We definitely don't expect and we would never ask for regular FT childcare from our parents. I'm also sure they would say no if we asked! 
MIL retired two weeks ago and she eventually wants to watch our girls for one day a week (yay!!!) but she wants some time to herself first....totally understandable! Some of my friends are bewildered because they think we should ask MIL to watch the kids FT instead of paying for daycare.
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MIL watches DD twice a week from 9-3! She's the best
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My mom is my FT child care. Idk what I'd do otherwise.
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My mom will be when we move!
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We have parents that aren't retired, so it was never an option for us. We probably wouldn't ask anyway, we know it's a huge commitment for them.
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My Mom use to watch my som FT, now she's pushing hard and I have to ask go bring him there after school. It was great when she did though . The IL 's... Not so much.
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My mom watches j 3 days/week (was everyday but we put him in daycare for socialization) and pay her a daily rate (not a ton) and provide diapers/wipes/food. I'm SO grateful!!!
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Our parents live far away so it's not possible alas...
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No. My ILs have said flat-out that they raised their kids and have no interest in doing it again, even PT. They are both retired, lead busy lives, and travel a lot.
They're also totally ga-ga over E and like to see us (him) on a regular basis, and will babysit every now and then if they're free, so they aren't like, whatever about him or anything, they just have their own busy lives.
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Nope... We require childcare three days a week. My mom still works four days a week, my FIL is useless with babies, and my MIL works full time. But! MIL is retiring in June and has said she would love to be backup care for when the kiddo is sick and can't go to daycare, which is awesome!
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Yes, my mom keeps DS while we're at work. She offered while I was pregnant and originally, it was only going to be 2-3 days a week, but she decided she'd watch him every day. She was a SAHM and both my sister and I have been out of the house for awhile now. She always said that she wouldn't want to keep her grandchildren full time because she'd already raised her kids, but when I got pregnant, that all changed (even more so after he was born!). He's the first grandchild and she's over the moon.
She adores him and misses him on the days she doesn't she him. Recently, we had 4 snow days in a row (DH and I both teach) and my mom was so sad! Haha. It's such a blessing to know he's so well cared for while I'm at work AND to know she enjoys it so much.
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I think I've mentioned how my parents have made it clear how they aren't available to care for my kids aside from the occasional babysitting and weekly sleepover for my DD (but not DS). The are mostly retired and traveling the world and enjoying their hard earned retirement. I can't say I blame them, but that doesn't mean I'm not jealous of those whose parents are more willing to help!
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My parents live in a different country, so they will help while they are visiting but other than that they obviously can't help. My MIL lives in the same city as us but one of my major rules for when the baby comes is that we are NOT to become dependant on her for childcare - my SIL and BIL rely heavily on her and I know that it causes some problems between them.
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My mother in law is a retired teacher, so she loves to take my daughter. She has her two days a week.
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Nope they all live far, far away. MIL would drop everything in a heartbeat and be a full time granny nanny if we let her but thats not something I want.
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My MIL retired just so she could watch ds. We never expected it but he is her world. (First grandchild)I feel very comfortable going to work everyday. Even FIL is great with him when she is busy. I am grateful.
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No, they live too far away. They've babysat a couple times so we could go to dinner or a movie when they were in town, but nothing regular.
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Not regular but I can almost always count on my parents to watch ds if we have something going on.
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My parents are retired and live 5 minutes away. My dad was very helpful with DS1 two years ago but since then he has had some health issues. My mom isn't very motherly at all and has never tried to watch my kids. It's a really odd situation.
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My parents get her every Sunday evening while we go to a small group meeting. I would have to pay for childcare otherwise and they see it add their special time with her. My mom actually gets upset when she doesn't get her on a Sunday.
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My mom regularly takes LO for date nights , weekends when we are away .. When my Mat leave is done she will take her one day a week which will be a huge help in daycare savings. I am forever grateful !!
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Nope, we don't live by family so we do it all ourselves.
I don't think anyone should assume that their parents would want to babysit all the time. If they are happy to, great, but it shouldn't be an automatic expectation.
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No, my parents still work (but are self employed), so only on very rare occasions when we've planned way ahead since they live a couple hours away.
My IL's are retired, but live across the country.
One of my bosses just doesn't get it, he expects me to drop everything for each silly work meeting he throws and drop C off with them or one of my neighbors (who aren't retired either).
Labor with #2 is causing me a lot of anxiety because I'm worried about getting my folks here in time to watch C.
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My mom and MIL split the week for us. They both did it for our other siblings and were very excited to do it again when we started having kids. Currently pregnant with #2 and both say they are up for watching 2 kids
We are so grateful, and I love that DS has such a close relationship with his grandparents because of this. He is so happy to see them every day!
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Yes! When I was working my mom was our FT child care. She missed him so bad when I became a SAHM she asked to still take him one day a week. I have horrible insomnia so she's started keeping him one night a week so that I can drug myself to sleep. She's also always willing to keep him for a date night or if we go away. I'm really grateful.
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My inlaws specifically asked to look after DD when I go back to work and now that the date is looming they are so excited ! They offered to take her 5 days a week but we wanted to put her in nursery 2 days for the socialisation.
During maternity leave, my MIL asked to have her one day per week and it was a godsend!! I don't think I would have coped, otherwise!
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They all live 3 hours away and are years from retirement... And none of them would want to be full time child care anyways. I'm sure when they visit and when we visit them they will offer to babysit a bit so we can have date nights. We have a wedding to go to in June once baby will be here and my mom is thrilled she gets to babysit.
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My parents currently watch LO on Thursday and Fridays each week. They are there right now b/c he has a low fever and I wouldn't send him to daycare. I don't know what we would do without them!
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My mom will when my parents move to our city!! I didn't ask but before I even got pregnant my mom mentioned how when I had kids, although she wouldn't want to watch them full time, she would love to watch them 2-3 days per week so we could do less or no daycare depending on my job situation at that time. Now that I'm pregnant that is still what she talks about. So grateful! (Now if I can just make it the next 1.5-2 years until they get down here…)
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My mom has watched my niece (now 7) and nephew (now 3) full time, 40 hours a week and now watches my DS 35 hours/week. She said she wouldn't want it any other way! She was a SAHM and now lives for her grandbabies. My Dad still works FT so although I'm sure she could find plenty of other fulfilling activities to spend her days with, we are SO thankful that she is willing to help us out. We pay her and provide diapers/wipes/some food.
My in-laws would never offer and I am more than okay with that, lol
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We live too far from our families for this to be a regular option. Also, no one is retired yet so that would make it hard, even if we lived closer. I would love to see either my parents (optimally) or my in-laws be with him more often, but that will probably not happen.
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Yes, my parents are my son's before and after day care childcare.
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My mom is retired and has no interest in watching LO on a regular basis. She has some health issues and has worked hard for her retirement, so I would have never asked her anyway. I can't say I would have appreciated a regular day during the week to save on some costs, but she's busy with her life, travel, and other responsibilities. She does watch LO for date night, weekends, and whenever I'm in a bind (nanny calls out sick, I need to work late and the nanny can't stay, etc.) so it's great to have back-up.
My in-laws are not retired yet but once they do retire within the next few years, they would probably volunteer to watch LO and any future LO's if we wanted. I don't know how I feel about that. I'll cross that bridge when it comes
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Both sets of parents live hours away from us, but if they did live closer, I don't think I'd ask them to watch DS FT. They're grandparents so all they wanna do is spoil him and cover him with kisses. They'd hold him all day and do whatever "he wanted", even if I told them a schedule and how we do it at home. That's what they do now when they see him.
It might be different if they saw him daily, but I don't think so. I know my parents. haha. I wouldn't mind letting them take the night shift though! DS doesn't like to sleep so they can play and keep him occupied while I sleep. hahaha!
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My ILs watch LO once a week. If we lived near my mom she would watch LO 5x a week while we worked.
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Nope, I'd never expect either of our parents to be full time child care. The only one who is retired is MIL, and she takes one set of grandkids every week, so E is with her every other Friday. It's great for them to get to spend time together. My mom will sometimes ask to take her on days off, but more often will pick her up from daycare after work and bring her home for dinner.
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Yes, my mom retired to take care of her. She couldn't wait for baby. My nephew lives 2.5 hours away so she couldn't do the same with him.
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Nope! We live too far away! I doubt my parents would offer even if they lived closer. They're always traveling. Dhs parents still work, so they couldnt.
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My mom watches LO full time while I'm at work. 7-4 M-F. She's the greatest...she actually retired just so she could.
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Yes. Both my mom and my MIL provide regular childcare. They are both retired, and they wouldn't have it any other way. My in-laws sold their home and moved from TN to VA just for this grandchild. They want to be as involved in his upbringing as possible (and he's not their first grandchild, he's the 7th!).
They split the week - my mom does Mondays and Tuesdays, my MIL (who has more energy) does Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. However, my DH always has 1-3 weekdays off - so some weeks my mom only does 1 day, or my MIL only does 2 days. Also, some days DH doesn't go in to work until 11 or 12 and I always get off at 5, so days can be short.
They both LOVE it, and complain if we "take away" any of their time.
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