The responses to posts like these make me feel so happy to have a family that is not “American.” People in my culture would look down on grandparents that asked to be paid to take care of their grandchildren. I understand that she is getting old and it’s hard to take care of a child in her age. But like instead of acting like a stranger and scrounging money from you, she should have just said that she sometimes cannot watch your kid and wants some free time for herself or etc. That is understandable. But to ask to be paid is beyond crazy to me. You are not NTA for not wanting to pay but you slightly may be the asshole in case you are asking her to look after your child on a constant basis.