Should grandparents charge a fee for babysitting their grandchildren?

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   DDEposted 10 years ago

   Should grandparents charge a fee for babysitting their grandchildren?
   
   Taking care of grandchildren should  be such joy and pleasure. A time to develop new connections. Do you think grandparents should charge a fee for  their time spent with grandchildren? It depends on the financial situations and also the time  taken from grandparents but what about the once in a while care?

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   Tusitala Tomposted 10 years ago

   It looks like you've answered your own question.   It does depend on whether or not the grandparents feel they are being exploited, for they really have no obligation.   They've had their turn of looking after their own children, now it is their children's primary responsibility to look after their own kids. 
   
   If grandparents enjoy occassionally looking after their grandchildren - and that would probably be for a short period of a two or three hours, after that it could become work - then fine.   If they are asked to look after them on a regular basis and those grandparents could use the money then pay them.  And pay them a proper wage not some token amount 'because they're family'   
   
   Of course, if it is just the ocassional favour it would be insulting to even mention any monetary recompense.    An invite to dinner or somesuch should well and truly cover that. 
   
   This is, of course, my own opinion.   Grandmothers especially are happy to help out now and again.  But they should not be expected to sacrifice their own lives for their daughter or son so that these can make a life for themselves a Pop or Nanna's expense.    Certainly Nanna should not stay home to mind the kids whilst both of her own kids are off working full time.
   
   You say, "once in a while," and that is generally fine with many a grandpartent.  But taking over the job the real Mum and Dad should be doing is not something they should be called upon to do.

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      DDEposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you. Grandparents  should treat their time with grandchildren as special and only  take care of grandchildren only if they are able to.

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   MarleneBposted 10 years ago

   For the once in a while care, I don't mind watching my grandchildren. I enjoy them and it is a time for us to spend time together. But, the truth is (and my children know this), while I am a parental figure in their lives, I am not the parent. The parents are the parents. They have the primary obligation to raise their children. If they need to hire a babysitter so they can go to work, then that's what they need to do. I don't charge my children for watching the grandchildren, but I also don't allow them to use me as a substitute for obtaining reliable childcare. I understand emergencies (when the babysitter flakes out on them). I'm there for them. I don't charge for being there for them. But, I let them know that they need to quickly get their childcare issues in order.
   
   Even if I lived around the corner from my grandchildren, I would not babysit for them freely. It's not my job. But, if it were my job. If my children chose me to be their reliable childcare provider, then yes they would need to pay me the same way they would pay a childcare provider. My time is just as valuable as any other person. If I'm expected to stay home and take care of the grandchildren, then I need to be compensated for the time spent taking care of them. To ask me to give up my life to a greater extent than the parents are giving is somewhat disrespectful. So, yes I believe grandparents should charge a fee for their time spent with the grandchildren - if it is for regular  childcare purposes. If it is for visiting and having a good time with the grandchildren, then no I think grandparents should just enjoy their time with the grandchildren without pay.

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      DDEposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Great answer! You go to make your place known and make sure you don't become the one to raise your grandchildren. Thank you.

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   dashingscorpioposted 10 years ago

   I suspect most grandparents would not charge for baby sitting (once in a while). However no one wants to feel taken advantage of! Some adult children will drop off their kids daily and on weekends without offering any money to supply additional food or cover events/outings.
   I know of an instance where one man from out of town would drop his child off at his parents' house for the whole summer and not leave them a dime! Clearly it was very inconsiderate especially in view of the fact they were living on a "fixed income".
   In addition some folks actually look forward to having an "empty nest". They have no desire to raise another crop of kids nor do they want to have a lot of "day to day interaction" with them.
   These elderly couples feel like they have earned the right to have peace and quiet as well as being able to take time to travel and spoil one another. After all these are (their) "golden years".
   Not all grandparents live for visits with their grandchildren. The adult child has to know his or her parents well enough before making any assumptions.

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      DDEposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Geat points here and I think grandparents should treat their time with grandchildren as special and only if they can do it. Thank you.

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5. 81

   grand old ladyposted 10 years ago

   My mom loved raising her grandchildren and never expected any payment for it. Instead, she would feel bad on days when the grandchildren didn't come. But when she got older and weaker, she couldn't care for her last grandchild, and I'm sure if she were of sounder mind, she would have regretted it.
   
   My sister has one day a week with her grandson and her daughter did that to accommodate my sister. I think she would love to have more than one day a week with her grandson if she could, and I'm sure my niece would love it, too. But she and her husband are a working couple, so weekends are really their only time to be with their son all the time. That's why they arranged for a special weekday for my sister.
   
   It probably depends on the situation, your state of health, the personal needs you have, and who you are. Grandparents shouldn't be expected to care for the grandchildren. But I don't know about paying grandparents. I'd still have to wrap my mind around paying, or even accepting payment when I become a grandparent.

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      DDEposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Accepting payment is a sensitive issue  for taking care of grandchildren but  it does happen in every culture. Thank you.

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   gmwilliamsposted 10 years ago

   
   
   NEVER, that would be the height of selfishness and greed.  Caring and/or babysitting grandchildren should be a joy beyond measure.  A person's grandchildren are precious entities and money should not be a considering in caring for and looking after them. 
   
   However, I have a maternal aunt of EIGHT children who is routinely paid for babysitting and/or looking after her grandchildren.  She believes that she should be paid for this.  Her children can ill afford to pay her for this; however, she EXPECTS it!  I find that being paid to look after and babysit granchildren is beyond preposterous to say the least.

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      DDEposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you. Your answer is strong and to the point.

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      gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You're quite welcome indeed.

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   AustralianNappiesposted 10 years ago

   I don't think so but I think you should reward them for babysitting.  Maybe you will give them some suprise money now and then, or some other gift relevant to them to thank them for all they do.

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   Penny Gposted 10 years ago

   My Mother watched my children a lot when I had to work. She charged my so much it took my whole check, we lived off my tips. The children knew I payed her and told me things she said,about it not being enough. This sure made me feel like they were a burden to her not a joy, they loved her all the same.

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      gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That's horrible. Grandparents should do this for FREE, after all, it's family, their precious grandchildren!

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