I don't understand MIL

[Anonymous]

We live in a different state from my MIL and flew in for a few days. It's our first time seeing her this year. Past visits haven't gone so smoothly between her and I, but I thought this visit went swimmingly. One evening MIL offered to watch our toddler son and put him to bed so we could have a date night. When we got home, she said he was well behaved and didn't even cry. Fast forward a few days, and DH tells me that his mother wants to get paid for watching our son for 4 hours while we went out. I just don't understand that a grandmother who sees her grandchild once a year would want payment for spending a few hours together. DH and MIL are acting like this is normal. WTF? IS this normal?

[Anonymous]

Not normal.o

[Anonymous]

Grandma here. This is totally weird. But to hear how some of my grandma friends think, not surprising.
Maybe she is having financial issues? Maybe she thinks you have lots of money and wants some (jealousy?)?

[Anonymous]

Not normal at all. Is she really poor and needs the money? If so, I'd give her what she needs.

[Anonymous]

Just pay her and move on. Not worth your time worrying about it.

[Anonymous]

Not normal. But I would pay and never have her do it again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not normal. But I would pay and never have her do it again.

This. Let us know how much she charges!

[Anonymous]

It's very strange. If she wanted that kind of business, she should have asked BEFORE babysitting.

If your husband thinks this is normal, show him this thread.

Pay this weird woman for this time, and tell her that normally grandparents don't charge since usually they LIKE seeing their kids. She should be told explicitly, because perhaps she's socially clueless (Asperger's or something) and her friends have told her that this is what's done.

In the future decline all offers of babysitting.

[Anonymous]

People who expect payment for babysitting tell me their rates up front and don't coerce me after the fact to pay them . Looks like she isn't watching your child again

[Anonymous]

Is she charging you to stay at her home too?

[Anonymous]

She's a weirdo. Pay her and be forewarned next time.

[Anonymous]

Insane. Completely insane.

[Anonymous]

Wow, that's a shocker. How much is she asking?? I agree with others - maybe she's really struggling financially? But in any case, to tell parents after the fact that she's expecting payment is really strange....

[Anonymous]

I highly doubt this is a sign she needs money badly. This seems to be either social issues or passive aggressive revenge for a perceived slight, and of the two, the latter seems more likely.

[Anonymous]

She's crazy, but pay her so that she doesn't have something to complain about to try to make you look bad. And next time she offers to watch your kid, say no.