Grandmother Refuses To Babysit For Free, Daughter Gets Schooled On Reddit

Although it’s a widely held belief that family love cannot be purchased, this does not mean that people should take their support and care for granted. Blood relatives are always there for one another in times of need, and one can only expect favors in return. It is unimaginable for people to think that their family members may demand payment for the labor they perform. While the same sum would be willingly paid to strangers, the notion of compensating family members for such assistance is often met with resistance.

OP and her mother shared a strong relationship, and her mother had always been willing to babysit her granddaughter. During a work trip, OP entrusted her daughter to her mother’s care for almost a week, for which she compensated her. Additionally, OP had hired a nanny to assist with childcare most of the time. Therefore, OP was taken aback when her mother suddenly requested payment per hour for babysitting services when OP needed her to watch her daughter for a few hours while she ran errands. This unexpected demand led to a heated argument between OP and her mother, leaving OP with no choice but to take her daughter along, which was less than ideal. Explore the full story to grasp the complete scenario and share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Source: Reddit

1. OP seeks opinions on whether she was justified in declining to pay her mother for babysitting her own 8-year-old granddaughter.

2. OP and her mother shared a good relationship, and her mother often babysat her granddaughter without charging. OP compensated her mother only once when she went on a week-long work trip.

3. OP refused her mother’s demand to be paid per hour for babysitting her own granddaughter. After a heated argument, OP had to take her daughter with her.

4. OP’s friend suggested that she should pay her elderly mother to watch her daughter, but OP found this suggestion strange because she had stayed with her own grandmother for free until her teenage years.

5. OP elaborated on how her mother, a wealthy person, delighted in spending time with her grandchild. Additionally, OP only requested her help not more than twice a week, and only when the nanny wasn’t available.

Now that you’ve read the story, let’s delve into the perspectives shared by Redditors. Keep reading to explore the various viewpoints on this matter.

6. Redditor suggested that OP should avoid exploiting her mother’s willingness to care for her granddaughter and recommended completing errands during the times her mother is available to spend time with the child.

7. Absolutely! A ‘few hours’ often ends up stretching to 4-5 hours!

8. Redditor advises OP not to take her mother for granted. If OP treats her as an on-call babysitter rather than a family member, then she should compensate her accordingly.

9. Indeed, OP should respectfully inquire if her mother is available to babysit her child.

10. Redditor paid his mother-in-law to take care of his kids as a gesture of gratitude.

11. OP needs to understand that grandmothers also have their own errands to complete.

12. Of course, no child support covers the expenses of multiple nannies.

13. Once or twice a week is certainly more than sufficient!

14. Redditor makes a valid point! If the nanny was available, OP would pay her; if not, OP would pay the person who filled in for the nanny.

15.Obviously! OP’s mother emphasizes paying per hour so that OP would keep track of her time when she went for errands.

16. Love is free, but babysitting comes at a cost!

17. Grandma has fulfilled her duty raising her own children; now it’s time for her to rest.

18. Redditor suggests that OP’s mother might be feeling tired of her daughter taking advantage of her kindness.

19. Totally agreed! It wasn’t her mother’s duty to babysit her daughter whenever she wanted.

20. OP should have taken her daughter with her instead of disturbing her mother all the time.

OP shouldn’t take her mother for granted. While her mother loves her granddaughter, it’s important to recognize that she can’t always be available for childcare. OP should be mindful of her mother’s time and not assume she can manage childcare indefinitely. While OP tracks and pays for hours with a nanny, she should also respect her mother’s time and efforts. While it may feel uncomfortable to pay a family member for childcare, it’s important to acknowledge and compensate for their time and effort. What are your thoughts on this situation? Share your comments below, and stay tuned to Defused for more stories.