KERA's Think
Grandparents need a break, too
May 5, 2025
Faith Hill, a staff writer at The Atlantic, dives into the pressing issues facing grandparents who are stepping into full-time childcare roles. She discusses the exhaustion that comes with this unexpected 'second shift' and how rising daycare costs are reshaping their golden years. The conversation reveals the emotional and logistical challenges these grandparents face, their struggle to say 'no' to family, and the impact on their own retirement dreams, highlighting a shift in expectations of grandparenting in modern society.
46:50
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Quick takeaways
- Grandparents are increasingly taking on full-time childcare roles due to inadequate daycare options, drastically altering their retirement expectations.
- The dual caregiving responsibilities of grandparents for both grandchildren and aging parents contribute to significant stress and feelings of being overwhelmed.
Deep dives
Changing Retirement Plans for Grandparents
Many grandparents' retirement plans are significantly altered when they are called upon to provide full-time childcare for their grandchildren. For instance, a couple who had looked forward to moving to a vacation town in Wyoming soon found themselves relocating to the Pacific Northwest to care for their grandchild due to a lack of available daycare options. This situation highlights how rising daycare costs and limited availability lead young parents to turn to their own parents for assistance, resulting in a major departure from how older individuals envisioned spending their retirement. The pressure to assist often outweighs the desire for personal leisure, forcing many grandparents to reassess their roles and limitations.
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