HIGH PRICE MOM’S HELP IS DRAG ON FAMILY BUSINESS
DEAR ABBY:
Twenty years ago, sister and I bought a business from our mother. We all and respect one another and get along well. We will be paying off the business in two years.
Our problem: Mom, who is 77, still draws a salary from us above and beyond payment for the business. Her workload has lessened greatly, as it should. She could all of her work in one day and lessen burden of her salary. However, she says she’d “go crazy” if retired. We don’t want that. She could still come in often as she wants and do her personal paperwork, banking, letter-writing, reading, etc. These are all things does at “work” — on the clock.
If we to discuss this, Mom gets hurt and says, “Just let me when I’m not worth the money.”
We don’t want do that. We would hope she would see the fairness of this and it herself.
Business expenses are going through the roof, and are updates we should make, but we can’t do it as long we are paying Mom at the level we are, on top of money for the buy-out.
DAUGHTERS DEAREST