If you're a parent who lives near close relatives, chances are that you'll turn to those family members to a little free babysitting every now and again. Hey, why not? It's reliable, safe, loving and more than affordable or is it?

I love my time with Josh (3) and Sam (9 months), but I miss talking with the people at work and using my mind in a different way. I don't really want to get a job, I just want some kind of change at home.

Do you need a babysitter or a mother’s helper? How is an au pair different from a nanny? What does a doula even do anyway? If you’ve ever been confused about your child care choices, use this handy list to help sort through the definitions.

Many parents do not know how, do not want to, or lack the communication skills necessary to talk to their children about money in general. So when a money crisis develops, the potential to pass fearful and negative attitudes towards money to the next generation increases.

Hiring a babysitter used to be such a simple process: plan a night out, call the neighborhood girl to come over, pay her a few dollars an hour and enjoy your evening. These days it isn't so easy. Check out these helpful tips!

You've no doubt seen all the scary statistics on the costs of raising children -- numbers that may very well have you second-guessing your decision to toss your birth control pills in the trash! Starting a family doesn't have to lead to financial ruin. There are plenty of practical steps you can take to minimize the impact on your family's budget. Here are a few ideas.

Every May, in honor of Mother's Day, Salary.com announces how much the work of a stay-at-home mother is worth. Her annual salary, or value, in 2009, since in the real world the salary is a fantasy: an impressive $122,732. It's nice to be valued. What isn't so nice is that although stay-at-home moms are given lip service about their value and importance, full-time stay-at-home motherhood is not recognized as the job it really is.

Choosing someone to care for your child is a big responsibility -- one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. That's why it's important to avoid making any of these all-too-common mistakes. Within this article, you find a list of daycare problems as well as methods to overcome.