DEAR ABBY: My son and daughter-in-law asked me to baby-sit my new grandson when she returned to work three days a week. They also told me they wouldn't "let me" unless I agreed to accept $10 an hour. My son is very successful and makes more than $100,000 a year. They know I have few opportunities to earn spending money.
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My son returned from work at the end of my first day of baby sitting and didn't pay me, so I went home. Later, I ran into my daughter-in-law at the market, and she asked if my son had paid me. I said, "No," but since they were coming over for dinner on Saturday night, I told her they could pay me then. We had dinner Saturday night and neither one of them paid me. (They are very forgetful people.)
Should I ask them for my money? My husband says if they aren't going to pay me, I will have to find other part-time work if I want my own spending money. -- GEORGIA GRANDMA
DEAR GRANDMA: There's no harm in reminding your son and daughter-in-law if they forget to pay you. Raise the subject of the money by asking them whether you should submit a weekly invoice for their tax purposes. Then agree on a payment schedule so all three of you have a clear understanding about how often you should expect to be paid.