Once you get over the fact that you couldn’t possibly be old enough to be a granny, who doesn’t relish the thought of playing with tiny versions of your now grown-up children? Spotting familiar traits, enjoying cuddles and forging that special relationship can be a delight.
But today, at least five million grandparents in the UK are caring for their grandchildren on a regular basis. The rising cost of living and an expectation that grandparents will play a greater role in the lives of their grandchildren means nearly 40% of grandparents are child carers, says Age UK.
A major factor is that UK childcare costs are sky-high. A report by