It’s time for one of my pet peeves…
Sitting at the lunch table at work, we were talking about some people meeting at a friend’s house for book club. We asked the husband (who works here) if he was getting out of the house for the evening. The reply was “No, I get to babysit.” I said “Dude - it’s called PARENTING!” Now this guy is someone who certainly is a parent - he just said it cuz he knew it would get a rise out of me 
I have, however, heard this statement used more than once in a totally serious manner. And every time I give the same response as above . . . unless it’s a complete stranger, then I just look at my husband with that “did he really just say that?!” look.
What I want to know is, why do mom’s parent and dad’s babysit?
I think most say it because, in effect, it is an “official” escape. One parent is getting a night off and the other is “babysitting.” No foul in that terminology. Everybody needs some downtime. It is all semantics after all.
I do agree that in some relationships there is resentment, but honestly it isn’t the parenting that is the root of the problem. There are deeper and wider reaching issues.
I do agree with you . . . we have some friends who have a father that babysits . . . and he really means it. Afterall, his wife, when she stays home, is “staying home with her kids.” Key word “her” - even though they both had a part in the making. And to be fair, we also know families where the mother is the babysitter . . . it goes both ways. I guess I’m just happy that we and most of those around us have close families where everyone shares all the responsibility because they want to, not because they have to.
And, please tell me who you are getting to babysit for $6/hour! I’d love to pay only that much!
True. Most of the people I hear say “babysitting” are clearly joking and more referring to the fact their spouse is free to go out and have a morning, afternoon or evening of kidless fun. Maybe a movie, dinner with a friend, sporting event, etc. I’m not sure I know too many folks like you are talking about, but the ones I do are already divorced. Babysitting can have an odd way of transforming to visitation.