Vocal Voices

It's nice.
Nice for MrsC who can see her grandaughter regularly and good for the parents of young children, who get support from the wrinklies.
Today Lee had to go into hospital unexpectedly, so we could pick Eliza up from school, as our daughter was working. At other times Lee's mum and dad will pick the child up.
How much in monetary terms we can help was brought home to me today.

MrsC's half cousin has a married son who works in London. He is a lawyer, as is his wife. They have three small children and pay £2,000 a month for them to go to nursery. £2,000!

I don't know how people manage to pay that amount of money, and I don't know how women on their own manage to raise a child and work at the same time. Respect to them.

Childcare is ridiculously expensive. Luckily for my nephew Dan and his wife, my brother-in-law J and his wife live nearby - he's retired so can step in at short notice, and also help with school pickups. They both work shifts, Dan in A&E and Nikki in retail, so J and J have her at weekends sometimes.

We love the fact that we live near enough to give real, practical help - today is a case in point. With Miss Osc sick, we were able to help out at short notice and we love knowing that they are so near.

Yes Osc it's really good being close.
We do usually 2 days a week,starts off as dog sitting but also to be there when Grandson -11- gets home.
We're needed today but had my hosp appointment but Wed /Thurs we will be there.
It's no problem as anything we want to do can usually be changed

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I wish I was near for Scarlett but I'm not the amount of money they have to pay for child care is awful plus now she is older it's more difficult lucky they have Kerri sister lives about half hour away so that helps in school holiday but not for ,odd days
Hope Lee gets well soon

Grand-daughter lived near Durham when she was born and for the first few years. Then moved to Kent. Used to go and see her and take herand her
mother on holiday. Her father was working.
Now Grand-daughter is working she does come up to see me for a couple of days. We have a good time together.

Crommers, having family that can help is a God send and blessing. When Karl and Nadine had their two kids they only had me as family and because I was working full time I just wasn't in a position to help and it was hard for them; but they managed. Childcare is stupid expensive, I remember at one point Nadine working in London 3 days a week and once she paid for the childcare and travel to get to work and after taxes she was left with about £200. Fine as a bit of spending money because Karl was working and earning but as you say - had she been a single parent no way could she survive on that.

The past two years with Covid have been a bonus for many in that working from home has become easier and more acceptable meaning families have more flexibility to help. I've been able to help with school runs, working from Karl and Nadine's so Amelia wasn't left on her own etc.... all things I'd not have been able to do before.

Tim's mum is lucky that all her family live nearby Unfortunately the only ones that actually bother to do anything are me Tim and my Luke. His carer's and him have recently taken her to buy a blind for her kitchen and last week a new microwave. I do all the rest, hospital appointments, all 4 departments, opticians, GP appointments etc. Tim does all her repairs, I.T. stuff, putting up said blind etc. The other three grandchildren only turn up when there is something to be gained, eg birthday money

I did think her grandson and his partner were a bit more on board, as she does her cleaning. But today his mum hasn't been well, and Becky said maybe if she's not better by Monday she'll need a GP appointment. I thought well done on remembering I am at work until Monday. God forbid one of you offered to take her

My family are sort of scattered to the 4 winds. 1/3 the kids are out of the country, 3 out of 5 grandkids are out of the country. My parents are still local so some of the grandkids but visiting is a rare thing. I've been an absent child since I went to the Army in the 70's and never lived close again.

Life is harder when you are all separated.