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#1
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Babysitters
I believe a while back I might have asked this already... but I can't seem
to find it and IIRC, there wasn't too much that I had originally read (but again, can't seem to find it) I talked to my next door neighbour yesterday and asked her if any of her girls babysat. She said both girls are at that age and both do babysit, although the older one has recently taken up some kind of part time job. I believe her daughters are16 and 12 or 13. I basically told the neighbour that I am stuck for a sitter this weekend. It's my dad's work Halloween party, and this is something I really do look forward to each year, and out of the 8 he's had so far, the only one I missed was 2 years ago, when DD2 was born. I believe she was 4 days old for that Halloween party, so I (obviously) skipped out on the party. Since my mom and dad will both be at this party, I'm stuck for a sitter. I have no friends with children at the babysitting age, and I even went so far as to ask my mom if one of my brothers might have a friend with a younger sister and she doesn't know of any, especially one on this side of the city. Being on my own now, I also can't drive a sitter home at the end of the night as that would mean waking the kids up to pack them in the van to drive a sitter home (which makes no sense to me) and this is why I asked the neighbour. The scenario would be I'd have all 3 in bed. They'd be fast asleep by the time I was leaving. I figured I'd want to leave the house around 9-930pm that night and would be back around 1am or so. There would be no need to feed a baby, all the kids sleep through the night. No diaper changing, no nothing, really... She'd basically just be here with the phone, TV/movies and computer. And I've already stocked up on snacks and such. The neighbour said she was pretty sure her daughter would be interested in taking the job, and I asked her if she knew what her daughter charges or would expect for 4-5 hours in the evening for 3 (sleeping) children. She said she didn't know, and said her daughter didn't really have a set charge. I said I was thinking about $10 an hour or so for the 3. So about $40-$50 for the evening. I'm also stuck for a sitter, and the girl next door lives on the other side of the wall from me. When I get home I could just send her across the fence home. She actually doesn't even need to leave my yard to get to her yard. I'm just wondering if $10/hour for this is too much or too little to offer for the job. I'm going to try and catch her today, or even leave a note on the door if all else fails. I just would like to be "fair" for both of us with the amount paid. |
#2
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Babysitters
Kat wrote:
I'm just wondering if $10/hour for this is too much or too little to offer for the job. I'm going to try and catch her today, or even leave a note on the door if all else fails. I just would like to be "fair" for both of us with the amount paid. I think it's about par for the course, at least around here and for the older one. I think these things can vary a lot by region, though. Yes, it is an easy gig, but on the other hand, it does wipe out a weekend night. Around here, a popular babysitter or a difficult night to place could run you significantly more than $10/hour, so I'd go for it if I were looking in my neighborhood. Best wishes, Ericka |
#3
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Babysitters
"Ericka" wrote in message ... Kat wrote: I'm just wondering if $10/hour for this is too much or too little to offer for the job. I'm going to try and catch her today, or even leave a note on the door if all else fails. I just would like to be "fair" for both of us with the amount paid. I think it's about par for the course, at least around here and for the older one. I think these things can vary a lot by region, though. Yes, it is an easy gig, but on the other hand, it does wipe out a weekend night. Around here, a popular babysitter or a difficult night to place could run you significantly more than $10/hour, so I'd go for it if I were looking in my neighborhood. Best wishes, Ericka I wonder, though, what a 12 or 13 year old would have better to do on a Saturday night... You never know, though. A friend said they found a babysitter online somewhere, and this was an adult woman. She charged my friend $10 an hour for their 3 children... And this friend's children are basically the same age as mine - 2 preschoolers and an older school aged child. It does seem to vary from area to area, which seems to make it hard. Most friends I have with little ones don't hire babysitters - they use friends and family only. |
#4
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Babysitters
Kat wrote:
"Ericka" wrote in message ... Kat wrote: I'm just wondering if $10/hour for this is too much or too little to offer for the job. I'm going to try and catch her today, or even leave a note on the door if all else fails. I just would like to be "fair" for both of us with the amount paid. I think it's about par for the course, at least around here and for the older one. I think these things can vary a lot by region, though. Yes, it is an easy gig, but on the other hand, it does wipe out a weekend night. Around here, a popular babysitter or a difficult night to place could run you significantly more than $10/hour, so I'd go for it if I were looking in my neighborhood. I wonder, though, what a 12 or 13 year old would have better to do on a Saturday night... You never know, though. Personally, for that late I'd much prefer the older sitter. I have a 13 year old, and I wouldn't have him sit for my own kids for that long/late. There are some 12/13 year olds who are really responsible, but unless you know the younger girl well, I wouldn't feel all that comfortable with her sitting for me until 1am. I know she likely doesn't have to do much, but the point of having the sitter is so that someone is there in case there *is* a need ;-) Best wishes, Ericka |
#5
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Babysitters
"Kat" wrote in message ... I talked to my next door neighbour yesterday and asked her if any of her girls babysat. She said both girls are at that age and both do babysit, although the older one has recently taken up some kind of part time job. I believe her daughters are16 and 12 or 13. I basically told the neighbour that I am stuck for a sitter this weekend. It's my dad's work Halloween party, and this is something I really do look forward to each year, and out of the 8 he's had so far, the only one I missed was 2 years ago, when DD2 was born. I believe she was 4 days old for that Halloween party, so I (obviously) skipped out on the party. When your kids are slightly older, you might check out Kidspark or some other hourly drop-in childcare center. They are open until midnight on weekend nights and pretty darn late other nights. Those type of centers are expanding all over the nation. We just got one in our area and I am thrilled. |
#6
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Babysitters
"Ericka" wrote in message ... Kat wrote: "Ericka" wrote in message ... Kat wrote: I'm just wondering if $10/hour for this is too much or too little to offer for the job. I'm going to try and catch her today, or even leave a note on the door if all else fails. I just would like to be "fair" for both of us with the amount paid. I think it's about par for the course, at least around here and for the older one. I think these things can vary a lot by region, though. Yes, it is an easy gig, but on the other hand, it does wipe out a weekend night. Around here, a popular babysitter or a difficult night to place could run you significantly more than $10/hour, so I'd go for it if I were looking in my neighborhood. I wonder, though, what a 12 or 13 year old would have better to do on a Saturday night... You never know, though. Personally, for that late I'd much prefer the older sitter. I have a 13 year old, and I wouldn't have him sit for my own kids for that long/late. There are some 12/13 year olds who are really responsible, but unless you know the younger girl well, I wouldn't feel all that comfortable with her sitting for me until 1am. I know she likely doesn't have to do much, but the point of having the sitter is so that someone is there in case there *is* a need ;-) Best wishes, Ericka I wasn't too keen on the idea of any babysitter around 12-13 or so babysitting, but then my mom pointed out that *I* was babysitting when I was that age. The one good thing is that they live right next door - we share a wall. I did talk to the girl's mom first, so she is aware. I think I'm more comfortable with it because I know the mom is home right next door. If an emergency comes up or there's anything at all, at least her mother is right next door, knows that her daughter will be here and I had said the times I was looking for a sitter. If there happens to be a need for anything, I would feel far more comfortable with an adult available (the mom next door), if given the choice between even an older teenager (like the 16 year old sister) But I do see what you are saying for sure. I do think that I feel a little more comfortable knowing that the mom is right next door and knows exactly what's going on and what the plans are. |
#7
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Babysitters
"toypup" wrote in message ... "Kat" wrote in message ... I talked to my next door neighbour yesterday and asked her if any of her girls babysat. She said both girls are at that age and both do babysit, although the older one has recently taken up some kind of part time job. I believe her daughters are16 and 12 or 13. I basically told the neighbour that I am stuck for a sitter this weekend. It's my dad's work Halloween party, and this is something I really do look forward to each year, and out of the 8 he's had so far, the only one I missed was 2 years ago, when DD2 was born. I believe she was 4 days old for that Halloween party, so I (obviously) skipped out on the party. When your kids are slightly older, you might check out Kidspark or some other hourly drop-in childcare center. They are open until midnight on weekend nights and pretty darn late other nights. Those type of centers are expanding all over the nation. We just got one in our area and I am thrilled. I've never even heard of that kind of a place... The one thing with a drop in place is that I know DD2 does NOT sleep in unfamiliar places. I even have to struggle with her if we're at my parents' place and she is in dire need of a nap. I usually have to crawl in a bed with her and wait until she falls asleep. For once in a blue moon, I can probably manage a sitter. I don't really need someone to stay with the kids very often... and 99% of the time my mom is available (or my aunt or grandma or a friend). This is, actually, the first time I've *ever* had a babysitter come in that wasn't close friend or family. I didn't ever even have a sitter in for DS before, and he's going to be 8 in Jan. I know we have a 24 hour emergency childcare thing here in the city... I know of one for sure, and I've heard another place does the same basic thing of 24/7 "emergency" childcare. The one I know for sure of is available 24/7, is free for anyone to use, but the (obviously) have limited spaces and all that. And you can leave your child(ren) there up to 72 hours. This isn't something that really interests me in leaving my children at, even for a couple hours, as I do feel those that should use it should have absolutely no other choice. Like, an example, I've heard people will bring their children there if they have no family here or friends and, say, they go in to the hospital to have a baby or something. I know there's also people that do use this childcare to go out and party, but in that case, it's probably better for the children to be in good hands than in a party house (which might or might not mean drugs and alcohol in the house) or left alone. Anyways, I haven't heard of this Kidspark before. Sounds like it is an excellent idea for those that are in need of childcare and don't have any other options. |
#8
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Babysitters
In article , Kat says...
"Ericka" wrote in message ... Kat wrote: I'm just wondering if $10/hour for this is too much or too little to offer for the job. I'm going to try and catch her today, or even leave a note on the door if all else fails. I just would like to be "fair" for both of us with the amount paid. I think it's about par for the course, at least around here and for the older one. I think these things can vary a lot by region, though. Yes, it is an easy gig, but on the other hand, it does wipe out a weekend night. Around here, a popular babysitter or a difficult night to place could run you significantly more than $10/hour, so I'd go for it if I were looking in my neighborhood. Best wishes, Ericka I wonder, though, what a 12 or 13 year old would have better to do on a Saturday night... You never know, though. Oh c'mon. It's time spent at your house watching your kids, rather than something she'd normally do. That's why people are compensated for their work. $10/hour would be fairly normal around here, too. And, frankly I'd pay a little over the going rate to get access to a babysitter right next door if I were you. A reliable babysitter is gold. That she is 12 or 13 means you have 4 or 3 years before she gets her driving license. At 16, any more, babysitters go poof. A friend said they found a babysitter online somewhere, and this was an adult woman. She charged my friend $10 an hour for their 3 children... And this friend's children are basically the same age as mine - 2 preschoolers and an older school aged child. It does seem to vary from area to area, which seems to make it hard. Most friends I have with little ones don't hire babysitters - they use friends and family only. So you do have friends with little ones? There's another option - trade off. Banty |
#9
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Babysitters
"Banty" wrote in message ... In article , Kat says... "Ericka" wrote in message ... Kat wrote: I'm just wondering if $10/hour for this is too much or too little to offer for the job. I'm going to try and catch her today, or even leave a note on the door if all else fails. I just would like to be "fair" for both of us with the amount paid. I think it's about par for the course, at least around here and for the older one. I think these things can vary a lot by region, though. Yes, it is an easy gig, but on the other hand, it does wipe out a weekend night. Around here, a popular babysitter or a difficult night to place could run you significantly more than $10/hour, so I'd go for it if I were looking in my neighborhood. Best wishes, Ericka I wonder, though, what a 12 or 13 year old would have better to do on a Saturday night... You never know, though. Oh c'mon. It's time spent at your house watching your kids, rather than something she'd normally do. That's why people are compensated for their work. Well, apparently she has no problem coming here as it's better than just sitting at home. At 12 or 13, I was too young for the bars and clubs, parties of any sort weren't really there at that age (other than maybe the odd sleepover with movies or something at my house or a friend's) I wasn't really allowed to, or had any desire to, be out galavanting around. So, I just assumed, and even when the mom said she was pretty sure her daughter would take the job, I again just assumed she probably didn't have anything else to do, really. At that age, I just assumed that a parent would - or should - be aware of their child's plans, or have a basic idea if they are planning something. $10/hour would be fairly normal around here, too. And, frankly I'd pay a little over the going rate to get access to a babysitter right next door if I were you. A reliable babysitter is gold. That she is 12 or 13 means you have 4 or 3 years before she gets her driving license. At 16, any more, babysitters go poof. When I asked her how much she charges, or what she would expect, she didn't really say much. That's when I said I was thinking $10 an hour and I think by her reaction that was more than fair for her. She said definitely and that $10 was real good and all that. She had no objections at all or anything like that, and from her reaction of what I thought was 'fair' for a rate, I think it was a good deal to her - and not totally off the wall for me. A friend said they found a babysitter online somewhere, and this was an adult woman. She charged my friend $10 an hour for their 3 children... And this friend's children are basically the same age as mine - 2 preschoolers and an older school aged child. It does seem to vary from area to area, which seems to make it hard. Most friends I have with little ones don't hire babysitters - they use friends and family only. So you do have friends with little ones? There's another option - trade off. Banty I've done that every now and then. I called one friend and she said she could come for a couple hours but she had plans that evening for about 10-11 or so. Another one has 3 little ones of her own and it would be silly for her to find a sitter for her kids to come watch mine or to drag her 3 over at night (or for me to drag mine to her) I also find most of our tradeoffs with friends are saved for a day thing... A doctor's appointment, a meeting, something that is best to go to without dragging little ones around for. And it seems that an evening thing is more for an emergency situation - I went to a friend's house to stay with hers when her father in law was really sick in the hospital and not going to make it very long. I was aware he was going in for some big surgery and that it was a really risky operation of some sort and even my friend said she was pretty sure he wasn't going to make it through the surgery, or much longer after it. Maybe it's silly of me, but for an evening thing, I just kind of feel that since I'm only asked in an emergency at night, I'd much rather save my trade off of babysitting services in the evening for an emergency. |
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