Hellobee Boards

They aren't local so maybe 3 times a year?

We are blessed to have 3 options for grandparents (perk of a broken family).

We call them probably once a week - maybe more maybe less. They love it because they get to see DD and we are always appreciative!

We have two months in the winter when they are ALL in Florida...it makes me cry and want to hug all you mama's who do this without local family!

Probably only 1-2 times a year.

Not a lot! My mom watches the kids as our primary care so I don't like asking for date nights and such!

Inlaws do watch them a handful of times a year and my parents watch them for our just us no kids vaca once a year.

Um. Once a year, I've only asked for help twice. Once when DD2 was born and again in anticipation of DD3.

I honestly don't know how you all can do it without local grandparents. I voted weekdays but it's probably more often than that. My inlaws are our regular daycare for DS 1 2 days a week and DS2 5 days a week. My parents or inlaws also do date nights or help out when one of us travels for work. They also pick up DS 1 if he is sick at school or watch him when he is sick or if we are running late. We are very blessed!

I ask myself probably once a month. They offer much more frequently (Dd1 sleeps over probably once a week, or they will come get her for an afternoon)

Probably once a month. They see LO more than that, but for babysitting about once a month. They both still work so I would feel bad asking more than that. My ILs live out of state so never for them.

neither of our parents are close, so I voted 2-3 times a year. And that involves us buying them a plane ticket to come see us, but they are happy to do it if we have a wedding to attend or something.

We have asked my parents twice in 3 years. Once they flew down to keep LO while we went to Vegas. And next month they are flying down to help when LO2 is born. We've never asked my inlaws who are also a flight away. When grandparents visit they always offer to stay home with LO so we can go on a date, but we rarely get to see our parents so we want to actually spend time with them. If my parents move to town (they are considering it) they will likely be our after school care when LO goes to Kindergarten, and keep her for 1 hour a day between when school ends and when I can get home.

@regberadaisy: it's warmer and cheaper here! My dad would move tomorrow! My mom is more hesitant about having to make new friends. Plus, mom is still working for now so it won't be a possibility until she decides to retire (probably 1-2 years).

Once when DS was 3 months and DH went away for a week on business. My dad came to stay but he lived just a 2.5 hr plane ride away at the time. We've never asked my ILs to help, but I may have to travel alone next year and my MIL will come for at least part of the time that I'm gone.

Never
If they lived closer I'm sure I would though!

It's hard to say. I job-share with my mom and the boys are with her if I'm working. It's hard to say when I'm asking for help because it's part of my job and when I ask for help for doing fun/personal things. Plus it's hard to differentiate when they offer (we'd like him overnight this week, what day works for you?) and when we ask. I'd say for completely personal things where we're doing the asking, maybe 1-2X a month.

Every day during the week. My mother was actually the one that suggested I go back to work and the agreement was that she would help out. They're now both retired and they are the before and after care for my son, which has allowed us to bypass all day care. They take him to school, pick him up, etc.

Because of this, we don't call on them at all on the weekends to babysit.

My mom watches DD anywhere from 3-5 times a week! 3 days for a few hours each since she goes to daycare half days; then sometimes we need her Mondays and/or Fridays. So we try not to bother her on weekends.

@sungirl: same! That's probably why I'm ok with 3 kids.

My mom just moved in with us. She watches DS2 every day and is back up for DS1 if he is sick. She'll also watch them for date nights every few months. If I have a quick errand to run, she'll watch them for me.

We are REALLY lucky. My mom loves to watch my daughter even when she's disgustingly sick, so I rarely have to take a day off work to watch her and she's always happy to do date nights. I try not to abuse it because I don't want her getting tired of it, but she's always happy to help in a pinch.

Only when it's a medical reason. (New baby counts).

I mean my mom visits more than that and always offers to watch them for us to have a date night or whatever while she's here, but me actually asking- yeah only when we have a medical reason to.