Finding reasonable, quality, and available child care is something many workingparentsstruggle with. To make matters easier, some turn to their relatives for help, which is certainly a more convenient and affordable option. However, this can quickly backfire when such a privilege is taken advantage of.
Scroll down to find the full story and a conversation with childcare and nanny coachShannon Parola, who kindly agreed to answer a few questions on the topic.
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The benefits of using family aschildcareis undeniable. The first one that childcare and nanny coachShannon Parolamentions is familiarity. “You know these people well and often trust them very much. In most cases, this also means lower-cost or no-cost childcare,” she says. “Families [also] get to make memories and have extra time together.”
However, there’s also the other side of the coin, when asking for such favors can negatively affect relatives’ relationships. Parola names three scenarios that can cause tension or change in family dynamics. First, “The parents disagree with how the family member handles certain childcare situations or fails to meet expectations.”
The second is when “the caregiver is being unappreciated and overworked, and they reach their breaking point,” says Parola. The third one involves a caregiver, usually a grandparent, who “unexpectedly can’t care for the child anymore due to illness, injury, or general aging. In all these situations, the parents depend on the family member for childcare, and when it doesn’t work out, it can take time to find a new childcare method that comes at a higher price.”
Experts believe that parents should provide some kind of compensation if the family member is taking care of their child weekly
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When it comes to compensatingrelativesfor their childcare services Parola believes that parents should provide some kind of reimbursement if the family member is taking care of their child weekly.
“I know some grandparents refuse or will put the money in an account for the kids for a rainy day. The main point is that appreciation needs to be shown regardless of family members who give up their time for your family. I always tell clients to ask the provider what they are thinking.”
“We’ve seen in the news stories about parents being upset over grandparents not watching the kids. Parents can not ASSUME that their family members (mom, dad, sisters, brothers, aunts, cousins, etc.) will help with childcare unless they ASK. By asking ahead of time, they can either rest assured they have family help or start looking for alternative childcare options,” she says.
Most readers agreed that the author wasn’t a jerk for asking for compensation for her service
Meanwhile, some believed that both sides were wrong
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Indrė Lukošiūtė
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