My SIL wants me to teach her how to decorate cakes. I am not too fond of her, since she never comes around to see the kids or anything, matter of fact the whole family is like that, but that's totally off topic from cake, plus they are the kind of people who think they should get something for nothing. Anyway, my MIL told me at the birthday party (the photos are in my photo thingie of the cakes I did for the b-day--the 2 tier sports, doll, and purse cakes) that SIL wants me to show her how to do cake the next time I make one. So I am here thinking if she doesn't come around to see the kids, why would she come around to learn cake? I really don't want to set aside time for her that I could be spending on the kids. So if I were to teach her how to do cake I am thinking $10 per lesson, 1 hour each. I mean, I had to pay for my classes she should have to pay for hers. Am I being mean here in wanting to charge her? How would you deal with it?
Heck no you're not being mean but if she is the type who wants something for nothing, I wouldn't do it. Instead, I would give her the ad from the Michaels (or wherever you took your classes) and rave about how much you learned, yada, yada, yada and how you are not qualified to teach her. Tell her to give them a call - she'll love it!
You know, sound perky about the classes and politely dismissive of you teaching her. Because quite frankly, $10 is not enough and it sounds like she has no intention of paying since you are "family" 
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Hope I don't sound too harsh but you are right. You paid money for the classes, took the time to make all the cakes and frosting and paid for all those darn supplies needed and the SIL is just going to walk in and use all your stuff and get the lesson for free? Why doesn't she take the classes herself? Is her time more valuable than yours? Whatta ya' wanna bet when it comes time to make the cakes she will just want to borrow your stuff so she won't have to buy her own?
Sorry....I am an irritable stress-case right now so I am probably not the best person to respond 
Hmm, I'd tell her where you took your lessons so she can go to take the class too. 
Me personally, I'm not a teacher. I'm not good at explaining/demonstrating anything and I have ZERO patience as a "teacher". That's the route I'd take. Doesn't sound like you want to do it anyway, right? 
LOL
V
I would tell her that.. I dont think I would be a good teacher.. I dont work well on cakes when anyone is around.. I would love to show you, but I truley dont think I can to do it.. Although heres the number to the nearest Wilton Instructor in our area.. I learned by going to these classes, they were alot of fun and well I just think I might show you bad habits..I really recommend these classes..
And would not set time aside for her, not even for money!! IMHO!!!
My In laws are the same dang way!!! 
I make cakes ALL the time for my family.. BUT my family calls me daily, see me daily and they live across town from me.. MIL lives 2 houses from me with her mother and husband.. Last time my kids seen the "grandma" was last Christmas.. And MIL always wonders why I dont bake them cakes.. She does not want me going there!!! 
Hmmm, that's a tough one. If you don't enjoy spending time with her, and you resent her not coming around as it is, it won't be much fun for you to teach her, whether or not she pays you.
Maybe, just wait until she asks you herself, and then say, "Oh, I'd love to, BUT! I prefer to do my cakes by myself, otherwise I make mistakes" And then tell her about the courses you took and where she can take them herself. Just be prepared for her to ask to borrow all of your supplies if she does take the courses!
I wouldn't charge her. I would tell her she's better off taking the classes herself. Recommend how great your teacher was. Hopefully she'll go that route.
Good Luck
Angie
I would send her to the craft store for classes......but if she still wants you to show her, I would say why not......but have her come over when you have some free time (me personally, I can't stand people standing over me when I'm doing a cake...I need to be left alone to enter MY ZONE lol)...and make sure you tell her all of the stuff she'll need to bring....icing (if she can't make it, get her to bring the butter, sugar, shortening, etc.)......You never know......she may be using YOUR love of cake decorating as a way to get to know you better so that she'll feel more comfortable about coming over and hanging out with you and your kids! Sometimes people don't know how to approach people about just spending some quality time with them. Hey you never know, you might end up REALLY liking her!!
Your MIL told you that your SIL wants you to teach her how to decorate cakes???? 
Doesn't your SIL have a mouth of her own???
Hmmmm....if she can't ask you herself, I wouldn't do it.
No you are not being mean. You have every right to feel that way. First off any polite person would at least offer you something for you time and services, because you are taking time away from you kids and your household. I would tell her that you really would have the time because of other responsibiltes and obligations you have, and refer her butt to a wilton class.. IF SHE REALLY WANTS TO LEARN SHE WILL GO TO A WILTON CLASS.
I tend to agree with everyone maybe tell her next time you are working on a cake she is welcome to come and watch and ask questions, that way she will know if she wants to spend the money to take classes or not. That way you don't sound mean and you don't have to try and teach her.
Melissa
I would tell her that.. I dont think I would be a good teacher.. I dont work well on cakes when anyone is around.. I would love to show you, but I truley dont think I can to do it.. Although heres the number to the nearest Wilton Instructor in our area.. I learned by going to these classes, they were alot of fun and well I just think I might show you bad habits..I really recommend these classes..
And would not set time aside for her, not even for money!! IMHO!!!
My In laws are the same dang way!!!
I make cakes ALL the time for my family.. BUT my family calls me daily, see me daily and they live across town from me.. MIL lives 2 houses from me with her mother and husband.. Last time my kids seen the "grandma" was last Christmas.. And MIL always wonders why I dont bake them cakes.. She does not want me going there!!!
My parents use to live 163 miles away from me and mom called everyday to talk to the kids. Inlaws live a 10 min drive away and never came/comes around. They saw the kids on Christmas, then on Easter, then a month or so after that, then recently for the b'day party. They never call, never come over. Hubs and I have been together for 5 yr, married for 2 and I can count on 2 hands how many times they have come to my house. I think next time they want a cake from me I am going to charge them for it. Hubs has said before that he will give me the money for making them a cake and I told him that that defeats the purpose because he is already paying for the initial supplies to bake/decorate the cake. And I am going to have them pay me upfront for the cake, if I don't do it like that then I will never see my money!
There are so many reasons why I wouldn't do it! My sister wanted me to teach her a few things. My sister and I are best friends. It didn't work! I was getting frustrated with her and she was getting frustrated with me. I teach cake decorating. I know how to do it!
I wouldn't try to teach a sil that you already had "issues" with. It will only make things worse.
This is what you do . . . Nothing. Put it out of your mind. . . chances are the subject will not be brought up again, because it was your mom-in-law that brought the subject to begin with - not your SIL + if she doesn't come visit now as it is, she will more than likely not be interested in going to your home to learn to do cakes. Go on about your business and if and when you do another cake where they will be at the function and your MIL says something, you can then say that you didn't think your SIL was serious since she did not approach you, but that if she is serious she should go to the same classes you went to for her own benefit and that she will get more out of it.
Why does she want you to 'teach' her? so she can "steal' your thunder?? and possible clients?
The other posters are right...! a recipe for disaster!
It doesn't really sound like your SIL is interested. Your MIL said it, not your SIL. She may have said to MIL that she'd like to see how you do that in passing and MIL ran with the idea.
SIL doesn't sound interested. Relax, and if she does want to watch, just tell her it would make you too nervous. If she wants to learn, refer her to a class.
Well, I took everyone's advice and told hubs that I am NOT going to teach Lucy how to do cake and he asked me why not. I told him that if she wants me to teach her that she will have to pay me $10 per lesson, 1 hour each lesson. He got mad because I won't teach his precious sister, but I am going to stand my ground and not do it
You have a very sticky situation here because she involve your MIL. If these people always want something for nothing are they going to be offended if you charge her? That could open a whole new problem.
Here's my two cents for what it's worth. I would suggest she go take classes like you did. Explain that you are not a teacher and wouldn't really know how to teach her the way a real wilton instructor would. I would soften it by saying she is welcome to come watch you do a cake, and see if it really interests her before she spends the money on classes. This way it appears you are trying to be very helpful, while not agreeing to be her teacher.
My brother-in-law used to say it shouldn't be called in-laws, it should be called out-laws! 
Just to be the devil's advocate.....maybe you could look at this as an opportunity to get to know you SIL better. I agree that you should wait until your SIL asks you personally. Then, tell her you think it would be fun to get together and spend time with her. Then explain how you might have a hard time acutally teaching her though, but that you could show her what you do, but that taking a course might be a better learning experience, because you do not think you would be a good teacher. Good Luck!!
Well I think a lot of valid points are covered already. The subject of family and business/money is always a sticky one. Unless all parties involved understand how to separate the two.
The first thing I also noticed was that your SIL didnt even bring this up with you directly. I bring this up because some of my family members seem to think playing messenger is a valid way to communicate. If someone has a beef with me or wants to ask something, they can ask me direclty. If I hear something through someone else it's not worthy of a second thought. That's how I choose to do things. Why would I accept different behaviour from them?
I wouldnt charge her because I wouldnt even give her lessons- you can soften the blow, as people said, by saying you'd make a horrible teacher. And sing the praises of where you got your classes from.
I recognize what was said about her possibly making effort to get closer to you. Hey you have to decide what feels right to you. For me personally I dont do the cryptic message/beat aroudn the bush thing. lol
My brother-in-law used to say it shouldn't be called in-laws, it should be called out-laws!
ROTFLMAO!!! Oh, that's good............
Trust me, my talented CC friend - I repeat - put it out of your mind - the subject will not come up again, since it was your MIL who brought it up and not your SIL; and if at a future function where you have done the cake, your MIL says something again, play dumb - just say that you didn't think your SIL was serious because you never heard from her! That way - at the very least, it will force your sister in law to approach you personally and then you can tell her the whole "i am not a good teacher" thing. . .
Not to get all caty (?) but is it just me or do you think the MIL didn't like all the "cake" attention her DIL was getting so figured she would get the SIL to take lessons so she could get it instead? Sadly, it sounds like the exact thing my ex-MIL would do..... and I wouldn't be surprised of the SIL doesn't even care one way or the other....
Here's my 2 cents. Tell her (and your husband) that you can't just have her over and teach when you are working on a cake for your children or sale since many techniques are built on and you aren't going to make basic cakes for the next 6 months so she can learn. There is a reason why they start with simply decorated cakes in all the classes and beginner books. At the very least tell them she would have to cover all the supplies because you won't be able to just have her over whenever you are making a cake.
To fix any worries about her borrowing stuff from you instead of getting her own have a few things you might be able to lend out (like some of the shaped pans) but tell anyone that asks that you need your tips, turntable, spatulas and anything you're likely to need to stay home. The only thing I'll let someone borrow are my shaped pans.
'tis the season to be thinking of Christmas/holiday gifts! Buy her a gift certificate to take Course 1 classes at your nearest Hobbly Lobby/Michael's store (use a 40% discount coupon if they will let you)! let her know that while you would love to teach her, you are not sure that you would make a good teacher. Remind her of how much fun you had taking classes, and that you thought she would enjoy it more learning with a group!
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