Rates/frustration!

Hi A.,

I ran an in home daycare for about 9 years. My policy was that the full time parents got 2 weeks vacation days (I didn't get paid) to be taken with 2 weeks notice to me. They could split them up or take them all at once. Part timers got 1 week. I took 1 week at Christmas and 1 week in summer that was paid. The parents could not schedule their unpaid time at this time. You work hard like everyone else and deserve paid vacations. As far as your regular pay goes, I think this woman may be thinking of you more as a sitter than a professional caregiver. You deserve more and have the experience to back it up. I have had several special needs children in my care and they can be a real handful. You shouldn't feel guilty for asking for what you need. If she knows your worth she will agree to pay. If not look for someone that will. If you don't want to drop the family completely agree to provide back up care ( if she decides to find someone else) and charge her a daily rate.

Hi A.,

I am curious as to why he is not in Kindergarten now if he is already 6 years old? Anyways, that is beside the point. Yes, yes, yes you should be getting paid more. I would take no less than $6-7 per hour but most Nanny's are getting paid around $10 (or more!) per hour. Does he come to your house? How many hours per day on average do you watch him?

I do personally agree that on the days he is not in your care mom shouldn't have to pay. I understand it is not your choice for him to not come, but it is also not her fault if he/she is sick, something comes up last minute, or if she just wants to take a day off to spend with her son she should be able to do that. Most daycare centers I have been to only make you pay for the days you attend.
Maybe you can look into some job possibilities such as working at a daycare center? Hope this helps, and ask for more money...you deserve it, after all it is her own son's care we are talking about here!

I run an at home daycare and my rates are low compared to this area - and you are getting paid way under what I do!

I charge $120 a week for full time. More for night care (after 6pm pick up). Parents get two weeks vacation each year - one week free and one week at 50%. I close for 6 holidays and I get one week a year off for myself where parents don't pay that week.

I would have a talk with her if I were you. If you are unlicensed and babysitting the normal seems to be $100 a week per child for day hours and $125-150 a week for night hours.

Hi,
Rates vary, anywhere from $600.to $1000 a month. This is for liscensed day care. Usually you have to pay even if your child does not attend. I paid my sitter half a weeks pay the week she went on vacation. Some day care are round the clock, I'm not sure what they charge. I work in the school so I will not pay during summer, this is something I told the provider and she agrees. If I need babysitting during the summer I will use a friends child and pay by the hour. Hope that helps.
L.

FYI- most day care centers I have interviewed charge you regardless if your child is sick at home or at the center. You get 2 weeks vacation per calendar year to use at your discretion. They even have teacher in service days that you still pay for attendence although your child is not there.

It sounds like you really care for this child's well being but are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Perhaps you can wait until Septemeber and possibly take in another child in the mean time?

Ultimately you need to do what is best for you and your family.