British woman charges £25,000 to babysit her own grandchildren (5 photos)

Caroline Duddridge has five children and seven grandchildren, so she's seen it all: from runny noses to dirty nappies. The pensioner has opened up about why she doesn't want to babysit her grandchildren for free.





"When I pick up Elodie, my precious five-month-old granddaughter, I kiss her on the cheek. She's so sweet, like all my daughter Amanda's children," the 65-year-old says.

Her husband Brian died aged 67 from pancreatic cancer in December 2015. Duddridge worked as a teacher until 2018, when she quit. But her pension is small, so she returned to school in 2022.



Caroline said: "When Amanda, 39, asked if I could babysit for two full days a week, my heart sank and I thought, 'What about my life?' Then I decided to agree, but for a fee."

"I thought £15 for half a day per child, or £50 for a full day, was a very generous offer. But Amanda was appalled. She claimed that grandmothers all over the country were dreaming of spending time with their grandchildren. But I stood my ground and was proven right when I read an article in Fabulous Daily about Rebecca Theede, a Cornish mum who charged for visits with her six-year-old daughter Mabel. People call her selfish, but money doesn't grow on trees."





Amanda is currently on maternity leave, but works part-time as a cleaner.

"She and her husband, Grafton, 40, a claims officer, thought long and hard about agreeing to my terms. But now their three children, Elodie, Esme and Elvie, are with me from 8.30am to 5pm, four days a week. My rates are rising in line with inflation. In total I have earned £25,000."

Amanda was initially angry with her mother, but a nanny is cheaper than a crèche, which costs £75 a day per child.



"I have also started babysitting my 34-year-old daughter Elizabeth's children, who are 14, 11 and 5. I charge them the same."

"I'm not some grey-haired granny who sits at home all day and does nothing. I'm dating again. I do a 90-minute workout at the gym five times a week. Looking sexy is very important to me. I'm not bored, I love my life and I don't want to take on the burden of caring for children," the pensioner confesses.



"I know Amanda's friends think I'm money-hungry and selfish."

Every year Caroline cooks Christmas dinner at her home in Cardiff and charges £10 for adults and £5 for children to cover the cost of ingredients. In 2023 she added an electricity charge.

"I know young parents and grandparents will think I'm crazy, selfish, but I don't care."

She concluded: "I have to look after my future. What I do doesn't mean I love my grandchildren any less, I'm just sensible."