Views wanted re grandparent care expenses

[Leanin15yearsmaybe]

Apologies for the long post.....
I am due to go back to work next week and my mother has very kindly agreed to have the kids (2 boys, 6 & 8). Background is....I am a single parent. my mother hates my father (v long unhappy co-habitting marriage - no judgements needed, it's just shit and she chooses this!) and welcomes getting out of the house. She often wants to stay at mine anyway but now she will be 'officially' coming to stay for 2 nights a week. She is retired. I will be working 2 X 13 hour consecutive shifts which means she will be staying the the night before - due to my early start - and the night in the middle of my 2 shifts. My question is, should I
A) pay her for childcare
B) pay her fuel expenses
C) pay her nothing

I would really welcome some opinions as my close friends think that given as I will be preparing (slow cooker) food for her/she wants to stay out away from my dad/she stays that much anyway, I shouldn't give her money. Whilst others think that she is my 'childcare' and that as I can't get any other that would cover long shifts, should pay her appropriately.

Any thoughts??!

Thankyou nanny. Yes I think we should have the conversation,
I'm seeing her tomorrow.

I'm nervous enough starting the new career after 3 years out so feel I am just channelling my angst into this small point

Free board and lodgings.
Fuel costs.
The pleasure of your kids.
Nothing else required.

You need to talk to her. My mum wouldn't expect to be paid for looking after her grandchildren, but I wouldn't want to take the mickey and would provide expenses for what they were doing (petrol, a trip out in the holidays etc) and would pay for her food while she was with me.

In my family there would be no need to over complicate the situation by formally employing her, but I would be paying for her to go on a nice holiday/weekend break/whatever every now and again so she knows she is appreciated.

If she's not short of cash and you are - then personally I wouldn't feel obliged. It would make things complicated. However getting her some nice food in & nice treats like posh chocs or occasional flowers would be nice. If you are a single parent trying to get back into the job market to secure a better future for yourself and the kids I would be surprised if she wanted paying.
It would be different altogether if for example you and OH earned a joint income of £85k and were asking your Mum to come over for nothing and she was struggling to pay her own bills, losing a day paid work etc... It would also be different if the kids were toddlers imo.