A gran has revealed she flies thousands of miles back and forth from the UK to Australia each year to help her daughters with babysitting.
Helen Chope does the tiresome travel stint in a bid to aid her children, Zoe, 35, Lily, 29 and Annie, 23, with the soaring costs of childcare.
The 61-year-old, who splits her time between Bristol and Down Under, clocks up more than 30 hours per week babysitting.
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Not only that, she rents her home in the UK to her other daughter for just £600; leaving her £1,800 worse off each month.
But Helen isn’t bothered about the money and is willing to make any “sacrifice” to make their lives easier.
“I love the fact that I can help out and make their lives easier,” the administrator told Need To Know.
“I’m happy to sacrifice my earning potential if it helps them.
“I want them to have the opportunity to improve their lives as young families and I feel reassured that they will look after me when I’m older, if I need it.
“I looked after my mum for nearly two years, in my home, when she needed it in her mid-80s, until she died in 2020.
“That’s what family means to me, and my daughters, too.
“I feel extremely blessed to have three amazing daughters that I’m very close to and wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Helen goes to Australia once a year for three to fourth months at a time, costing £1,500 for flights alone.
She said: “Childcare costs would be around £900 a month for the hours I do while I’m there.
“I do it because they can’t afford all that childcare all year, so wouldn’t be able to both work if I didn’t.”
Back in Bristol, she helps out with her other daughter’s two children for six to eight hours a week – while also footing much of the bill for food.
But the 61-year-old’s support goes further than babysitting and paying for big shops.
Instead of renting out her three-bedroom home for the £2,400 a month she estimates she could get, she lets her UK-based daughter’s family live there for just £600, giving them space and security they couldn’t otherwise afford.
And it’s not the first time she’s opened her doors – she also housed her other daughter’s family for several years after her first grandchild was born in 2016.
Helen, who still works as an administrator, says helping her children now is more valuable than leaving them money later in life.
And she’s far from alone – according to new research from over-50s experts SunLife, more than two-thirds (68%) of grandparents have made adaptations or purchases to better accommodate their grandchildren, spending an average of £352 each.
Vic Heath, CMO at SunLife, said: “These figures show that grandparents aren’t just providing the odd bit of babysitting – they’re making significant, often costly changes to their homes to be there for their grandchildren.
“For many, it’s not just about practicality, it’s about creating a space where memories can be made and relationships can grow.
“Even when it’s a financial stretch, the overwhelming motivation is love and connection.
“Our latest findings show just how far grandparents are going to support the next generation.
“Not only are they providing invaluable time and care, but many are investing in their homes to make them a welcoming, safe space for their grandchildren – in some cases almost replicating a nursery or childminding setup.”
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