She didn't pay me for helping her out this summer originally, but then she did give me an $80 thank you gift along with a pretty pottery bowl. Her other option is to pay for a full day of daycare, so even if she gives me a tiny amount, it's still saving her a ton of money.

ETA: I have no idea how much to ask for, even if I do figure out how to bring up the subject. 5 hours a day, one day a week. Any suggestions?

I think that sounds a little passive aggressive. Maybe something like

"Now that I'm committing to a regular schedule, I'd like to be compensated for my time. I think that ___ would be fair."

She's asking you to do regular work. She needs to give you regular pay. End of story.

What that pay is, negotiable. But it needs to be x per day or x per hour. No question.

sj, she should not expect you to do that for free. That's taking advantage of your friendship. Doing it one day, if she's in a bind, as a favor, sure. But when it becomes an expected, regularly scheduled thing? That's work, and you should get paid.

And what Vortex said. Say it nicely. But it has to be said.

My instinct would be to treat it as assumed. "I thought about it, and with getting married and all it would be good to have a little extra coming in so yes, I'd be happy to do it. The only weeks when I'll have an issue are..."

Maybe that's passive agressive too, but.

Go with what Vortex is saying. It's always been difficult for me to phrase things right so I'm sure Vortex has got a better handle on it.

I like Vortex's direct approach.

smonster, you've got insent (or should) from me, on your question. Lemme know if you got it since I've been having fits with my email program.