Mom Seeks Advice Following Grandma’s Demand For Payment For Babysitting

Apr 30, 2021

A mom took to the internet to ask for advice about whether family members should be paid for babysitting. A grandmother had asked her daughter if she could be paid for babysitting her grandson. After the mother asked her Facebook group if this was something common, the grandmother was slammed with backlash from some fellow group members. However, other commenters expressed their different opinions on the matter.

Grandparents play a vital role in their grandchildren’s lives. They are someone the kids can turn to for advice if they don’t feel comfortable going to their parents. They’re able to learn a lot and receive plenty of love, care and affection from people that mean so much to them. The positivity goes both ways, as grandparents also benefit from spending time with their grandchildren, helping them keep busy and stay young at heart. 

Having a special bond with family members is something that should be cherished, which is why having an opportunity to spend more time with family is a great way to build that relationship. It makes sense to turn to your relatives if you’re having a hard time or just need a little bit of help, like needing someone to watch your child for the day.

While this mother had good intentions when she asked her own mother to watch the toddler, it didn’t completely go as planned. The grandmother felt like she needed to be compensated for her time and effort spent taking care of such a young child. This led to the mother going to a social media forum for some advice on how to handle the complicated situation.

A mom went to Facebook on Nov. 18, 2019, to ask her group, Mamas Uncut, for their advice on a babysitting situation. She began the conversation and asked, “(S)hould family be paid to babysit?” More information about her personal predicament was then shared, explaining that the 62-year-old grandmother was being asked to watch a 5-year-old little boy from anywhere between two to four hours a day for three days a week.

Many commentators on the Facebook post stated that it’s important to take into consideration that most grandparents are retired and have no active income, meaning they would most likely appreciate being compensated for all the time they spend babysitting their grandchildren — not to mention things like food or other things a child might need.

“She DEMANDS I pay her $65/week, and it makes me livid,” the mother wrote. She then went on to talk about how well-behaved her child is, and why it shouldn’t cost that much, if anything at all, to watch him. “He’s the calmest, most independent child I’ve ever known honestly,” she wrote. “He doesn’t throw tantrums or run around screaming. He’s very well behaved.”

Despite what seemed like such a simple favor, there were a few complications that needed to be accounted for. According to the Daily Mail, the grandmother had a job of her own and was asked by her daughter to watch her grandson a few times a week. Although she was currently working from home, having to dedicate time and attention to her grandson would mean that she couldn’t work as her focus would be redirected. 

Nonetheless, the grandmother agreed, asking for a payment of $15 per hour. In the end, she was only offered $10 per hour. “I am not a daycare,” the grandmother said. “I need money to replace the time I am giving up from my job.” 

The comments were flooded with divisive remarks. Buffy Sutherland commented on the post by bringing up a series of questions to think about. “Did you babysit for free as a teenager?” she asked, reminding people that if anyone else was asked to do the job, they would most likely be compensated for their work. 

Another woman brought up similar thoughts, explaining how much she particularly spends on her own great-grandson. “Each time he is over I spend at least $4 to $10 on him,” Mildred Kelems wrote. She went on to explain how she has limited income and still needs to pay her own bills but is sacrificing her own needs to take care of her great-grandson. “I do without so he has what he needs,” she wrote.

Although some ladies chose to critique the mother for not wanting to pay the grandmother, others stood up for her. Carol Boltz Mellema commented on the post to share the joy she has simply from babysitting and being with her family. “I’m just happy and grateful to be able to do this for them and help them out,” she wrote about watching her own grandchildren.

It was evident that there was a clear difference of opinions. Although the favor seemed simple and the mother had good intentions, situations can get complicated when the topic of money is involved. 

Do you think this grandmother should have been paid for babysitting? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your friends and family members to get their take.