As a new parent, it’s common to need a helping hand. Grandparents can be a lifesaver, offering support and love to their grandkids. But what happens when that help comes with a price tag?
I’m facing a dilemma that’s testing my marriage and my values. My husband and I have a beautiful six-month-old baby, and we both work full-time. My mother-in-law recently retired and offered to watch our baby while we work.
We gratefully accepted, and she’s been a huge help, not just with childcare but also with household chores.
But yesterday, she dropped a bombshell: she wants us to pay her for babysitting her own grandchild. I’m shocked and frustrated. In my family, we never put a price on love and care. My grandma babysat me and my siblings out of love, and I did the same for my younger siblings.
My husband thinks we should compensate her, considering the cost of hiring a stranger to care for our child. But I believe that family should be about love, not money. I’m torn and unsure of what to do. This situation is causing tension in our marriage, and I’m desperate for a solution that honors our values and our family bonds.
