
If you have kids and are back at work, you’ll understand the daily challenges of the work/family juggle. Getting your little ones dressed and out the door to daycare takes time and energy – and then there’s the huge expense.
If you are lucky enough to have a grandparent willing to help out, do you see that as a wonderful gift, or do you pay them for their time?
Mamamia spoke to five mums about whether or not they pay their parents and parents-in-law to care for their grandchildren, and the reasons why.
Team Mamamia share the worst things they’ve ever said to their mother-in-law. Post continues below.
Christina, mum of two, pays her mum in cash.
Christina had an idyllic set up when she went back to work after having her daughter Harriet in 2012.
“At the time we were living in Sydney and I was working for Tourism Victoria, three days per week.
“Daycare was really expensive and hard to find, so my mum offered to come down twice a week from Newcastle to look after Harriet. My parents-in-law did the remaining day.
“It was amazing as I would get up and get ready to a point but then when mum arrived I would hand Harriet over and simply grab my bag and head out the door to catch the train. So much easier than packing lunches and worrying about drop offs in Sydney traffic!”

Top Comments
I have been giving my mother financial help and a weekly allowance from before I had children, and will do so long after can no longer help out with the kids. She looks after mine whilst I am am work and since she has started taking on more responsibility with them I have seen her blossom with pride and happiness, she takes so much joy in being such an important person in their lives. Each family is different, but in the end the only thing families 'should' do - is care for each other in what ever way they can.
Instead of having this conversation, let's have one about better government subsidised child care for couples and more men stepping up to provide child care.
Every time government and men are put under the spotlight for not doing more of the care (of children and the elderly), the spotlight gets re-directed back to women and now obviously, grandparents. Our society still thinks of caring as women's responsibility, hence it remains under-funded and underpaid and under-frequented by men. Paying grandparents to care for children is just another convenient diversion and also puts them at risk financially, especially if they are giving up paid employment and superannuation entitlements to provide cash-paid care of grandchildren. Not to mention tainting what should be a beautiful relationship between the young and the old, unfettered by responsibility.