At present, an increasing number of parents rely on their children’s grandparents for childcare. In my view, this is a negative trend.
It is obvious that depending on children’s grandparents for childcare bring about a host of issues. First and most importantly, the relationship between parents and children is the most important relationship in the family. Indisputably, the love between parents and children is the only unconditional love on the planet; therefore, if parents do not spend enough time with their children, it is harmful for children’s wellbeing and development. Another problem is grandparents are generally older, which means they probably do not have enough energy to look after very young children very well. It is true that childcare is an exhausting job which does not really suit senior citizens. In addition, it is unfair for grandparents to take care of their children’s children because elderly people have the right to enjoy life. It is obvious that childcare is probably more than a full-time job which requires a lot of effort and time – that is to say, grandparents who have retired cannot savour their retirement once they have decided to look after young children.
Certainly, I would acknowledge that not every couple have the financial ability or the time to look after their children by themselves. This is due to the fact that living in modern society is stressful in terms of work and lifestyle. Having said this, however, parents should still clarify what is more important to them – they need to know how to prioritise their life and strengthen their family ties.
Therefore, overall I would argue that grandparents would be ill-advised to assume the responsibility for childcare. It would be wise for parents to look after their own children, which, I firmly believe, is in the best interest of all the parties involved.