Babysitting is a profession for a reason. It's not easy work. Sure, millions of mothers do it without being paid, but that's because it's their kid. If you're tasked with watching a child you are not responsible for, that's skilled work. You need to know what to do in an emergency, how to get them to go to bed, how to clean them, and how to keep them entertained. And if you've ever been a kid, you know it's not easy. That's why parents pay good money for babysitters and nannies. They deserve to be compensated for what they bring to the table.
Of course, in a pinch, you might ask a family member to do it, and you may not expect to pay them. Maybe you could offer to make them a batch of cookies instead. But you understand that they have the right to say no. One woman didn't quite internalize that and wanted to take advantage of her step-son. Read on for the details.