When you become a mom or dad for the first time, it’s normal to want some help. This usually happens when you’re in your 20s or 30s, and you’re working on your job and trying to keep everything the way it is. Having a baby can make it tough to balance everything in your life.
One way we often receive help from our own parents, who are the new baby’s grandparents.
They will step in to help, and sometimes, they might even become like a regular babysitter in the baby’s life.
Many people depend on this, but not every family sees it the same way. This family is no exception, and when the grandma mentioned wanting money for looking after the grandchild, things got messy.
I’m in a difficult situation at the moment. My husband and I have been happily married for 10 years. We have a wonderful six-month-old baby, and we both have full-time jobs. My husband works from home, and I work at an office.
Lately, my husband’s mom stopped working, and she said she’d watch our baby while we’re at work. We said yes, and it’s going well. She’s good with kids, and I’m thankful for her. She takes care of the baby and also helps with cooking, cleaning, and washing dishes.
Yesterday, I had a surprising talk with my husband’s mom. She actually requested money for looking after our beloved Katie. I can’t believe she’s asking for payment to spend time with her own grandchild. When I was a baby, my grandma used to watch over me and my sister without expecting any money or gifts. She did it because she loved us. I also used to babysit my siblings for free for hours when I was younger.
I’m speechless. I’m so frustrated, and this issue is causing problems in my marriage. My husband thinks we should pay her because if she doesn’t help, we’d have to hire a stranger to look after our child, which might cost more. I don’t know what to do. I’ve considered everything, but I’m completely lost, and my head is just spinning.