I have to say that I'm not at all keen on the idea of the unflatteringly titled "Granny leave," whoever coined that phrase needs to think up a better one. The idea of course is Harriet Harman's, who believes that grandmother's should be given special leave from work so they can look after their grandchildren, when their own children have gone back to work. This is because of course, looking after children isn't the responsibility of parents at all, it's the grandparents, because their lives are over and that's what they should be doing.
Why, may I ask, it is it incumbent upon Grandmothers, and I emphasise the word Grandmothers here seen as the word Grandpa has been left out of the equation, to look after the children when the parents go back to work? Surprise, surprise but women are left once more holding the baby, never the husband and never the grandfather, but the mother and the grandmother. The grandfather of course will have far more important things to do like play golf and huff and puff while joining endless committees and worthy courses that no one else cares about.
Some things never change do they? It doesn't seem to have crossed Harriet Harman's mind that yet again women are expected to look after the babies in later life with no mention of the grandfathers. I find that ironic seen as she is meant to be "championing older women."
I'm not a grandmother yet, but when I am I'll look after my grandchildren when I'm asked, I'll babysit and more than likely enjoy it, but I won't be made to feel that it's my duty to do it because I don't have anything else going on in my life. When grandparents have spent their entire lives working and striving to pay the mortgage and raise their own children, surely they're allowed to spend some time at the end of it all, reaping the rewards of years of hard work while they still have some degree of health and fitness?
Why is there an automatic assumption that as people get older they're just there to play out what's left of their lives as a footnote in other people's lives with no regard for their own?
I realise that there'll be plenty of grandparents out there who'll welcome the proposals, but there are many out there that won't, (myself included when the time comes) who won't welcome the added pressure that'll be placed on them to take the granny leave and stay home with the grandchildren. Having had to do it once already with their own children, perhaps they have now carved out a career for themselves in later life, have money of their own and are enjoying the fruits of their hard work. However, it'll be pretty short lived once daughter or son pop out a baby and fully expect granny to take the leave, the baby - and get back to the kitchen.
Don't make grandparents feel the pressure, they're already facing the prospect of having to work until they drop without having to take on the responsibilities of young children. Great for those that want to, but for those that don't, it's nice to have the choice.
