So my mom watches one of my daughters full time. This is her sole income and we pay her well below market value for child care. She’s always flexible for us with hours and sometimes takes out other daughter if she’s in break. It’s amazing because we trust her and the girls have learned so much from her. At first we were paying her per day but recently I just found it easier to pay a flat rate (this is regardless of if my daughter comes, similar to how daycares go). We don’t have a lawnmower and we asked my mom to use it. While my husband was mowing it stopped working. He asserts he did nothing wrong and it’s just a piece of junk. I offered my mom to fix or replace because it was broken while in our possession. A week later my daughter threw my moms phone in water and broke it. I ordered the same solution to her. My husband is upset because he feels we pay her too much and that should offset for the lawnmower and phone. I disagree as they are two separate things. I want to know what y’all think because it’s really eating me up/making me mad how he’s reacting. Thanks!
Help a mama out and respond anonymously on our forum. My husband doesn't think we should replace my moms lawnmower or cell phone: Advice?re
You should definitely replace both.
Nah. It broke on your watch (lawnmower) or at the hands of your child (phone). Offering to repair it was the right thing to do.
The decent thing to do us obviously replace the items…
I’d be replacing them.
Personally I agree. I’d feel responsible for replacing both items.
Sounds like your husband needs to replace Moms mower, or fixM it. And replace phone.
the right thing to do would be replace them.
Your kid ruined the phone, that means you replace it. The lawnmower broke when yall had it. And on top of this you pay her below market value for childcare. Replace them.
I’d replace both items.
You did the right thing.
You should absolutely pay for her mower and phone to be replaced. Also if you’re husband doesn’t appreciate what your mom is doing maybe have him look into what the price of an actual babysitter or child care would cost…
You absolutely did the right thing.
Your husband is a d*ck
of course both shoukd be replaced…
You’re completly right. Your child broke the phone, and the lawnmower broke in your possession. Depending how old the lawn mower was, that could make a difference.
Hubs is wrong. Your daughter broke the phone, definitely replace it. And if the mower broke while y’all had it,it’s best to fix or help replace it as well. It’s just common courtesy
Your husband sounds like an ass.
Personally i say fuck him and what he thinks.
I’m with you on this he’s tripping cuz I bet if it was his mom he’d be fixing both items.
Your 
correct on wanting to replace her phone! Your also correct with the lawnmower, it broke in his possession so why not fix it or buy an old but new one to replace!
Hubby probably just wants to save money.
I would suggest to your husband that by replacing a phone your kiddo damaged and replacing an old lawn mower that broke in your possession is the polite thing to do considering she’s watching your kiddos with out hesitation and at a lower rate. Wouldn’t wanna lose a great baby sitter over not doing what’s common courtesy whether she’s your family or not. Goodluck Mama! 
If you borrow something and it breaks in your possession, you replace it. The phone…. Is her problem if she was babysitting
If he really thinks y’all pay too much, bring him into a daycare for a tour and wait until they tell you the price. Replacing both would be the right thing to do. If it was his mother, he would do the same thing.
Your husband is a @sshole
OK my question is why would you not replace it for your mom? I would do anything and everything for my mom so I don’t understand your situation at all… Do the right thing! 
Girl find a new man. Ain’t no way. Your man messed the mower up and your daughter messed up the phone. Your mom is nice enough to let you borrow the mower. Your husband sounds like a piece of junk. 
You are correct replace both. They broke in your care or at the hands of your child. It has nothing to do with how much you pay her. It is the right thing to do.
I’d replace them, 1 that’s my MOM and 2 THATS YOUR MOM! She’s already watching your kids her grand babies for less that what daycare would charge and is more flexible then a daycare would be…tell him to pull up his big boy pants and be a man!
Your husband is a prick
Your husband is a jerk.
He’s being cheap and ur doing the right thing
Tell him to call some local care centers and ask how much it’d be for them to watch the kids, I’d bet he’d change his tune real quick thinking she’s overpaid.
Ultimately, the mower broke in your(his) possession and he’s only trying to say it’s junk because he doesn’t want to pay for it, and your kid broke her phone. Y’all are responsible for replacing both
I would replace both and then show your husband how expensive childcare is if it wasn’t your mother doing it.
Replace the items. Much peace and love ☆
Your husband is WRONG
Replace them for sure…
Replace the mower and the phone. You are lucky to have your mom babysit. You know she loves her grandchildren and they are safe with her. Help your Mom-/ what the heck is wrong with the selfish husband ? Have you seen how much daycare costs?
replace or fix both is that right thing to do.
I think you guys should buy your mom a new lawnmower and cell phone
Replace or fix the mower and replace phone. The childcare cost is a completely different matter. And if he feels that way maybe he should look up the cost of actual childcare!
If it broke while you were using it, then you replace it. That’s how things go. Imagine if the shoe was on the other foot.
And show him how much weekly daycare would be. And he should be thankful that strangers aren’t watching your kids. Some people just don’t get it. I’m sorry 
If your in possession of it and it breaks you repair it if your daughter threw it in the water and its cooked you replace it…
You are correct, I would offer to fix and replace also. Just because you pay her doesn’t mean you don’t have to fix something “you potentially broke” or something your kids broke. I think your husband is being rude.
You pay her for her “service”. Whether or not it’s a piece of junk, It broke while he was using It. The least he can do is pay someone to come and take a look at It and go from there. As far as the phone, get her a new one.
You only have one mother do the right thing
You replace the lawnmower and the phone. Show him the cost of daycare.
No you are correct you should replace them
Sounds like hubby a bit selfish and needs a reality check. Plus doesn’t seem to care that his children are in the best of care or that mom doesn’t have to do what she does. Its called love 
You should absolutely replace the phone and if your husband thinks you pay to much have him price daycare and other private care givers I bet he changes his tune. He need to be thankful you have your momma.
Replace both, it’s the only decent thing to do. Your husband is being an unappreciative jerk.
Tell him to look at your local daycare tuition and hope that changes his tune. I’d replace both as well.
He is a prick sorry not sorry, you said yourself your mother helps enough and then some. If it were his mother would he react the same? I say definitely replace lawn mower and phone and he needs to save for his own lawn mower since he is so entitled.
I Agree with you. Your mom is BABYSITTING for you an getting paid well below average wage. You are Very Lucky to have her…Daycare is Very Expensive. I was a nanny for over 25 years. Yes, if he was using her lawnmower and it stop working I think you should at least pay for half of it if not all?? The phone I would replace. She’s your MOM. 
I wish I still had my Mom. Good Luck!
Replace your husband
You absolutely replace that. Your husband sounds ridiculous. 
You are correct. They should be replaced.
Your husband sounds like a ding bat. Take care of your Mama.
Definitely replace the lawnmower and the phone. You (and your husband!) are getting a great deal with Day Care from your Mom.
Get your mother a new phone and lawnmower!
You absolutely need to replace them. Your husband is wrong.
Explain to him how much of his time and how many extra responsibilities he wi have placed on him when she says she can’t help out anymore. Then ask him how she’ll be able to call 911 in an emergency situation or if he knows what the treatment for ticks are if the kids are playing in tall grass. Let me know what he says!
Pay half at least, if not all. that’s wrong and if it was HIS mama he would have bought all new already.
Depends if the lawnmower broke or just died. If you’re husband is found at fault for 8t not working, then yes you need to replace it. As for the phone. Replace it and suggest she keep it out of your daughter’s reach.
Definitely the lawnmower. The phone could go either way, but I think at the very least, I’d probably offer to help replace it too.
So if you borrowed his friend’s lawnmower and it broke or your child threw his friend’s phone in the water, what would you do? It should be no different. If anything, replace it with something better, because it’s your mom.
He is out of touch with reality
You should replace them
If your using something from someone and it breaks its your job to fix it and second if your child (grandchildren or not) breaks someone else’s phone it’s your job to replace it family or not your husband needs a reminder if it was his mom would he do the same and 2 if he would he’s a piece of crap
I’d replace the phone and fix the mower. They do not go hand in hand as far as childcare. She doesn’t have to help you all out, your husband needs to realize the convenience of having your mother watch your daughter. I hate to say this but that is heartless even if she wasn’t watching your daughter, I’d still replace the phone cause your daughter damaged it and the mower broke under you all’s care.
Grandmas like that are irreplaceable and I can say that being I have no family support at all.
I would do whatever I could to make grandmas life better.
Replace both! Your husband is an ass!
Replace phone, repair mower. Wonder if it was his parents things, would he feel the same way.
Replace both. Your mum is worth it
No both should be replaced. You are blessed to have her watch your children no matter what you pay her. Childcare is not cheap.
Replace both… and your husband needs to replace his attitude… is he aware of daycare costs? Is she not family as well? Just wow! I wld be replacing my husband.
Replace the mower that broke in YOUR possession and replace the phone since YOUR kid ruined it. Those two things are separate from child care. If he throws a fit, look into and show him weekly/monthly childcare expenses
Tell your husband either you replace the items or replace him
Definitely replace both.
I think you are right your husband is being selfish
U clearly were raised right & ur husband wasn’t smh
He sounds awful and entitled.
Your husband doesn’t appreciate all that your mom is doing for your family…not only can you trust her with your children, she loves them and you pay her less than you would an actual baby sitter or day care… you are correct in this is separate from what she does to help you. You should most definitely replace her things.
Let him pay childcare for a month and I bet he changes his tune! You are right & you are the considerate one! He must not understand how hard it is to find affordable, trustworthy childcare
Both should be replaced.
Replace phone. Fix mower… your husband takes her help fir grantid
You should replace your husband while you’re at it. What a horrible mindset he has.
You should pay for both - if the situation was reversed and his friend broke his lawnmower or if his friend broke his phone - they would offer to replace. What is the difference?
I would suggest buying her a new lawnmower. As far as the phone goes, does she have insurance on it? I would have her file an insurance claim and offer to pick up the difference with it. I would also talk about her not allowing your child to use the phone anymore.
As far as childcare goes, your husband may gripe about it, but the alternative I promise you is much more expensive and less flexible. I was a nanny for 20 years and paid $18-$20 an hour with overtime after 40. The average daycare is over 250/$300 depending on the child’s age in my area. Childcare is expensive. Be thankful to have grandma being able to watch the child. If he’s worried about money, then you may need to revisit that but really, he’s getting a steal.
You borrow something you return it in same or better condition… if not getting her a new mower it should at least be fixed and if our children break things that belong to others it’s our responsibility to replace or fix that.
You should definitely replace them. If he was to have rented a lawnmower (or anything) from someone and it broke it would have to pay for it to be fixed. And if your daughter broke her phone then yes y’all should have it fixed. If your daughter would have broken his phone he would have fixed it right. Sounds like your husband is being a selfish jerk. The items need to be replaced period
You are absolutely right!
Your husband is being selfish.
Yes. You should replace both!!
Replace the husband mower and phone. Problem solved.
You are responsible for the mower and phone. Totally separate from babysitting which he should be grateful she is doing it.
Replace both for your mom or replace the husband he sounds like a nice guy 
Get it repaired, probably something easy like a spark plug! Replace her phone, your daughter ruined it. Sit your husband down and show him just how much daycare really is! Tell him to quit acting like he is entitled! He really is being ridiculous.
Aw I agree with you!! The gift of family child care is priceless!! You would have to pay anyone else and replace anyone else stuff so 
I’d forsure replace the phone as your child damaged it. If the lawn mower just wore out and died that’s a different situation