Mother-In-Law Would Sit The Baby
She observed her husband's mom recline in her chair, a frightening tranquility spreading across her countenance. She articulated in a level tone as she declared that she desired them to start compensating her from then on.


Her temper was rising as she heard the words. However, the more her mother-in-law talked, the clearer it became.
Bonding
Marion was elated when she accepted her mother-in-law's request to come and stay with her and her spouse. She had the desire to create an even stronger connection between their families, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.


In the beginning, everything was going great. As time went by, Marion began to notice something wasn't right. Eventually, her mother-in-law did something outrageous, and it all fell apart.
Happy Collision
Marion and Troy had been contentedly united for three years when they welcomed their firstborn, Ken. They originally encountered one another at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. They both had a powerful enthusiasm for speedy automobiles and track competitions.


Their bond was like something out of a storybook. Before long, Troy requested Marion to come back to his place for the Christmas holidays. She was oblivious to the fact that this journey would alter her life.
Left Speechless
She was absolutely in love with Troy and was ecstatic when he asked her. She decided to meet his family during Christmas and hoped that he would get to meet her family at Easter. Marion was sure that Troy was the one.


When the appointed day arrived and Troy brought her to his parents' home, she noticed a chill emanating from his mother. She attempted to embrace her warmly, but what she got in return made her mute.
Meeting His Parents
She gave Marion no embrace, instead a handshake with an unhappy look. Despite her time in their home being quite enjoyable, she was conscious that Troy's mum probably disliked her.


As time went on, she gradually became more comfortable with Marion. When asked why she was so hesitant in the beginning, she answered that she only wanted what was best for her son. After the two had their first baby, their bond developed even more.
Helping Hands
When Ken was born, the family was filled with joy. Troy's mom was so overjoyed she relocated to be in close proximity to her grandchild. This was a blessing to Marion as she had a hectic lifestyle and having assistance nearby was precisely what she required.


Shortly after her mother-in-law arrived to live in the household, everything began to deteriorate.
Building A Bond
When Marion relocated, it was her wish that she and her new companion would have the opportunity to form a connection and become familiar with one another.


Little Ken was the ideal starting point for them to attempt this, as his grandmother had a lot of know-how from being a parent while Marion was still getting the hang of it. However, she had no idea that the outcome would be in stark contrast to what she was preparing for.
Payment
Marion and Troy's mother-in-law asked them to give her a large sum of money in exchange for her services caring for their infant son Ken every day for the past three months. They were extremely thankful for her help.


After the four months had passed, the woman sat Marion and Troy down and told them she thought they should pay her for taking care of Ken. In order to keep their extraordinary relationship, Marion asked how much money she wanted. She was not expecting the response.
Sixty Dollars An Hour
She spoke without any emotion and said "$475 a day." Afterward she pointed out how Marion and Troy were living incredible lives and earning a lot of money, and that they would have no difficulty paying the fee.


Marion was completely taken aback when she finished speaking. She had guessed that her relative might request fifteen to twenty dollars per hour, potentially even thirty. But to her surprise, the request was for sixty dollars per hour!
Why
Marion was about to say something when Troy made a gesture signifying her to stay tranquil. He posed the question, "What is the reason for the $475?", in a composed manner, while outlining all the actions he and Marion were taking on her behalf.


He went on, “No money is needed here. There is nothing to pay for like rent, cable, groceries, and we take you with us on our trips and journeys. Is that not enough?” Marion gazed at Troy as he spoke, and that was when she realized she had blundered badly.
I Shouldn't Have Let Him Speak
Troy carried on speaking, but Marion responded with a vacant look. She came to the conclusion that perhaps it should have been her who spoke, not him.


Troy went on to explain all the activities he and Marion had done for their mom. Finally, he wrapped up his story by speculating that their mom was with them out of affection, not to make a bit of money. Marion realized she needed to intervene.
Salvaging The Moment
Marion put her hand on Troy's thigh and quietly informed him that she comprehended her mother-in-law's point of view. She conceded that she would be in a difficult situation if it weren't for her frequent support and expressed her gratitude for all her mother-in-law had done.


Before Marion could agree to such a big amount for looking after her relative, she wanted to hear arguments that explained her mother-in-law's choice.
It Continues
Her mother-in-law started off with a grin. "It appears you two don't show up here much anymore. I get it - you are both busy with your jobs, and what you are doing is essential for the family. Nevertheless, keep in mind you have a child - someone who requires attention, affection, and most importantly, your presence."


She reclined in her chair, her stare fixed on her son, then she turned her attention to Marion. The words she would utter left the two of them completely astonished.
The Reason Why
That's a lot of money, I understand. But, just wait and see, if you don't begin to hang out with Kenny, you'll end up paying even more in the end in legal costs and treatment expenses. I'm not asking you to pay me anything," she chuckled.


Marion felt a pang of guilt when her mother-in-law spoke. She realized that if she kept her baby with her in-law for the majority of the week, the child would not become attached to her. She wondered if her mother-in-law was correct.
A Hard-To-Swallow Pill
Marion and Troy had been seeing less of Ken after Troy's mum arrived to give a hand. Marion stayed quiet as she realized what was going on. "We'll try harder," she murmured as soon as her mother-in-law had finished. She adored her son more than anything and realized she required to modify her routine to spend more time with him.


Marion and Troy's grandma was likely correct and they could have taken something from the experience. Unfortunately, this is not the only occurrence of a parent being taken advantage of by their grandchild.
Blindsided
She was thrilled to meet her daughter, although it was enjoyable to have a day off to do some chores. But she was astounded that her mom made her so mad.


It wasn't the regular type of things that grandmothers do. She didn't give Trish lots of candy or let her stay up late. No, the offense was much, much graver.
Seeing Red
Trish raced up to her mother with a great deal of enthusiasm, embracing her and offering a manila envelope. Her mother did not give it much thought, assuming it contained a drawing or affectionate note from Trish.


She opened the envelope and uncovered the document inside. When she began to read, she was astounded. Then, she became very angry.
The Perfect Sitter
Grandparents are very necessary for families. It is marvelous to watch them spend time with their grandchildren and pass on the wisdom they have collected over the course of their lifetime.


They always have humorous anecdotes and a lot of information from the past - it's all the entertaining elements without the obligation of being a parent. When your kids leave home and start their own households, your job is completed. However, is there anyone better to look after your little ones than grandma?
Burned By Grandma
Sophie and her mom had never been close. As soon as she completed her studies, she escaped to a distant location. Her siblings also left soon afterwards, and the Miller clan had created a geographical gap between themselves and their mom.


However, Sophie believed that it was essential for her daughter, Trish, to spend some time with her grandmother. Unfortunately, Trish's visit ended with Sophie feeling extremely angry and hurt, and she even posted a plea for help called "Burned By Grandma" on a website called "Ask Amy".
Innocent Enough
No doubt, Grandma Miller did her best to ensure that Trish, who was 14, had a great visit. She had organized everything with great precision.


She chose to go against the plan and do something wild. She had planned to take a train into town to check out the Field Museum of Natural History and the Art Institute of Chicago, with time for meals in between. Yet, she made a daring decision.
Taking The Cake
Mrs. Miller had already stopped working as a college educator, however her children were familiar with her strict, small-minded and heartless attitude. Nevertheless, her current behavior was the most extreme they had ever seen.


Sophie continued to look over the message that had been sent to her house with her daughter, completely stunned. She was enraged and double-crossed. Since she had no one to go to, she wrote a letter to a popular advice column on the web.
Dear Amy...
Hey Amy, my letter starts off simply. My mom has a wonderful house on the lake which has been in our family for half a century, and for two consecutive summers, she asked my fourteen-year-old daughter to stay with her for three weeks.


But when a granddaughter went to stay with her grandmother during the summer, something unexpected happened.
Fun Outings
Grandma and her granddaughter had a blast in the city on their excursion. They prepped for the journey by purchasing train tickets and the fee to get into the museum. It was an expensive journey, yet it was worth every penny.


How much was the bill in total? It appears that this grandma made a financial deal without telling her daughter.
Ruffling Feathers
This is a peculiar narrative, and this family is peculiar indeed. She must have been aware that this would agitate people. Grandparents are typically enthusiastic and delighted to have the chance to spend time with their grandkids.


Sophie was visibly shocked when she saw how much she owed. It seemed like her grandmother was trying to teach her a lesson.
An Itemized Bill
Inside the envelope was a list of expenses. Grandma had charged all the things she bought for her granddaughter to the girl's mom.


I gave my mother three-hundred bucks to pay for my daughter's costs while she was staying with her. But when my daughter came back, my mom presented me with an itemized bill totaling four-hundred seventy-five dollars and fifty cents for extra charges. This was to cover the fuel for the drive to and from the airfield (which was quite far away), the rail tickets for a trip to the city to go to a museum, and the admission fee for the museum.
Hurtful
It was very difficult for us this past winter because my mom came to stay with us for four months. We had to pay for everything, even a wonderful trip to an island for Christmas.


My siblings and my mom don't have a good relationship because she is excessively petty and disregards established limits, such as a $300 budget," Sophie wrote in her letter. Maybe Ask Amy could offer some assistance.
Audacity
Sophie articulated her distress and annoyance with her friend's decision to make her pay for the gas for the trip to the airport to pick up the granddaughter, as well as other expenses. She asked how to deal with the situation.


My mother is an unmarried retired college professor and we never require her to cover anything. We even give her money for groceries when she hosts the Thanksgiving meal, she proceeded.
Taking Advantage
I believe she has exploited my kindness, so I am not willing to let her be with my daughter any longer as it is too burdensome for me (in terms of money and feelings)," she finished.


An unsigned and mysterious letter, referred to as 'Burned by Grandma', caused a stir. But what could Sophie do about it?
Decisions
The mother is now thinking hard about if grandma will be able to care for her daughter once more, even though it appears to be quite unkind. Nevertheless, this was not a demand for some kind of payment in exchange for taking care of the child; it was in fact a lengthy invoice.


No one has ever argued that taking care of youngsters isn't costly, but this must have been a terrible experience for Sophie. This grandmother could have simply stayed at home and enjoyed her grandchild's presence, instead of making the journey a lavish, all-inclusive vacation.
Advice
Amy from Ask Amy provided the suggestion that you must directly tell your mum your worries.


Your daughter's journey to visit Grammy has likely amounted to approximately one thousand dollars, including her plane tickets and the expenses she incurred while she was there. The columnist was making an effort to look at things from both perspectives.
Concerns
Are your mom's finances shaky? Is she anxious about how she will handle living expenses in her old age? These are valid apprehensions," said Amy. After that, she suggested another reason for your grandmother's strange actions.


Granny had a plan in mind when she gave Sophie an itemized bill? Sophie paused to think if there might be another motive behind her mom's unanticipated invoice for childcare.
Sticking To The Budget
Do you think the reason she went over her $300 budget is acceptable? Is this her way of expressing to you that she doesn't really want your daughter to stay for an extended period of time? Amy questioned.


Once you have shared your queries and worries with your mother, you will have to choose what to do about upcoming meetings.
Passive-Aggressive
Will Grandma ever be given the opportunity to look after the children once more? Or is she not actually interested in taking on this responsibility? Talking things through would have avoided any misunderstanding and sorrow.


It is peculiar that Grandma acts as if she doesn't want her granddaughter to come around. Should Sophie be responsible for a cost she was not ready for?
Different Opinions
People have different opinions about this. Sophie did give Mrs. Miller $300 to pay for Trish's costs while she was there, but did Grandma really have to spend all that extra cash on costly activities?


Is it fair for Granny to ask her daughter to pay her for watching the grandkids? Sophie had already paid for her mom to stay with her rent-free for four months. If this was a sort of payback, then Sophie is in the right. But should grandmothers expect compensation for spending time with their grandchildren?
Online Poll
A recent poll conducted by HuffPost sparked contrasting opinions on whether grandparents should be rewarded for babysitting. Melissa McCloskey showed her support, saying, "Yes, they should be given something for their assistance; it doesn't need to be a large amount, but it should be something.


A different reader had a completely different opinion: “Are you planning on asking your children for money?” they inquired. “Unless you are in dire financial straits, that doesn't seem like a good idea. What do you think? Was Sophie's mother in the wrong?”