Dear Blake,
I love my grandchildren. My problem is, my daughter expects me to baby-sit at the snap of a finger regardless of what I have to do or what I have planned. Additionally, I never know how long I will be sitting. Sometimes, it can be up to 12 hours. I receive no compensation because, in her words, “Grandmothers should not be paid.” If I refuse, she accuses me of being a “bad” grandmother. Would I be justified in asking for compensation? I live on a fixed income and could use the money.
Signed, Darlene
From Topeka, Kansas
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Dear Darlene,
I think it’s great that you get to spend so much time with your grandchildren. But I also think it’s time that you gave your daughter a major smackdown! Consider these suggestions. If she refuses to pay you, tell her that you will have her offspring “work it off”, and to emphasize your point, have a time clock on your front door, where your grandchildren can “punch in” and “punch out”. Or, contact a social worker, and then bribe the kids into telling her them some fabricated abuse by your daughter. If her kids are taken away and awarded to you, then on occasion, drop them off at your daughter’s house, and don’t pay her. If out of vengeance she doesn’t allow you to see the kids, send an anonymous letter to her husband, telling him to get a DNA test, because at least one of the children isn’t biologically his. But the easiest way to get this resolved, is to tell your daughter to pay you, before your grandchildren set foot on your property. Have her deposit the money in your account prior to coming to your home, and you will keep them for an agreed upon amount of hours. And if your daughter is stupid enough to be out pass that time, take the kids at a local daycare, and that loser daughter of yours, can negotiate their release… with them. I hope this helps.
Blake