She once said to me, “You don’t need daycare — I’m family. Bring him here every morning.”

It sounded generous, right? Except her version of “helping” turned out to mean I’d drop my baby off, she’d call me five times a day to check in, and then guilt-trip me if I didn’t pick him up early.

When I gently offered to pay her something for her time, she waved it off and said, “I don’t need money. But you’ll cook for us on weekends, and maybe clean a little.”

So basically, her “help” came with strings attached — a deal where I’d be working two jobs: my actual one, and hers.

I politely declined and explained that we were enrolling our baby in professional daycare. That’s when she completely lost it. She accused me of “robbing her of bonding time.” My husband tried to calm her down and keep the peace, but she turned it into a full-blown family drama.

So here’s what I did instead: I let her believe that we couldn’t find an open spot at any daycare. Two weeks later, I told her, “Great news! My boss approved part-time remote. I’ll be home with the baby.”

She was thrilled — until she realized I never asked her to babysit again. Now she constantly complains that she “hardly sees her grandchild.”

I’m sorry, but if the cost of “bonding” is becoming someone’s unpaid housekeeper, I’ll gladly pass.

What would you do in my place? Do you have any advice?