do your brothers and sisters help out with children?

red_devil

Following on from should grandparents help out? What about siblings do they help with your children?

pigpen

No, they are mine not theirs. I wouldn't ask either, even if I was desperate.

I have looked after my neice for my sis a few times when she has been ill.

Rach39

My sister and DS have an incredibly close loving relationship - she has no children of her own but from the day he was born was his confidante, best friend and deeply loved auntie and always will be. Unfortunately she lives some distance away so their time together is limited but I know they both look forward to it immensely and have a ball so never really feel that him spending time with her is me 'putting on' her for child care and I know she doesn't see it that way. When she comes to visit it us she spends more time with him than with me coz they just get on soo well!! Everyone should have an auntie like that (wish I did!!):)

mirrorimage0

hi there, my eldest brother will sometimes take them to the shop if we are round there or play agame of footie with them, and my other brother will have them to stay sometimes (althoug not on the same night) and sometimes i have some of his to to stay (he has four) but that sjust because the cousins like to play together and ask to stay we very rarely ask eeach other to babysit althoughit has happened on a handful of occasions in 11 yrs between the two of us. its not that we wouldnt ask its just that most things we go to are family things and there is loads of us we all look out for each other. they are my children and yes i do look after them full time but occasionally we have a nice night off thanks to family and vice versa.x

Any

I have to say this is my personal hate.
I don't have children - because I don't exactly like them, I don't have the patience for them and I have very busy life. My biological clock didn't come on yet.

However, apparently I have to take my responsibilities seriously and spend more time with my nieces. I should take them out to the parks and for walks etc.

Don't take me wrong - I babysit occasionaly, I pick them up from places occasionaly and I had them for a whole day in past when my sister and BIL went to a function... And I do love my nieces, as my family, but they are not my responsibility. I have my own husband and house to look after, work full time and study at the weekends.



Other thing is that usually when I do babysit even though I warn them that I need to be up in the morning, 80% out of 100% they turned up really late. Once at past 2 in the morning.

Apricot

I look after my niece - but because I enjoy it. Not because I feel it is my duty. She is a lovely little thing and I enjoy taking her to the park etc.
If I was told it was my responsibility to look after her regularly I would strongly disagree - that responsibility lies solely with her parents.

RAS

Any

I suspect someone in your family has this crazy idea that if you spend time around children you will catch it.

They do not understand it actually puts you off.

MissGolightly

i have one niece (9) and 2 nephews (3 and 4), and absolutely adore them. i would babysit if asked with at least 2 weeks notice, and assuming i have no other plans, asked maybe once every 2 or 3 months. i know my sister will return the favour when i have kids of my own, and to be honest, i'd rather look after them and get to spend time with them, than have my sister pay someone who doesn't even know them!

i always make sure to go visit them at least once a week, just to catch up with them and spend some fun time with them. and i would take my niece out to the cinema/swimming maybe once a month, again just for quality time.

i have always been very close to my family, and saw lots of my aunts and uncles and cousins when i was little, and if i am able to have children, i want them to have the same experience.

some people might think that they're their own responsibility, but i don't see it as a chore, i see it as spending time with my family who i love so so much.

Any

RAS wrote: »

Any

I suspect someone in your family has this crazy idea that if you spend time around children you will catch it.

They do not understand it actually puts you off.

:rotfl::rotfl:
I think you are right. There are some other signs of this thinking as well. Such as "biological clock doesn't exist, you just have to go for it", "patience comes with your own kids" and "no one likes kids other then their own".

helliesin

My sister and I are very close and our daughters are also incredibly close to each other, there is only 7 months between my niece and dd1 and my dd2 is only 2 years younger than them. We always help each other out whenever we can, always have done and hopefully always will. In fact, I was just about to call her and see if my niece wanted to come overnight this weekend to give my sis a break (shes 9months pregnant)! The girls love all being together, and I dont see why we wouldnt help each other when needed- it works perfectly and gives our parents a well earned break from helping. We have actually just made plans with our cousin to include her and her little boy in the school holidays childcare rota!

I dont understand why 2 people in the same boat wouldnt help each other out.... seems a bit odd to me, or am i missing the point?

kelloggs36

My sister and I look after each others' children if we want to go out with our other halves - only a couple of weeks ago I had 2 of her 4 stay over and we did baking together, which they loved. My hubby and I are going out for a late one soon and she has offered to have my 2 overnight. We do it because we love each other and all the children - we don't see it as a chore in any way; it is just family!