Making a quick buck these days is child’s play — so says this money-hungry mama.
Sending your little one off for a play date with a friend is all fun and games until the other kid’s mom requests reimbursement for the snacks, games and bathroom breaks your child enjoyed while under her tightwad watch.
“Can we normalize sending the other family money for play dates,” urged no-nonsense mom, Shay, in a controversial TikTok clip with over 3.5 million views. “My daughter had a friend over and I asked her mom for money.”
Demanding dough for caretaking tots is hardly a new concept.
Pro and part-time babysitters across the Big Apple and beyond have handsomely profited from the exchange for years.
However, eyebrows worldwide seem to raise whenever family members and mom-friends nickel and dime parents for taking on the task.
Jessica, a mother from Miami, recently branded her sister the “worst aunt ever” for insisting $72 towards the cups of juice, potty flushes and Netflix movies her daughter, Victoria, racked up during a visit.
Shay, a self-crowned “child support hunter” who “rage baits” social media with contemptible content, revealed her best strategy for getting other moms to pay up.
“After the play date I texted her mom and said, ‘Thanks for letting Jamie play today,’” began the millennial. “‘Please help out with your share of the expenses for the play date, totaling $15, via Venmo.’”
When the confused mom balked, Shay explained that she expected compensation for the chalk, treats, toys, toilets runs and “wear and tear” to her couch that the girl allegedly caused.
“She used supplies and food while she was here,” said Shay in a text message to the woman, pressing her for payment. “This way, we can do this more often without a monetary obligation on just one party.”
And although her reasoning might be sound, shocked cyber critics didn’t want to hear it.
“100% No,” rebuked an outraged commenter. “That’s like inviting someone over for lunch and then asking them to send you money to cover the food they ate.”
“I’d be very uncomfortable if the person hosting a playdate kept track of how many times my kid needed to use the restroom,” wrote an equally perturbed parent.
“If my kids have friends over, they become my kids until they go home,” another spat.
A gaggle of disgusted digital detractors, however, gave Shay a taste of her own medicine, sending her Venmo payment requests for “wasting their time” by retelling her silly stunt.
But the unabashed cash collector remained guilt-free.
“I actually did send two people the money they asked for,” said Shay with a laugh. “And then I requested it back from someone else.”
