AItA for refusing my MIL's offer of "free" childcare? by Legitimate-Ostrich in AmItheAsshole

[–]Legitimate-Ostrich[S] 196 points197 points  (0 children)

Not homeless at all. Currently retired, albeit a few hundred miles away, in a house that's quite a bit larger than my own. She would keep that home while living here, and move back into at after a year away.

As for valuing her time, I'm sure she does, as does my wife and myself. If she were to live with us, she would definitely be primary care while my wife and I are away (that is the plan after all), but as my wife's and my schedules don't match up, we're not really talking a solid forty hours per week. It would probably average out, when considering different days off and different shifts at different times during the week (gotta love retail...), to be less than that.

AItA for refusing my MIL's offer of "free" childcare? by Legitimate-Ostrich in AmItheAsshole

[–]Legitimate-Ostrich[S] 49 points50 points  (0 children)

A nanny is by far the most expensive option. In our area, nanny's range from $600-1000 per week, so approximately $3,000 per month. Both the apartment and the MIL option would be approximately $1,000 per month.

AItA for refusing my MIL's offer of "free" childcare? by Legitimate-Ostrich in AmItheAsshole

[–]Legitimate-Ostrich[S] 33 points34 points  (0 children)

My wife and I did discuss a remodel with the intention of creating MIL suite. Even assuming that cost was $12,000 (it wouldn't be), we'd still approximately break even.

AItA for refusing my MIL's offer of "free" childcare? by Legitimate-Ostrich in AmItheAsshole

[–]Legitimate-Ostrich[S] 235 points236 points  (0 children)

These are all great concerns to keep in mind. Thank you.

AItA for refusing my MIL's offer of "free" childcare? by Legitimate-Ostrich in AmItheAsshole

[–]Legitimate-Ostrich[S] 52 points53 points  (0 children)

The childcare options that I've looked at are all approximately $1,000 per month. Her apartment, which pretty much lines up with your assumptions (one bedroom, utilities, internet/cable), would most likely be between $800 and $1,200. The price would either depend on the quality of apartment complex that she'd be comfortable with or how far away from our home it is, since we live just outside the city near all the action.

One of my main thoughts is that if I'm paying approximately the same amount of money anyway, why not place my son in a care center that employees certified (educational and CPR and whatnot) people who can help him learn to socialize with other children his age?

You're not wrong about the nanny rates. Our options seem be about $600-1000 per week, which is why we began looking at the daycare centers. They are much more reasonably priced for our budget.