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I baby-sit a 4 year old little girl nine hours a day. I get $100 a week, or $20 a day. Her mom is my best friend, so we didn't have a contract or anything. I was wondering do you all still charge when the kids don't come. If I don't have her a day, she will only pay me $80. I am okay with that, I guess. But on Monday, I had to leave at 12:30 to take my dh to the airport. So this week when she paid me, she gave me $90. I know that is not alot of money, but I feel like she is just being stingy. I take good care of her dd. I even let her speech therapist and occupational therapist come to my house 5 times a week. And she wants to dock me for half a day? What are your opinions?
Brandi
Answer:
That is a tough one...you don't want to end the friendship over money...and it has that potential if you say anything to her.
I think typically you would get paid for days off, but this is agreed upon before hand...and usually the parent would earn vacation days after a certain amount of time also. How long have you been doing this?? If you have been doing it for 6 months to a year...I say let it go...and chalk it up to her using some of her "vacation days".
However, I do think she is being a little stingy...she has a VERY good deal that she should NOT be taking advantage of. BUT she may not be even thinking about it that way,...she may just be thinking practically....she is there a half a day, pay for a half a day.
But if this is something that is going to bother you, you may want to consider setting up a contract. When does the little girl start school?? This fall?? If so, you may not want to risk a friendship if you are only going to have her a few more months.
Hope this helps a little.
Answer:
If it were me I would sit her down and discuss it in a friendly manner. I take care of my sister's children during the week and we have decided on a flat rate no matter if I take care of the kids one day or not.
Answer:
I think if you are going to continue to baby sit than you should maybe draw up a little contract. MY sister has one with her baby sitter and she gets so many "not having to pay" days per quarter. so when thoose days are used up she has to pay if my neice doesn't go
Answer:
I guess I am just feeling a little unappreciated. I treat her dd just like my kids. If we go to McDonalds for lunch, I buy for her dd too. If we go to Walmart and I get the kids a little something, I get something for her too. I never ask her to pay me back. And then she wants to dock me over every little thing. But I love her and her dd, so I guess I'll have to make up my mind on whether or not I really want to fight with her about money. I would rather not, but I don't like the way this is making me feel either. Thanks for letting me vent.
Answer:
i think this could really affect your relationship with your friend.
i dont know how long you have until the little girl goes to to full time school, but i think if you say something, then you are going to create a little "wedge" between you two that will then always be there.
since you took on your best friends kid you kinda hold your relationship with her in this new job you have now. its kinda like borrowing money from family - if not paid back in time, things just get weird.
i really think that if you love and value the relationhip with your friend, you should say nothing. i mean, it is your choice to buy her things and such - which is very kind of you.
i think if you do say something, the conversation could and probably will get very uncomfortable quickly - you could go into it wanting just to bring up the docking money - it could very well excellerate into something much larger.
i suggest maybe swallowing it up - keep the friendship intact (if you want) and hope the remaining time goes fast.
Answer:
What happened to the little girl while you were taking hubby to the airport? Did your friend have to find a different daycare arrangement? If so, it probably cost her a lot more than $10 for that half day. Since you haven't complained in the past about only getting $80 when one day is missed, then I think it is fair that you get paid for half a day, too. All the other stuff you do for her daughter is beside the point. I agree with you that the quality of care you're providing is a great deal for your friend and her child. If her child was in standad daycare it would be much more expensive and far less like a playdate.
What I wonder is, if you regularly drive the child to places like McD's, etc, why didn't you just take her with you to drop hubby off at the airport?
Answer:
To answer some of the questions, she will go to preschool half day in the fall. I will be taking her and picking her up. And I offered to take her to the airport with me, but because the airprt is almost 2 hours away and he had to be there 2 hours before his flight, we wouldn't be getting back until around 7:30 that evening. She ended up having her mother watch her. And about a month ago, she came to me and said that she was going to sign me up to get the money her dd gets for respite hours. And I went to the meeting and the lady said something about how her mother could get the money for when she keeps her on the weekends, and then give it right back to them. So I didn't get that money either. But we have been friends for too long, so I am just going to suck it up. I told her when I started watching her that I had to have at least $100, because we are going to build a house. I had other offers for more money, but because I love them so much, I chose to watch her. So as my dh says, it's my fault for letting my heart make my desicions instead of my head. And everyone told me to make a contract with her, but I didn't. Oh well.