When young parents need help, grandparents often step up to provide childcare. However, not every family sees this kind of assistance the same way, which can lead to conflicts. This family faced a similar challenge when the mother-in-law asked for payment to babysit her grandchild.

A couple, married for ten years and parents to a six-month-old, both work full-time, with the husband working from home. The recently retired mother-in-law volunteered to watch their baby during work hours, even helping with cooking, cleaning, and dishes. But tensions arose when she unexpectedly asked to be paid for her time.

The daughter-in-law was taken aback, remembering how her own grandmother had babysat out of love. This request created friction in her marriage, as her husband felt his mother deserved compensation, noting that hiring outside help would be more expensive.

Caught in this emotional conflict, the daughter-in-law struggles with her feelings about her mother-in-law’s request and its impact on their family’s balance.