I never really worried about my parents taking care of my kids (which they rarely did). They would babysit if I had an event to go to or come and pick them up to spend time with them but this was when they were much younger. Now that my kids are older my parents don't seem to have any desire to spend time with them even though we live just 5 minutes apart. I knew this would happen, my parents are fond of younger children (babies to preschool) sort of a reflection of my childhood.
They did ask to take 2 of my kids to a DC once. Bought clothes and shoes for them to go. Almost talked me into but my one stipulation was that they take all of my children (I had 3 at the time, ages 18 months, 4 years, and 8 years) because the youngest would feel left out if they only took the older two. They decided not to take them at all, guess the 18 month old was the deal breaker.
Josie