Hey Ladies, I need your help.
Ok, here's the situation.
I have my own 2 kids who are 10 mos. and 7 years old. I babysit 3 little girls, 2 of which are sisters. The older sister (4), is starting preschool on Sep. 2. The mom wants me to take her daughter to school and pick her up in the afternoon at 2:30, which means putting 3 babies in the back of my car around naptime. Then, she wants to drop my pay by $50/week, b/c I won't have her daughter as often, but I will be spending my own gas $ to take her and I will have to load up the babies. Then, in 2 months, her husband is changing his hours, so I would only have them about 15 hours a week, and at that time, my pay will go from $200/week, to $150/week. I can't watch more kids if I have hers b/c there wouldn't be enough room in the car to pick up her daughter from school.
I don't know what to tell her. I don't think it's fair to me to have to take a pay-cut b/c of preschool, especially when I can't make up the difference by watching another one. But, she said that that's all they can offer, so to take or leave it (in a nut-shell).
I can't really afford a pay-cut, and especially not a $100/week pay-cut right before Christmas!
What should I tell this lady? I think I'm being underpaid, am I right?
I don't want to but I think I may need to replace the kids. I love them, so it'll be hard, but it all comes down to business. I HAVE to make some income!
So, I told the mother that I could not do what she was asking of me. I gave her plenty of notice so that she would be able to have time to find someone else, and she got mad and took the kids out of my care and wrote me a very nasty email which made me cry until 2am. But, the good news is that I now know who I was working for and never have to see her again. I've already found one replacement and just need one more child to care for. Hopefully God will bless me with another child to keep that fits us a little better. I will pray for this lady and miss her kids. Thanks for all the advice! You guys really helped me out alot!
Don't compromise. Let her go...you'll get others. She's saving A BUNDLE for the price you are charging. You are truly being underpaid. She won't find anyone else to charge that price.
I think she's being unreasonable. If her 4 year old is going to preschool, then she needs to either drive the child to/from your home or she needs to continue paying you the regular amount (to make up for the fact that you can't watch any other children because you have to have room in your vehicle for the 4 year old). Sounds to me like you should leave it. In the end, if she's desperate enough for a sitter, she'll go by your terms. If you can't be flexible the way she needs you to be, then she's the one who has to take it or leave it. After all, if you can't accommodate her, then she's stuck trying to find someplace that can, which will be more difficult than being more flexible with you.
All the other moms are on the nose!! She will never find care for that price! One thing no one has mentioned yet is the wear and tear on your body and your car. Taking car seats in and out of cars is not an easy task by any means! Check out some transportation services, see what the prices are and fill her in on that bit of information! Hang in there!
Bethany,
Where are you located? If she is paying you $200 per week for three children four and under, she is getting a deal. I pay $170 for one four year old (at a higher end daycare center). I would offer her a percentage less (10%)and tell her that once her husband cuts his hours, you will no longer be able to afford to care for her children as much as you would like to.
Since she has given you an ultimatum, call her bluff. You can find children to take care of easier than she can find a caregiver.
Harsh....perhaps, but business is business.
Ha! Leave it!
she will have a hard time finding anyone to pick up a part time preschooler-- I got stuck in the same situation last year it was sooo annoying really just because of nap time and my two that had to be buckled in.(not just a hop in the car and go) I had to plan my whole day around the pick up.
another option would be to have one of her neighbors or friends or classmates mommies do the drop off at your house just explain you wont be able to do it.
disrupts the littlest ones schedule too much or whatever...
I say bad deal for you just say you need to keep kiddo's that can help support your families needs more and sorry if that's not them.
if she contacts a company she will understand you are being very flexible on the cost of care already and she may rethink her position.
Good Luck
D.
Watching our children is a hard job....watching other people's children is even harder. With the gas price going up you wont be earning much. And with 3 little children is like you say you have to have them in a car seat so it more work for you. Don't give in to her request.I know it seems hard to take a huge pay cut then not getting any but God will help you make the right choice for you.
I would just explain to her that you only watch kids in your house and that you do not feel comfortable having to pack three kids in the car to pick up her child. Also have you discussed this with the other childs mother? She might not want you to take her child in you car everyday then you could just use that as the excuse not to do it. As far as the money goes you just need to be firm tell her regardless of the kids come 5-40 hours per week the fee is the same. If she feels like she cannot pay it then let her try and find someone who will watch her kids part-time (probably not going to happen). Pray about it and remember God will provide you with more children to care for.
I am an in-home childcare provider and yes you are not being paid enough. The pay should be around $330-400 per week for both girls. Some centers offer a 10% sibling discount. I charge $150 for the first child and $120 for the second. If the child is still potty training then the amount is more. (If you look back through my requests there is one about the going rates in daycare and there was a response from a woman whose job it was to call around and get rates) You should not have to drop your rate b/c her daughter will not be there as much. There is a part time rate 0-20 hours usually $75-100 per week or a full time rate $150-200 per week for the age of her children. You are saving her a bundle by keeping both of her kids for $200 per week. And as for gas goes you can charge her for the gas and wear and tear on your car, you will use more gas going to and from the school an on a normal errand. Not only do you have to think about the gas but your brakes as well. You will use them more often (and they will wear out faster) with neighborhood driving. Also what does the other mom think about you taking her child in the car everyday. I would advise you to tell her that you cannot go down on your rate just b/c her daughter is not going to be there as much and as far as going down when her husbands hours change and you will only have them 15 hours a week, well it is actually 30 hours a week b/c there are 2 kids. Really they are getting a steal of a deal with you. Tell them to check around for prices or you can do it for them just call centers in your area and make them a list of who charges what and then give it to them as part of why you feel you do not need to go down on your rates. I have a "guideline" information sheet that I hand out to my families. It explains that even if you child is not here the full number of part time hours (say 15 a week) that you still have to pay the full part time rate and the same for the full time rate. This helps me keep surprises to a minimum. If you have any questions feel free to call me, I have been doing in-home care for 8 years now. I hope this helps. Oh and by the way everyone is right if she will not meet your request then let her go you will find others.
Edited:
Here is the info from the post that I told you about
Hi B.,
Here are the Average rates in Keller Facilities. I use to be an Assistant Director and part of my job was to call and get rates around our area. Now Aug there is an expected increase at most centers between 3-5 dollars.
Infant (0-12m) $220-$265
Toddler I (12-18m) $205-$230)
Toddler II (18m-24m) ($195-$215)
Two's not potty trained ($185-$210)
Two potty trained usueally $5.00 less
3's not potty trained same rate as two's not potty trained
3's potty trained ($165-$190)
4/5's not in school $165-$180)
B/A Kindergarten ($100-$165)
Private K ($165-$195)
B/A School ($85-$100)
This is for a center.
HTH
Erika
She is CRAZY! I am not sure where she thinks she is going to find care for that price - and you can EASILY take in other kids to make up the difference if she leaves. Tell her thank you, but no thank you!
