[fintstone]

My wife really wanted to babysit our first grandchild when our daughter went back to work. She is retired and probably wanted more children than we had...and had been dying for a grandchild. I agreed if she wanted to do it...but pointed out that we wanted to travel and do a lot of other things in retirement and it would commit several of our best years until the child was in school...and she would have to go out to where may daughter lived alone until I retired. She went and stayed with her for about a month right after birth and helped out. She was a great mom and her patience and ability to tend a new baby was pretty awe-inspiring for my daughter and made them closer...but...she was really glad to come home...as it was a mental and physical challenge. Now she just wants to visit and spoil the grandchild. Then go home (although we may move closer or at least have a vacation home nearby).

I have had several relatives that ended up being fulltime caregivers for grandkids for multiple reasons from parents that used drugs, single parents with careers that took them to remote places, etc. None seemed to have much quality of life and the kids did not seem particularly well adjusted, etc. I have seen successful daytime babysitting by grandparents that seemed to work out just fine...other than the kids seemed to somewhat lack in physical activity. It sure does seem to take a toll on older folks though.

As someone suggested, give your kids a vacation and let her care for their little bundle of joy for a few weeks...then the other kids the following few weeks. Hopefully she will bond with the grandkids and they will fill some of her needs...and, at the same time, help her recognize the challenge of parenting a baby full time.

Finally, I suggest that it is partially hormonal. Some women go through that around 50. Sometime women's 50+ vitamins are helpful (my wife took One-a-day version). They used to be labelled "post menopausal"...but I guess that did not go over well. Get her some. Vitamins are pretty nonthreatening...and if not that, probably have something she needs anyways.

Since people live longer and life is easier...if one has had an easy life and is very healthy...and wealthy enough to buy a lot of help in their older years...a child at that age is possible. Rich folks can always hire someone to help take care of the house, cook, mow the grass, etc...and play mom/dad part of the day (think Au pair) while you nap.