A new mom was shocked when her own mother demanded to be paid to babysit. The 29-year-old mom was planning to return to work and didn't want to get into further debt paying for childcare fees. But when she reached out to her 64-year-old retired mom for assistance, she refused.
Young Working Mom Is Furious When Her Own Mother Refuses To Babysit Unless She's Paid
As a parent it can be extremely difficult to balance your work life with looking after your little ones, particularly when child care is so expensive. Some might have to put their child into daycare while the parents go to work, and others might be lucky enough to have family nearby who can help.
One woman asked her mum to help out, but was shocked when she demanded an hourly rate for looking after her granddaughter. She took to Reddit to explain the situation.
In the post the 29-year-old woman detailed how her mum, 64, who hasn't been part of the workforce since 1992, refused to babysit. She said she's too old to raise kids and maybe OP should've thought about staying home like she did.
But OP explained her financial situation that why she needs to work to pay off the debts and save for the future. Clearly this isn't possible on one income.
So her mom then asked to be paid $20/hr for her services and to be provided with all the childcare essentials separately.
Now OP thinks that it's going to cost her more than a daycare so she should instead enroll the baby there, since they have no one else to help with childcare.
Now she asks the Redditors if she's an a*****e for wanting her mom to babysit for free considering she stays home all day and doesn't work.
She also explained further that she thinks she might be an a*****e because if she doesn't pay her mom then it looks like she wants a free nanny. But the truth is that she's struggling financially and so is her husband. So they both have to work to overcome their financial struggles and that's why she can't stay home to take care of the baby.
Redditors agreed with her and told her that she in fact is an a*****e for expecting her retired mom to care for the baby for free. And that she should have discussed childcare with her before getting pregnant if that was the plan.
Another pointed out their judgmental attitude towards each other that how OP is judging her mom for not working and her mother is judging her for going back to work and the issue really isn't childcare.
One user was baffled by OP's entitlement towards her mother. Her mom can spend her time however she wants because it's not her fault if OP is in debt or can't afford childcare. Her only fault is to raise an entitled child like OP.
Another pointed out her entitlement to her mother's time and services as if she has nothing else to do with her time and as if childcare is the easiest job for an old person.
Clearly, Reddit users gave her a reality check that no one is entitled to anyone's time or services even if they are your parents. They raised you and their job is done. They could help if they want, not because they must.