An Australian grandmother of eight has said she will buck the growing trend of older generations helping with childcare, but her words have sparked outrage.
Author April Moore said that while she enjoyed being a grandmother, she was quick to tell her three grown children that she would not be available to babysit.
In this example, the child was cared for all day several days a week while the child's parents were at work. In his opinion, a piece for Age He said that most of these women are over 65 years old who step into this role.
“As parents, my wife and I have devoted much of our lives to raising our three children, and neither of us wants to take on that level of responsibility again,” Moore wrote in an opinion piece for the magazine.
“Furthermore, I resent the fact that despite the equal participation of said partner during those years and now as a grandparent, I alone, because of my gender, am expected to somehow participate in regular childcare. I am sad.”
She said that while spending time with her grandchildren was lovely, the main reason she “rebelled” against the ideology was not gender equality, but that taking care of children was too much work.
Moore said she's seen other grandmothers become resentful — especially when parents criticize them for not doing things the “right” way.
The author is not wrong when he claims that more grandparents are helping with childcare, especially amid the cost-of-living crisis.
According to the Australian Household Survey 2022, two in five grandparents with a grandchild under the age of 13 provided some form of childcare, and this rate only increased if the youngest grandchild was under the age of 10. be
“Most grandparents provide childcare to support the parents' work. The survey claims that grandparents' willingness to communicate and build relationships with their grandchildren and family was central to their child care.
Most childcare is occasional compared to regular childcare or school holidays, but as the cost of childcare facilities increases, more are turning to their families for help.
Childcare costs have risen significantly for families living in every state and territory in Australia, according to recent data from the Productivity Commission.
Victorians currently pay the highest childcare bills in the country, with the average cost of 50 hours of care at the center costing $626 a week.
The government increased its childcare subsidy for families earning less than $530,000 last July, however, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission report last year, costs are almost double wage rates and year-on-year inflation. increased from 2018 to 2022.
Thrive by Five's Jay Weatherill said too many Australian children were unable to attend nursery and pre-school because their parents could not afford it.
However, Ms. Moore's comment sparked a heated debate with many opposing the grandmother.
As much as some grandparents refuse to do childcare, many of us love this special time. I never hear resentment only gratitude. One woman wrote in a letter to the editor: “Our care of nine grandchildren over 15 years has created a very close relationship with all of them.”
“Amazingly we still manage a fulfilling life of work, theater and vacations. Our contributions are greatly appreciated by our family, as we were grateful to my parents for allowing me and my wife to have a career. “Let's follow. It's called family.”
“Let go of grudges. There are precious times to be spent with your grandchildren. Enjoy the moment. Before you know it, “hello, have a good life,” said Vic El Hadoff of Cribbly.
This comment piece attracted hundreds of comments. Some agreed with Moore about free labor.
“It's selfish to expect grandparents to care for children more than one day a week… I love them, don't get me wrong, but they're not mine to raise,” they said.
“I totally agree… governments are relying on the generosity of more women to help provide free childcare. Imagine men not being able to work because they don't have childcare? Another said: The situation will be corrected within a few months.
“It always amazes me how many young people expect their parents to step in as caregivers while they look for jobs and pay off huge loans. Very unfair to the grandparents who did it once and are now free to do as they please.
