WWYD: Grandpa watching ds

skittles_123

Okay, so please no flames here, just need some opinions. My ds will be starting my work preschool program December 1st and will be going part time, 3 days a week all day. The other two days, we have had 3 sets of grandparents (we have 4 because both our parents are divorced), volunteer to watch ds those other two days, my mil, fil and dad.

My dh and I commute to work, which is about a 30 minutes drive to downtown. My fil, who lives even further out, an additional 20 miles out, has offered to come pick him from our house, as it would be terribly inconvenient otherwise. We would meet him half way in the evenings to pick him up. My mil lives several miles from our house and is on our way to work, so no issues their.

My dad on the otherhand lives on the other side of downtown, he has about a 25 minute commute. So, when we commute to my dads house it is almost an hour commute to get to his house and that is not counting having to then turn around and drive back to work, and then going to pick ds up at the end of the day and driving home. So basically I would spend 2 hrs in the car everyday. Plus I would have to wake up ds about an hour earlier than normal to get him ready to go. Not very practical in my book.

So I asked my dad today if he would be willing to meet me at work in the mornings and I would come get him afterwork, and explained to him it would save me some drive time in the morning and I wouldn't have to wake ds up as early. His answer was, "probably not, that would mean I would have to get up a little earlier than I am used to. I am doing you a favor by watching him all day."

I was shocked. Part of me was actually doing this so he could spend some time with his grandson. And yes, I am very grateful that he has offered and is willing to do this in the first place. 

We already have two other sets of grandparents that are willing to watch him anyway. Any of our other parents would have been okay with the arrangement. My dad is not typically very "emotionally intelligent" perse, but I am inclined to say it isn't worth it. Maybe we could use him as a back up. I don't know how to handle this.

  

Pesky

I would explain to your dad that you very much appreciate his offer and think you might take him up on it on occasion but for a regular thing, the added length of commute for you all including your DS is just not a workable option.  I would think he would understand. 

2bearichards

Is it only going to be one day a week that your Dad would be watching him?

 

I would never turn down free daycare, so I would make accomodations for your Dad, especially if it is only one day a week.

MrsAmers

Ditto Pesky.  I wouldn't add that much time to my commute on a regular basis, especially since you have two other convenient options for the days that you need care.

ali-1411

Pesky:

I would explain to your dad that you very much appreciate his offer and think you might take him up on it on occasion but for a regular thing, the added length of commute for you all including your DS is just not a workable option.  I would think he would understand. 

agreed

dmsn

I agree with Pesky, too!

skittles_123

Thanks ladies!

DC04

Absolutely agree! You have enough to worry about. If it doesn't make your life easier, your dad isn't excited to do it and you have two good options then it isn't worth it. Now if they all wanted to watch DS at your house....