Mary Jo Galusha, a 67‑year‑old former Idaho schoolteacher, retired this spring and made a 2,200‑mile drive to Newark, Delaware, to take on 30 hours of weekly childcare for her youngest grandchild. She traded her trusty red Volkswagen Beetle for a roomy SUV, hoping the extra space will ease the load of two car seats. Her daughter, Stacia Bourne, a University of Delaware psychology professor, lives in Maryland and had just announced her second pregnancy when the decision crystallized. Bourne said the cost of caring for her son George—$13,184 a year—almost matched the family’s mortgage.
Across the country, the average cost of childcare for a child under five reached $13,184 in 2025, according to Child Care Aware of America. When parents cannot afford this, grandparents step in, as the AARP report shows nearly half of families with grandchildren under 18 rely on them at least monthly. The median grandparent now spends roughly 200 hours a year—about 3.8 hours a week—looking after grandchildren, a figure that dwarfs the 2‑hour average for full‑time caregivers. Experts say the gap points to a lack of flexible, affordable infrastructure, forcing older relatives into the care loop.
Galusha says watching Robin grow feels like "magic," and that the extra hours help her stay active. She also notes the physical strain, reminding that grandparents often trade social life for caregiving. Yet the sense of purpose outweighs the cost, she says, citing the joy of seeing her grandson’s first steps.
The Bourne family will submit a request to Delaware’s Child Care Financial Assistance program next week, hoping to offset the $13,184 annual expense. If approved, the subsidy could free up funds for the family’s mortgage and future education savings. Both Mary Jo and Stacia plan to monitor how the support shapes their long‑term financial plan.