Woman Gets Roasted For Expecting Her Mom To Take Care Of Her Baby For Free While She Works

Babies demand constant care, especially during the early months when they require frequent feeding, diaper changes, and comfort. For new mothers, these tasks can feel overwhelming. Adjusting to these demands can be especially daunting for first-time mothers who lack a baseline for comparison and may feel exhausted and uncertain.

In such circumstances, seeking support from family members, like the OP turning to her stay-at-home mom, can seem like a natural solution to alleviate some of the burdens of childcare. When the OP’s maternity leave ended, she hoped her stay-at-home mom would help, but her refusal, citing her child-rearing years, led to a confrontation. The mom declined free childcare and proposed charging $20 per hour plus additional expenses, leaving the OP in a financial dilemma.

Continue scrolling down to delve into the complete story.

Source: Reddit

1. Is it wrong for OP to feel frustrated if her mom declines to assist with childcare while she returns to work?

2. OP sought her 64-year-old stay-at-home mom’s help with her newborn, aiming to return to work after her maternity leave.

3. Declining, the mother cited her age and past parenting duties, suggesting OP reconsider staying home like she did, while the partner provided, akin to a “traditional” family setup.

4. Amidst a pandemic and looming recession, the couple faces financial strain with one income insufficient due to the couple’s various debts.

5. As the primary earner, OP feels compelled to return to work, given their financial stake and contribution to the family’s finances.

6. Upon sharing their circumstances, the mother proposed charging $20/hr for childcare, including late fees. She requested OP to provide additional baby essentials too.

7. Due to personal reasons, the mother refuses to enter the OP’s house, despite having only visited once in the five years.

8. Seeking to reduce debt, OP aims to minimize expenses associated with childcare and avoid over-investment in duplicates, foreseeing potential financial strain.

9. Considering options, OP contemplates enrolling her baby in infant daycare for cost efficiency and proximity.

10. Questioning her request, OP wonders if she is wrong for expecting her stay-at-home mom to provide free childcare as they and their partner tackle financial challenges.

Now that you have read the story, it’s time for you to see what Redditors had to say about this. Read till the end to see what are other people’s opinions on this. 

11. It’s irresponsible to have a child if financial stability isn’t assured, and suggests discussing post-pregnancy plans with family beforehand to avoid conflicts.

12. A Redditor criticizes OP for expecting her mother to provide childcare without obligation, questioning her readiness for parenthood and lack of pre-planning.

13. Parenthood is a personal responsibility and not an obligation for others.

14. Another Redditor sides with the mother, emphasizing that the responsibility of raising the child lies with OP, not the grandmother.

15. Grandparents aren’t obliged to babysit, so OP should prefer hiring a nanny over expecting constant assistance from the grandmother.

16. The Redditor agrees with the mother, blaming OP for having a child they can’t afford and emphasizing that it’s not the mother’s duty to raise the child.

17. The Redditor questions OP’s decision to have a child without financial stability, and criticizes her for making childcare her mother’s burden.

18. “Your baby, your responsibility!!!”

19. OP should accept the mother’s refusal, as she already did her part by raising her own children.

20. Nobody owes OP free childcare, emphasizing that having a baby was her decision and responsibility to manage.

In seeking free childcare to alleviate debt, the OP devalues her mother’s contributions and assumes she should be grateful to babysit. Redditors deemed this entitled, highlighting that Grandma’s past parenting didn’t obligate her to care for her daughter’s child, ultimately labeling the OP as an AH. Do share your thoughts on OP’s situation in the comments section below.

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