"Cheryl" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 25 Mar 2007 18:58:47 GMT, len garden
wrote:


maybe a safer option for families if families became more extended and
grandparents took on the child care duties for their married siblings,

(I assume you mean married children, although they aren't the only
children that will be requiring childcare) That's fine for those who
chose to have their children at a young age, but it's not so good for
those who didn't have children before their late 30's/early 40's.
Their parents would be heading into their 70's and trying to look
after very active toddlers, which could be a recipe for disaster. The
next generation, those of us who had children later, could potentially
be nearly 80 before our first grandchildren are born.

Coming in late on this thread - this is us. DH and I are in our 40s, my
parents (the only close family we have in Melbourne) are in their 80s. While
they can do the occasional mind of their first and only GD for a few hours
they just don't have what it takes to look after P for any extended time.
They give in to her rather than deal with any battles.
I will be in my 60s when P is most likely to be a parent.

Liz

Liz