Relative Thinks 9-Year-Old “Shouldn’t Expect Payment” For 75 Cupcakes, Gets Called Out By Mom
It’s important to encourage kids to do what they love. Who knows, maybe it’s the next Aretha Franklin singing in the shower or a future Ryan Gosling on his way to acting class.
Redditor u/-TerrificTerror- recently told the Parenting community about her 9-year-old daughter’s newly found love of baking. The girl’s family encouraged her by asking her to bake something small every once in a while and complimenting her cooking. But when a relative made a rather large order, the mom believed that compliments won’t do and requested payment.
It’s important to encourage kids to engage in what they enjoy
Image credits: cottonbro studio (not the actual photo)
This mom wanted to support her daughter’s love of baking but was criticized for her ways of doing it
Image credits: stockasso (not the actual photo)
Image credits: -TerrificTerror-
Image credits: -TerrificTerror-
There are numerous benefits to children picking up a hobby
The OP was supportive of her child’s passion for baking, as it is important to encourage kids to follow their hobbies. Parent Circle emphasized that having hobbies has numerous benefits as it can help alleviate stress, nurture creativity, and improve cognitive skills. It also helps children to learn how to manage time and deal with stressful or challenging situations, in addition to dispersing boredom.
Education World seconded the idea that it’s beneficial for kids to have hobbies, adding that parent involvement can help nurture their interest. Some of the ways to do it, according to them, are first and foremost being attentive to what their hobbies might be and providing options related to them.
It’s also important to provide children with the tools, as well as enough personal space to explore the activity, as well as being supportive and celebrating their achievements together. Joining them in some of the activities or at least showing interest can also go a long way; however, it’s important not to force your own hobbies onto the child.
Research shows that there is a positive correlation between parental support and students’ self-worth, as well as psychological and physical well-being.
Image credits: Madalyn Cox (not the actual photo)
It’s not only the ingredients that should be paid for
One of the ways the OP encourages her daughter to continue baking is buying all the ingredients the little chef needs. The woman said she didn’t mind doing so, even though the ingredients typically used for baked goods, such as butter and eggs, are not cheap, as a few redditors pointed out in the comments.
CBS News pointed out that the price of butter increased by 31% over the last year (while the costs of margarine grew by a whopping 44%). It also revealed that eggs got 60% more expensive over the same period of time, which is why it’s no surprise some bakers might have understandably increased the prices of their goods.
According to PR Newswire, due to the pandemic, there was a noticeable increase in the number of people baking goods at home in 2020—roughly 84% of people surveyed by the market research firm Packaged Facts said they tried their luck at it. That reportedly led to an 24% increase in sales of baking-related products.
The relative that asked the OP’s daughter to bake 75 cupcakes assured that they would cover the expenses for the ingredients. However, they weren’t willing to pay for the girl’s time or effort, which made her mother feel like they were taking advantage of the little baker. Lightspeed suggested that the time it takes to make one batch is one of the main things to consider when it comes to the price of your baked goods (together with the cost of ingredients, the recipe yield, and cost per serving).
No matter the age, the time and effort a person puts into creating homemade goods is not less valuable than the ingredients, which is why they should be compensated for it as well. Luckily, the OP’s relative eventually decided to do it with a gift card for a local shop selling cooking and baking supplies. Not only that, they allowed the girl to use a commercial kitchen, which must have been quite an experience for the little baker.
Image credits: Gustavo Fring (not the actual photo)
Fellow redditors shared their thoughts on the matter in the comments, the OP answered some of them
Sounds to me, after reading the updated outcome, that the relative probably complained to someone else about the situation and was told point blank they were in the wrong. Most people don't change their tune after buckling down that hard from just a little time to reflect. They probably tried to get several people to agree with them and when that didn't pan out finally realized how rediculous they were being. The gift card instead of money sounds like a way to give in but also save a bit of face, like "okay I'll pay, but I'm gonna make it sorta like I'm not paying so I don't have to admit I was wrong directly."
She probably had her eyes opened as to how much the work was worth when she phoned the list of bakers that the mother gave her.
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Relative was definitely trying to take advantage of her. Glad mom set her straight! Also glad relative tried to make things right by helping her work with the caterers!
The Mom really Mom'd the hell out of this situation. Good mom, Makes my heart happy. My favorite times were cooking with my mom and now cooking with my daughter!
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Bashes on the mom for child labor but seems completely fine with child slavery? I’d be expecting them to pay her fairly, young does not equate free.
Why was the relative expecting a free $175 gift from a 9yo child when the child and parent hadn't promised to bake for the event, much less do it for free? Then she had the audacity to pretend the child ruined the event? How are people that illogical?
Some people take things for granted and have no care to know how much work or time things take. Happensvall the time. The Choosing Beggars reddit is insane.
Load More Replies... That relative sounds like the type of person that meeting „only at funerals and weddings“ is too often! It’s strange that she didn’t realise how stupid and illogical she was: if the child is paid it’s child labour which is a big NoNo, but having the child do the same work for free like a slave, that’s apparently fine.
I hate people who do that to kids or adults. Happened to my daughter. She was a geek from birth. At about 10 a growing asked if she could set up his computer back when it want plug and play but a million cords😄. He offered her $50 she said ok. After she was done he handed her $5. Told her dad and me what does she know about money. I did a lot considering she did all this for you. My daughter said if you’re not paying me $50 do it yourself and pulled every cord. He apologize and pulled out $50 she sai d price has gone up. Fleeced him for $80 😁
Good job, Mom, for sticking up for your daughter and not allowing her to be taken advantage of. I don't understand in the edits why it's important if she's from America or not though. Probably someone looking for an easy opportunity to bash.
It might have to do with the fact that she was talking about donating the cupcakes to a food bank. In America, you can't do that due to the risk of contamination, so you can only donate packaged foods. So maybe an American pointed that out, thus her response.
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As someone who used to LOVE baking, I can safely say mom did the right thing here. It's all great fun until people are constantly trying to haggle you into making all this c**p for free. A friend of my sister's asked me to make his daughters cake. Offered me $100. I even told him I'd accept less, since he was a friend of hers, that if he'd just reimburse me the ingredients we'd call it even. I spent two days working on this cake because i used chocolate molds to make cake toppers and snowflake and all this other c**p for her two tier cake. It looked fantastic, and it's one of my most proud cakes to date. Sister brought it over for his kids birthday and stuck around for maybe an hour. When she came back home she was livid. Not only did he refuse to give her the money for my work. He also apparently went around telling everyone he'd gotten it at a bakery. So he wouldn't even give me the credit I was due. Completely killed it for me. Now I rarely bake except for family events.
I may have gone to that party and smashed that cake after taking a huge bite from it.
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Shame on that relative. 75 cupcakes is a lot different than a pan of brownies. It's a pretty big endeavor for a 9 year old. I think that relative probably called around to bakeries and found out how much 75 cupcakes were going to cost in a retail establishment. Then she started to backpedal. The offer of a gift card to purchase things from a cooking store is fine. Relative didn't specify amount. Not worth it if she intends to slip her a $10 card or something. Mom should continue to guide her daughter, but watch out for other relatives who might try to exploit her.
My husband's niece hobby was photography. She learnt on her own from watching YouTube and other online sources. We asked her to take pics of us. I gave her a good amount of money and she was so appreciated. It's not about how much money you give them, It's about the support and appreciation they get from you and make them feel they are doing good deed for people and for themselves. That's what the mother is trying to do for her daughter, she shouldn't even have to ask the relative in the first place and the relative should offer that.
It has to do with whether or not baked goods can be donated. In the US, baked goods are not accepted, but in most of Europe, they are.
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Sounds like when she realized what she would have to pay or do them herself, and was complaining to someone else, they ALSO set her straight. 75 cupcakes from a 9 yo is a LOT to expect. Her getting something in return SHOULD be expected
That mother handled that situation beautifully and was able to teach her daughter important lessons about expectations and setting boundaries. Hopefully the relative learned not to be an entitled idiot in the future too. Win-win
Wish I knew how to get a hold of this mother first off you did amazing I loved baking and my family expecting free stuff made me hate it and I also have a cake pop machine I don't use I'd love to give your little one
Go to the original Reddit post to contact her. The link is in the article.
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Well meaning young people are often taken advantage of it made my heart happy to see a mom stand firm. I had to explain to my youth group why I paid them for moving my In-laws because it did not fit the criteria for a service project. Yes the disabled seniors needed help and I didn't have enough family members for the job. BUT, I hired the youth be because they were hard workers who benefited from the opportunity to earn and we could afford to pay them generously and order take out for lunch and supper that day so it would have been wrong not to pay them even if they were willing to do the work for free. If they had not been available I would have had to pay moving crew a lot more.
This situation is insane.The girl is 9 years old. Why does a relative want a 9 year old to make 75 cupcakes for free? There has to be a violation somehow in child labor laws
It's doubtful that would violate any laws because it would be considered a personal gift under the law. But it definitely violates ethics and common sense.
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I’m a home baker and all of the tools, ingredients, and decorations are expensive! If a home baker, or even a store-owning baker, is requested to make 75 cupcakes for an event, delivery and set up, you’re looking at a lot of money. The relative was in the wrong and trying to get something super important for free from a child is never okay. I love that it worked out, but that’s a relative that I’d tell to pound sand in a heartbeat! And then to headbutt a moose! 🤣🤣 Love that, btw!
Child labor,? Get real, she can do her own baking, mowing the yard, sweeping the floor, etc. If she asks her children to help accuse her of using child labor. The little girl likes to bake, she ENJOYS it, it makes her smile and brings her happiness. Then you have the entitled Karen who wants to use " child labor" for her party. What a hypocrite she is.
Since it's an addition to the post, I'm guessing it came up in the reddit comments
Load More Replies... This is bull the relative needs to pay you for ingredients and supplies $150 and the the child gets payed $150 that is $2.00 a cupcake that is how much they are now if she doesn't like it go kick rocks suck a jar of camel p**s
Your child should be paid what a baker would be paid cause that is what she is doing and apparently she makes good baked goods
Load More Replies... No hell no this women needs to pay you for ingredients and supplies $150 and then give your daughter $150 that's $2.00 a cupcake that's what they cost now thats $300 if this family member does not like it go kick rocks
Lol yells at the mom for supporting child labor but had no issues with child slavery?
This mom handled the situation beautifully. 75 cupcakes is very labor intensive and expensive to make. My daughter was once asked by a close family “friend” to paint a mural in their home. She gave up many an afternoon to create this and it was impressive. They talked about paying her and never did. It was a hard lesson for both of us to learn. Never would I have imagined an adult who we considered a friend and who could easily afford to pay her, to stiff her like that. People can truly be monsters. We’ve never spoken to this person again.
Sounds like you were an amazing f*****g parent and at the end of the day that is all that matters.
The strange thing is that payment was never brought up at any time until a call much later. Sounds like people were saying yes to doing something for someone and then afterwards thought, we should be getting paid for this, hence the call back for allergy questions and to throw in the comment about the first paying customer when obviously amounts were never talked about before. These are cupcakes, not a wedding cake and the other person bought all the supplies. Payment for your child services should have been brought up then, not after saying yes and in an unexpected phone call, then claiming your child is being used, when you allowed all this too happen. I am sure all the yes stuff went through you at the beginning. Don't get me wrong, I would have paid the child for her work without having to be asked for anything, but it sounds like the problem here was the mom of the little baker honestly. Let's be real about the events as they are written. Strange thing to do.
There more comments on reddit than the few bp chose to post
Load More Replies... Sounds to me, after reading the updated outcome, that the relative probably complained to someone else about the situation and was told point blank they were in the wrong. Most people don't change their tune after buckling down that hard from just a little time to reflect. They probably tried to get several people to agree with them and when that didn't pan out finally realized how rediculous they were being. The gift card instead of money sounds like a way to give in but also save a bit of face, like "okay I'll pay, but I'm gonna make it sorta like I'm not paying so I don't have to admit I was wrong directly."
She probably had her eyes opened as to how much the work was worth when she phoned the list of bakers that the mother gave her.
Load More Replies... Relative was definitely trying to take advantage of her. Glad mom set her straight! Also glad relative tried to make things right by helping her work with the caterers!
The Mom really Mom'd the hell out of this situation. Good mom, Makes my heart happy. My favorite times were cooking with my mom and now cooking with my daughter!
Load More Replies... Bashes on the mom for child labor but seems completely fine with child slavery? I’d be expecting them to pay her fairly, young does not equate free.
Why was the relative expecting a free $175 gift from a 9yo child when the child and parent hadn't promised to bake for the event, much less do it for free? Then she had the audacity to pretend the child ruined the event? How are people that illogical?
Some people take things for granted and have no care to know how much work or time things take. Happensvall the time. The Choosing Beggars reddit is insane.
Load More Replies... That relative sounds like the type of person that meeting „only at funerals and weddings“ is too often! It’s strange that she didn’t realise how stupid and illogical she was: if the child is paid it’s child labour which is a big NoNo, but having the child do the same work for free like a slave, that’s apparently fine.
I hate people who do that to kids or adults. Happened to my daughter. She was a geek from birth. At about 10 a growing asked if she could set up his computer back when it want plug and play but a million cords😄. He offered her $50 she said ok. After she was done he handed her $5. Told her dad and me what does she know about money. I did a lot considering she did all this for you. My daughter said if you’re not paying me $50 do it yourself and pulled every cord. He apologize and pulled out $50 she sai d price has gone up. Fleeced him for $80 😁
Good job, Mom, for sticking up for your daughter and not allowing her to be taken advantage of. I don't understand in the edits why it's important if she's from America or not though. Probably someone looking for an easy opportunity to bash.
It might have to do with the fact that she was talking about donating the cupcakes to a food bank. In America, you can't do that due to the risk of contamination, so you can only donate packaged foods. So maybe an American pointed that out, thus her response.
Load More Replies... As someone who used to LOVE baking, I can safely say mom did the right thing here. It's all great fun until people are constantly trying to haggle you into making all this c**p for free. A friend of my sister's asked me to make his daughters cake. Offered me $100. I even told him I'd accept less, since he was a friend of hers, that if he'd just reimburse me the ingredients we'd call it even. I spent two days working on this cake because i used chocolate molds to make cake toppers and snowflake and all this other c**p for her two tier cake. It looked fantastic, and it's one of my most proud cakes to date. Sister brought it over for his kids birthday and stuck around for maybe an hour. When she came back home she was livid. Not only did he refuse to give her the money for my work. He also apparently went around telling everyone he'd gotten it at a bakery. So he wouldn't even give me the credit I was due. Completely killed it for me. Now I rarely bake except for family events.
I may have gone to that party and smashed that cake after taking a huge bite from it.
Load More Replies... Shame on that relative. 75 cupcakes is a lot different than a pan of brownies. It's a pretty big endeavor for a 9 year old. I think that relative probably called around to bakeries and found out how much 75 cupcakes were going to cost in a retail establishment. Then she started to backpedal. The offer of a gift card to purchase things from a cooking store is fine. Relative didn't specify amount. Not worth it if she intends to slip her a $10 card or something. Mom should continue to guide her daughter, but watch out for other relatives who might try to exploit her.
My husband's niece hobby was photography. She learnt on her own from watching YouTube and other online sources. We asked her to take pics of us. I gave her a good amount of money and she was so appreciated. It's not about how much money you give them, It's about the support and appreciation they get from you and make them feel they are doing good deed for people and for themselves. That's what the mother is trying to do for her daughter, she shouldn't even have to ask the relative in the first place and the relative should offer that.
It has to do with whether or not baked goods can be donated. In the US, baked goods are not accepted, but in most of Europe, they are.
Load More Replies... Sounds like when she realized what she would have to pay or do them herself, and was complaining to someone else, they ALSO set her straight. 75 cupcakes from a 9 yo is a LOT to expect. Her getting something in return SHOULD be expected
That mother handled that situation beautifully and was able to teach her daughter important lessons about expectations and setting boundaries. Hopefully the relative learned not to be an entitled idiot in the future too. Win-win
Wish I knew how to get a hold of this mother first off you did amazing I loved baking and my family expecting free stuff made me hate it and I also have a cake pop machine I don't use I'd love to give your little one
Go to the original Reddit post to contact her. The link is in the article.
Load More Replies... Well meaning young people are often taken advantage of it made my heart happy to see a mom stand firm. I had to explain to my youth group why I paid them for moving my In-laws because it did not fit the criteria for a service project. Yes the disabled seniors needed help and I didn't have enough family members for the job. BUT, I hired the youth be because they were hard workers who benefited from the opportunity to earn and we could afford to pay them generously and order take out for lunch and supper that day so it would have been wrong not to pay them even if they were willing to do the work for free. If they had not been available I would have had to pay moving crew a lot more.
This situation is insane.The girl is 9 years old. Why does a relative want a 9 year old to make 75 cupcakes for free? There has to be a violation somehow in child labor laws
It's doubtful that would violate any laws because it would be considered a personal gift under the law. But it definitely violates ethics and common sense.
Load More Replies... I’m a home baker and all of the tools, ingredients, and decorations are expensive! If a home baker, or even a store-owning baker, is requested to make 75 cupcakes for an event, delivery and set up, you’re looking at a lot of money. The relative was in the wrong and trying to get something super important for free from a child is never okay. I love that it worked out, but that’s a relative that I’d tell to pound sand in a heartbeat! And then to headbutt a moose! 🤣🤣 Love that, btw!
Child labor,? Get real, she can do her own baking, mowing the yard, sweeping the floor, etc. If she asks her children to help accuse her of using child labor. The little girl likes to bake, she ENJOYS it, it makes her smile and brings her happiness. Then you have the entitled Karen who wants to use " child labor" for her party. What a hypocrite she is.
Since it's an addition to the post, I'm guessing it came up in the reddit comments
Load More Replies... This is bull the relative needs to pay you for ingredients and supplies $150 and the the child gets payed $150 that is $2.00 a cupcake that is how much they are now if she doesn't like it go kick rocks suck a jar of camel p**s
Your child should be paid what a baker would be paid cause that is what she is doing and apparently she makes good baked goods
Load More Replies... No hell no this women needs to pay you for ingredients and supplies $150 and then give your daughter $150 that's $2.00 a cupcake that's what they cost now thats $300 if this family member does not like it go kick rocks
Lol yells at the mom for supporting child labor but had no issues with child slavery?
This mom handled the situation beautifully. 75 cupcakes is very labor intensive and expensive to make. My daughter was once asked by a close family “friend” to paint a mural in their home. She gave up many an afternoon to create this and it was impressive. They talked about paying her and never did. It was a hard lesson for both of us to learn. Never would I have imagined an adult who we considered a friend and who could easily afford to pay her, to stiff her like that. People can truly be monsters. We’ve never spoken to this person again.
Sounds like you were an amazing f*****g parent and at the end of the day that is all that matters.
The strange thing is that payment was never brought up at any time until a call much later. Sounds like people were saying yes to doing something for someone and then afterwards thought, we should be getting paid for this, hence the call back for allergy questions and to throw in the comment about the first paying customer when obviously amounts were never talked about before. These are cupcakes, not a wedding cake and the other person bought all the supplies. Payment for your child services should have been brought up then, not after saying yes and in an unexpected phone call, then claiming your child is being used, when you allowed all this too happen. I am sure all the yes stuff went through you at the beginning. Don't get me wrong, I would have paid the child for her work without having to be asked for anything, but it sounds like the problem here was the mom of the little baker honestly. Let's be real about the events as they are written. Strange thing to do.
There more comments on reddit than the few bp chose to post
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