set takes my son one afternoon a week while I work. I'm not sure they could handle it full-time, but this arrangement works great for us. They get some time with their only grandchild and I don't pay as much in childcare.

There certainly are grandmothers who can't afford the luxury of staying home to care for their grandchildren for free. If you consider that many "grannies" are women only in their early fifties, how many fifty somethings are able to retire? Sadly, in my own family, my mother-in-law is caring for her GREAT-grandchildren, as she was just now at age 75 able to retire from her full time job. She cares for her two year old granddaughter all week and works Saturdays and Sundays in her previous field.

Childcare in Seattle is particularly difficult to find. The waiting lists are epic. I looked to Granny to bridge the gap between my return to work and our spot in daycare (3 months). I had to pay her living expenses and travel because she is not retired and had no other source of income. I also stayed home 1 day a week to give her a break. We both look back at that time fondly and are thankful that Granny got to be a part of such a fleeting part of childhood.

My mom is a supergranny. She has taken care of my children two days per week for six years now. Funny thing, she often thanks ME for the opporunity to be a part of her grandchildren's lives! She is playful and energetic with the kids, reads with them, takes them to programs or on "adventures", cares for them when they're sick, and just loves them all up. My family and I are blessed to have grandma in our lives as a third parent. Like Angie, I hope to be a supergranny like my mom someday.

I do Nana daycare for my 2.5 yr old grandson and 6 month old granddaughter. I care for them 3 days/week. Sometimes I just want to be the indulgent nana but find myself the disciplinatrian and "time-out" giver for the 2 year old. I feel like I've been there and done this. I really want out of the daycare situation but see no "out" with 2 more daughters getting married with baby plans. I am no supergranny - just a mom and nana who loves her kids and her ga-baby and snuggle-bug.

Accepting help from family can be a great relieve for busy parents. It's also a very inexpensive option for parents.
Carol Soldo
www.nannypro.com

Do you ladies (and gents of course!) see a need to a specialist business providing 'granny nannies' to young families where their own older family members live interstate or overseas?

I am in this situation with a 6 month old baby girl and my Mum lives on the other side of the world. I really miss her senior/seasoned advice and care...

For some reason I feel more comfortable with an 'older' nanny (55+) and I feel my baby girl may benefit from also having care from a Grandma type figure (I am talking part time/casual more than 5 days a week).

Let me know your thoughts as it's something I would like to pursue and develop for other Mum's to also benefit...

Thanks!

Jo & baby Amelia.

Hiring a family member is free and gives you peace of mind that the kids are in great hands!