Nadia Sawalha believes parents who cannot afford to look after a baby without having to rely on grandparents should not have any more kids.
The Loose Women panelist received a round of applause for her views from the studio audience earlier today during a discussion about whether grandparents should charge for babysitting.
Nadia, 54, admitted she had been fortunate to have her own mother on hand to help when raising her children but noted grandparents should not be taken for granted as child minders.
Relating how she knew someone who had assumed a parent would look after her younger child, Nadia was adamant that such an expectation was out of line.
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“That is a massive deal,” she said.
“To ask someone in their 70s to look after a two-year-old and then a baby.
“The thing is, if you can’t afford to look after the baby or pay somebody then I don’t think you can have another one.”
Reflecting on how her mum insisted her grandchildren were ‘nothing to do with her’, a sympathetic Nadia explained: “She loves her grandchildren but she didn’t want to be a mother all over again.
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“I don’t think that necessarily comes as part of the deal. That you’re a mother and you’re a mother again.”
Reacting to a post on Twitter from the Loose Women account concerning looking after grandchildren, many viewers suggested they would never charge to do so.
Among those responding was former Loose Women panelist Sherrie Hewson. She tweeted: “I love every second.”
Another person replied similarly: “I have my grandchildren to help my daughter and son in law so they can work. I’d never charge! They are my absolute treasures and I love every minute.”
And a third person pondered: “Charge for their time… how ridiculous.
“I love having my grandkids why would I want paying?
“Then again I suppose if you are child minding while mum and dad work maybe that might be bit different but I wouldn’t charge.”
‘My mum never did it, she never looked after her grandchildren. She said, ‘I’ve done my time and I’m not doing it again.’
Our Carol explains why her mum chose to opt-out of looking after her grandchildren. pic.twitter.com/qL0H5DPpJg
— Loose Women (@loosewomen) August 22, 2019
– Loose Women airs weekdays on ITV at 12.30pm
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