A 29-year-old mother was shocked when her mother demanded to be paid $20 per hour to take care of her baby.
Taking to Reddit, the woman explained that she was returning to work and because her husband had debt, she didn’t want to pay for childcare fees.
But when she asked her 64-year-old retired mother for help, she refused to babysit her grandchild for free and demanded payment.
In her post, the woman explained that her mother “has been a homemaker/stay-at-home-mom since 1992, and hasn’t been part of the workforce since then.’
“She also added that if I really wanted this baby, then maybe I should have thought about staying home like she did to take care of it while my partner goes to work and provides for us like a ‘traditional’ family, and that if she any my dad were able to work it out, so can we.”
She also explained that she earns more than her partner, who is still in debt, so she can’t afford to stay at home.
“When I explained all the above to my mom, she then proceeded to say that she will charge me $20/hr for each hour she takes care of the baby, plus late fees if we are late for pickup,” she added.
Her mother also wanted her to buy all the baby items, including bottles, stroller, a car seat, and everything else.
“She will not step foot in my house for her own personal reasons (she’s come in once, and I’ve lived with my partner for 5 years; she’s a 15min drive away,” the woman went on.
“I’m on the fence about enrolling my baby into an infant daycare instead as the cost will overall be lower and a little closer to our home.”
She is now asking if she is the a**hole for wanting her mother to take care of her baby for free.
Many people sided with the grandmother, with one person writing: “The audacity to neglect her mother’s time. ‘She doesn’t do anything’: CAUSE SHES 64!!”
Another said: “Sorry to be blunt and rude but maybe don’t have a child if you can’t afford to take care of them. And if your plan was always go back to work you should of discussed that before the pregnancy with your mum.”
Others shared some advice, with one commenting: “The best thing you can do is start building your childcare system. Look at nurseries. Make some mom friends in the same boat as you and swap babysitting. Go, OK, mom isn’t interested, that sucks, what are some other options?”
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