Applying for a job

Kazziecookie I sympathise I am only 58 and work in low paid child care can't retire till I'm 66 and I'm already feeling paggered. Arthritis asthma and really tired go to bed early and can't sleep for the pain x

Who has the right to work?
You?
Your daughter in law?
I'd say that these the children she chose to have so she is responsible for their arrangements.
You raised your child/ren, now you are not tied in the same way as you were.

At 66 and long retired I wouldn't look for a job, I'd fill my life with things that interest me.

Talk to your DiL to suggest you have been thinking about employment for a few hours. Perhaps you can work out between you. I'm sure she would appreciate you being honest with her. Voluntary work is so flexible with hours.

Good luck finding a part-time job cc. It could turn out to be the best of both worlds for you.

Thank you everyone for your interesting and thoughtful replies. The other grandmother is on her own, and for financial reasons works all the hours God sends, just to keep a roof over her head! She looks after the children on the alternate Fridays, when their mum works as a barmaid. My DS, the children's father, helps as much as he can, but works a 12 hour day (with an hour's drive each way!) I'm feeling it's a bit self indulgent to get a job, but if there's something part time, that might be the answer!

I think that if there’s something you’d like to do, whatever it is, work or otherwise, and for whatever reason, you’re entitled to do that. Much as you love them, they aren’t your children and their parents will just need to sort it out for themselves.

Are you doing enough childcare to claim these? www.gov.uk/government/news/looking-after-the-grandchildren-make-sure-it-counts-towards-your-state-pension

I would hate to go back to work. I'd rather look after my grandchildren any day. It's your choice of course, but won't you miss the weekly contact with your grandchildren?

I am so envious that you have the choice of working or not. I have to work until I am 66 until I can retire. This means I have 4 more years to go.
I am tired, both mentally and physically and in pain daily with my Arthritis

I doubt the OP needs the money as she must get a pension, her husband still works and she has a son and a lodger who both work and presumably contribute to the household finances.

Chinesecrested
Is it for the extra income ?or are you feeling the need to do something more than be available to help out with your grandchildren.? I believe you may upset DIl should you obtain employment, tough, but ask yourself where are the other grandparents in this? What part are they playing in helping their daughter?

I do casual work at school exams, doing Invigilation. They send you a list of dates so you can choose what days you do. It keeps my body and my brain active plus I have a good social scene with the teachers too. It’s the best of both worlds in my opinion so I am still available to help out with my 5 grandkids and go on my holidays.

Chinesecrested, I retired to look after my 3 Grand children for my daughter whilst she studied full time at uni to beome a midwife, it was my choice and lucky enough to be able to help her out, she qualified 2 yrs ago and I decided to return to work part time for the company, she went into a bit of a panic, but I am still looking after GC as they are now all at school so I do the school run before and after work, so all worked out in the end and everyone is happy, do what suits you it's your life.

You may find the pace of full time work, driving through rush hours more than you bargained for. Why not work part time first and see how it goes. That way you could still help with dgc sometimes and it would give ddil time to sort out alternative care. Hats off to you if you have energy and motivation to go back to full time work when most your age are taking time for themselves and seizing new opportunities to take up new hobbies and travel.

I read the OP's post as saying I look after the DGC a lot but really want to do something of my own choice. A lot depends on whether the DDIL makes the OP feel taken for granted as the go to childminder.
Too many of the parents today assume that Grandmothers who don't work are there to babysit/childmind. Is the DDIL at work to need you to babysit every second Friday? You also mention seeing the DGC a couple of times a week. Is that to "visit" rather than babysit while DDIL goes out?
I have been looking after a DGC up to 30 hours per week but when I got ill and needed a day or two of rest I have been ignored and not offered any help. SOmetimes I think there is too much expectation of DGM to comply with demand for childminding and not enough just plain social interaction between the generations.

If you don’t need the money and are just doing it for company what about volunteering work in a charity shop part time then it can fit in with helping with GC as well and you get to mix with people.

Although you've been busy since you retired, it has been a few years now. You might finds a full time job a bit of shock to the system. How about working part-time so you can still offer some help with grandchildren?

Do what you want to do, if you need the extra cash then the daughter in law will have to understand, it's your life to do as you feel right for you.

Well I'll be very impressed if you can actually find work! I have a sister in law who is in an awful job but cannot find alternative employment and she's 62! She is one of these caught in the delayed pension trap.
I agree with others, if you can afford not to work, I would stay at home and be free to do as you like-I've found retirement is the best job I've ever had! And again like OPs have said GC are little for such a short time. Our latest DGC are a 3 hour drive away-how I would love to be able to have them/collect them from school.

Personally, I would hate to go back to work but if you feel you want to, then go for it. However, I wonder if you have thought through going back to being tied down. Having to get out of the house early, not having any freedom during the day? Do you need the money? If not, perhaps you could volunteer in a charity shop or join some classes or U3A. What I am trying to say, is do you really want to go back to work or do you just need some activities to fill your days? If you join something one side effect will be that you make new friends.

I worked four years past retirement age and wild horses wouldn't have dragged me back to work once I retired.

I loved looking after the DGCs when they were small even though it meant wearing grooves in various motorways.

Do you need the money or is it just that you feel you don't have enough to fill your days?

Personally I would go with caring for GC any day - they are small for such a short time. But that's me - an old softie!

I do some child care and also run/belong to a host of other things, so I feel the balance is good for me, but only you can decide what you are happy with.

The answer is in the phrase her mother works very long hours . She should entirely understand or at least look shame faced if she defends her mother working long hours against expecting you to fill all the gaps.

Parents need to stand on their own feet and not expect grandparents to be around to pick up the slack every time they have a problem. In an emergency one moves heaven and earth, but that is different.

You are not a full time carer or, really, a part time carer. Just a always willing available carer who loves to see her grandchildren. If you are working you will not be able to be so and she will have to manage. Where is your son in all this? What contribution is he making?

So, you retired at 59, you’ve obviously enjoyed it so far, now it’s time to do something else and if that’s going back to work, then good luck
Maybe when you start looking you will find something part time that allows you to look after the GCs as well.
If you wait until the youngest starts school you might miss your chance of finding something now.
Maybe start dropping hints to your DS now , that you are thinking about looking so that they have time to get used to the idea and sort out extra childcare