Helping others has always been in my nature, but now, I'm wishing I never agreed to help out.
My neighbor asked me if I could start babysitting her daughter since her and her boyfriend split and their original babysitter no longer wanted to sit. I agreed because I was told that I would only watch her when she had the kid, and other days, the boyfriend will have her.
Well, little did I know that I have her everyday except Sunday and Monday with 40 hours of babysitting a week, and was originally going to get paid $50 a week, but fought for $85 with the excuse of buying food and drinks for her. The mom fought me for awhile about $85 a week because she didn't find that necessary, but she agreed. I've never really babysat anyone's child before, but I feel that $85 is not enough for what I'm sacrificing from my daily routine. Plus, I don't even know why I have to watch the kid on her mother's day off from 5am-7pm? Why can't the boyfriend take the kid? Not to mention, the kid is eating me out of my house!
I need some serious advice on what to do. I don't want to be a prude and say that i'm going to do it and then later on back out of it, you know?
$85 a week for 40 hours of babysitting?
April 4th, 2009 at 08:01 pm
April 4th, 2009 at 08:06 pm 1238875583
April 4th, 2009 at 08:41 pm 1238877709
She may see this as since you don't work, you should welcome that money! I do agree it does sound rather low for you watching her child full time hours. Full time daycare would cost much much more than that!
April 4th, 2009 at 11:45 pm 1238888755
I'm in suburban Chicagoland and the cheapest I've seen is $135 a week. I'm a SAHM and babysat a friend's little guy 3 days a week (nine years ago) for $40 a day. I think you need to charge more. She's taking advantage of you.
April 5th, 2009 at 01:43 am 1238895821
April 5th, 2009 at 02:16 am 1238897788
Or, she could be wanting some time to herself, or maybe be one of those parents who don't spend time with their kids and that is sad.
April 5th, 2009 at 02:18 am 1238897907
April 5th, 2009 at 03:35 am 1238902542
Perhaps you can tell her that instead of a flat $85 a week, you need to charge by the hour. Then perhaps she wouldn't take advantage of your weekly agreement. Realistically you are only making $2.12 per hour. Tell her you are charging $3 per hour and see how it goes. And if she agrees, make sure you write down the time when she drops the child off (let her see you do it!!) and write down the time she is picked up, so there is no squabbling at the end of the week.
Also, buy a bunch of fresh fruit and tell the child that this is your meal (whatever it may be), fruit for snack and THAT is it!! Give her peanut butter and celery or something. Maybe that will help control her appetite.
You can't help but feel sorry for the kid who is getting dumped. It happened with a neighbor child when my kids were small and if you can, embrace the child into the fold and show them a loving stable environment they may never otherwise see. Just a thought, good luck!!
April 5th, 2009 at 06:10 am 1238911836
April 5th, 2009 at 01:53 pm 1238939630
The child is obviously under 5? I'd also look around at what others are charging (look at Craigslist, for example). I know regions can vary much. But usually people are willing to take low babysitting jobs because they care for other children at the same time or because they want to stay home with their kids. I see the latter is your case, but I think even $3/hour is reasonable, no matter where you live. If you don't need the money to stay home with your kids, well... Then it's obviously not worth it in your current arrangement.
April 5th, 2009 at 07:04 pm 1238958290
I am a bit of a wuss, I would prolly wait a week or two then institute some changes in cost (hourly or only X days for same price)
Though in the meantime I would really focus on the act of service this is..cause you don't want your resentment of the mother to carry over to the child.
Oh on food, what sort of food is she eating? if healthy she prolly really needs it, if junk food, tell her no. I agree some healthy fat at each meal will help her fill up, but avoid simple sugars.
April 5th, 2009 at 09:55 pm 1238968550
April 5th, 2009 at 11:20 pm 1238973649
April 6th, 2009 at 02:12 am 1238983936
If she's mad at you that is her problem, why do you worry about what she thinks? Make new friend who respect you at your new job. Good Luck.
April 6th, 2009 at 11:16 pm 1239059809
yes you are being ripped off.
April 6th, 2009 at 11:19 pm 1239059955
yes you are being ripped off.
would you do any other job for $2.70 an hour?
April 8th, 2009 at 10:27 pm 1239229670
April 13th, 2009 at 12:17 am 1239581858
April 14th, 2009 at 12:08 am 1239667699
DFS childcare assistance pays a flat $15 a day regardless of age.
So, if you lived where I lived, this is the going rate.
However I know it varies widely and widly across the country, as does the price for a gallon of milk or a gallon of fuel.
April 19th, 2009 at 06:24 pm 1240165468
April 22nd, 2009 at 02:20 pm 1240410010
A boy 3 and a little girl 6. Trying to be nice and helpful, I said yes.
The little girl goes to school with my son. So it was agreed that I would take the little boy from the school. Well 'mom' does not have to go to work until 10am. Why do I get you kid at 8am? And most days, I drop my kid off at the school at 8 and they get there about 8:15. I have a newborn, I don't like waiting for them.
(and something they told me after I agreed to watch the kids, the little boy is prone to seizures)
When I pick up my son, I also pick up the little girl. So for a few hours, I have both of them. 'Dad' gets off work at 4pm. But usually picks up the kids around 5:30.
I have asked them to provide all the food, snacks and drink for their kids, The kid shows up with a apple once in awhile, or a fruit cup. They gave me a jar of peanut butter (it was WAY past the experation date) and a jar of jelly.
I get paid $100 per week and average 45+ hours a week. Some days, 'mom' has to go into work early, And I get the kids at 6am. Which makes for a really long day, because they are still with me till 5:30 sometimes 6pm.
Both parents work GOOD full time jobs. I just feel I am getting taken advatage of. I really like the kids! But I just want somethings to change. And I don't know how to go about it. I like what one person above said, about charging a hourly rate. Maybe $3.00 per hour for one of the kids, $5.00/hour for both.
'mom' told me today, I will have the kids at 6:00am everyday in the month of May, that is what started the frustration for this letter.
I am suppose to have the kids all summer.
Any comments or advice would be appreciated.
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:33 pm 1240439601
I would tell her that it's too much responsibility to take care of her kids. I mean, her son is prone to having seizures, and that's alot of responsibility right there. What if something happens? What if the mom blames you for not treating him in time or something? It's mostly just to cover your butt because you're not certified for that type stuff. I also don't understand why parents who leave their kids with sitters feel that they have the right to pick them up an hour and half later after getting home just because they're paying you. It's not right. It's their kid, not yours.
Just let the woman know that you don't feel comfortable taking care of her children, and she'd understand. If not, it doesn't matter right? You don't really know her.
March 1st, 2019 at 10:32 am 1551436350