When I had my daughter I thought it was unfair to expect my parents to baby-sit all the time, so I decided to stay at home and look after her myself. For the first couple of years being the most important in the child’s development, I thought it was only right. What’s the point of having children and then expecting other people to look after them.

However, I never knew motherhood would be so demanding and if it wasn’t for the help of my parents, my in-law and my sisters I would have found it very difficult.
Babies are so demanding and require 24 hour supervision especially as a baby, the liable to fall over and hurt themselves if you don’t.

My parents were very supportive, they would come round and take my daughter for a couple of hours, just to give me enough time to clean the house up. They were really fond of her and enjoyed the time they spent with her. In the evenings if my husband and I ever wanted to go out, there would be so many people willing to look after her. She’s the only one you see, so she gets very spoilt.

We’ve never had to pay for baby-sitter, my parents and my husband parents love their grandchild to bits and would be so upset if they ever found out that we had. Families can be a great help, when I am unwell I know that my daughter is being looked after well by my sisters. Sometimes, I wonder what I would have done without them.
It certainly helps me, just the hour or so break a day is enough.

If you have families, use them. Don’t give them your child to look after 24/7 but the odd hour here and there, and they will be more than happy. I am lucky I have quiet a big family, so thank-fully I am never short for a baby-sitter.