My DIL Wants Me to Babysit Her Kids 9 Hours a Day for a Week & Sets Lists of Conditions
When a daughter-in-law asked her grandmother to care for her children for a week as she returned to work after being a stay-at-home mom, the grandmother faced a dilemma. Despite having cared for her son’s children previously, the daughter-in-law’s stringent rules became a point of contention.
The daughter-in-law, now employed after four years as a stay-at-home mom, sought childcare from the grandmother for a week until daycare became available. However, the grandmother declined due to the daughter-in-law’s extensive rules, including dietary restrictions, language limitations, TV regulations, and academic expectations.
The daughter-in-law’s strict guidelines, coupled with her disapproval of the grandmother’s friends being around the children, led to a refusal. Despite her son’s plea and the daughter-in-law’s tearful request, the grandmother questioned whether she was wrong for declining.
Reddit responses varied, with some urging the grandmother to help her family temporarily, while others defended her reluctance, emphasizing the daughter-in-law’s excessive demands. The conflicting opinions highlighted the challenges grandparents face when balancing family support and personal boundaries.