Hellobee Boards

My mom is 60 and will definitely be at least 61 or 62 by the time I have #2. I am banking on my husband having a lot more free time to help, b/c right now I can't foresee paying for more daycare for DD... I think though by then (I'm hoping for a 2.5 yr gap too), DD can at least be a little more independent, so that my mom can focus more on the baby. My mom didn't really wear DD, so next time I'm really going to help her learn how to babywear.

My Inlaws watch our 2 year old 3 days a week and have agreed to also watch #2. I was so scared to ask, but they were happy t do it. They're in their late 60s. I'm hoping to go back to work part time and reduce their days to 2 and find a nanny or SAHM for the other 1-2 days. TBD. I think it's easier for them since they're both retired and home, so they share responsibilities. DD is insanely good for them, too and basically naps from lunch until it's time to leave. The hardest part for MIL is she can't pick DD up much, but with a baby it won't be an issue. I see her taking on the role of caring for baby and FIL mainly dealing with DD1.

I guess it depends on what all you expect them to do in a day! My mom takes care of my sister's girls (nearly 4 and nearly 1). My mom could not easily take both girls out (like, to the mall or whatever) but she doesn't have to go out (except to maybe walk to the park or something). They all live together so that makes things somewhat easier. She watches the girls 5 days a week.

My mil watches her daughter's boys as well, but they're 8 and 1. And all she does is go over to my sil's house and get the kids up and ready for school/daycare and the drop them off (she walks to both). Then she picks the oldest up from school at the end of the day. She would have no issues taking a bus load of babies and kids on a road trip across America.

I'm somewhat jealous of these arrangements.