Grandma reveals why she doesn't want to babysit her grandchild every day and it resonates with many: 'You don't judge me'

Many grandparents love to spend time with their grandchildren. However, looking after a young child is not always an easy thing. A grandmother named Katie Rothwell Peterson–who goes by @keepupwithkatie on TikTok–admitted that she did not want to look after her little granddaughter every day. She looked forward to having her granddaughter around, but she also enjoyed being an empty nester. The grandma shared her perspective on the platform and many people could resonate with her decision not to babysit all the time.

Peterson heard about many people who would want to keep their grandkids every single day, but that was not the case with her. "I have my granddaughter overnight Friday night and all day Saturday. By Saturday night, I was like, 'When are your parents coming to pick you up?'" She shared that her granddaughter was "the best" 98 percent of the time. However, as a 2-year-old, the kid liked to throw fits and Peterson was tired of that. "I was tired by Saturday night. So, no. I love my empty nest, and I love to sit out here and on my patio and not have to be responsible for a tiny human." She expressed that she had already done that and it was great, but now she enjoyed "incremental" times with her granddaughter.

"But if you want yours every day, that is totally fine. No judgment. You don't judge me, I won't judge you," Peterson suggested. Also, she revealed that by Sunday, less than 24 hours later, she was on a video call with her granddaughter. "And I am like, come back, I miss you." She needed a 12 to 24-hour break in between and was ready to go again after that. "That's how I like to grandparent." The caption read, "I'll get judged for saying this, but it's true! Grandparenting is the best, but so tiring." The grandma said that she looked forward to her weekly dates with her granddaughter but did not want to make herself available every single day.

"There are a lot of grandparents...who feel immense guilt because their kids expect them to take care of their kids and they don't want to all the time," Peterson said, per TODAY. "They allow their kids to take advantage of them. Thankfully, I really have not found that with my kids. We have healthy boundaries." She shared that her granddaughter's maternal grandparents played an equal part in childcare, and her son and daughter-in-law have not put any pressure on her either. People shared their thoughts on wanting to have grandkids every day in the video's comment section.

A user wrote, "I’m 58, and when I have my grandkids, 6 and 2, all weekend, I have my 82-year-old mom come help me. It’s so rewarding, but lord, I’m getting old." @lisablack777 commented, "I 100% agree! I raised my kids. I’m 52 years old, and I am doing what I want to do now. I, too, love my empty nest, patio, toxic house plants and flying off with my husband for a weekend." @barkesdale1 remarked, "Girl, me too! I love my grandbabies to the moon. I have six, and my house is their happy place and they rock the house. It’s exhausting."

You can follow Katie Rothwell Peterson  (@keepupwithkatie) on TikTok for more lifestyle content.