An Inspiring Reddit Tale
A dispute was triggered by a Reddit post that was widely shared:
After taking maternity leave, a new mother asked her mother for childcare assistance so she could resume her job. Since 1992, her 64-year-old mother has been a stay-at-home mom and has not worked.
She refused, though, saying she was unwilling to take on the duty again because she had already raised her children. She also recommended that if her daughter truly wanted a kid, she could consider staying home like she had done, allowing her spouse to be the main provider—just like a “traditional” family.
For one woman, remaining home was not financially possible. As the primary income, she needed to return to work to support their tiny family. She and her boyfriend were already having a hard time saving money for a bigger place for their growing child, and they were living in a one-bedroom apartment in a pricey city.
Her mother promised to babysit after she explained their predicament, but only at $20 an hour, with extra late fees if they were late picking up the child.
She also needed bottles, a stroller, a car seat, and extras of everything the baby had at home.
In response to these expectations, the mother began looking into infant daycare, which would be closer to their home and more reasonably priced. They were in a challenging circumstance because both parents were employed full-time and there were no other family members accessible to assist.
She questioned whether she was mistaken to expect her stay-at-home mother, who spends the most of her day cooking and watching TV, to provide free childcare while she and her spouse worked to improve their financial circumstances as she concluded her post.
This narrative resonated with many, showing the intricacies of generational expectations, financial hardships, and the challenges of managing work and parenting.