So my son is on a swim team and will have practice all summer from 9am to 11am - I work f/t from home so while I have some flexibility i cannot really afford to lose 2 hours to sit with him at practice and it's just far enough away that by the time I drive there, drop him off and turn around and go home to work I will have lost at least an hour.
One of the other swim moms lives close by and she agreed to watch my son this summer while I work - I thought I'd pay her a certain fee starting once swim practice ends (11am to 1pm 2 days a week, 11am to 3:30pm 3 days a week) but my gf said I need to pay her from the time she brings my son to practice (8:30am) or it's not fair. I haven't discussed the actual hours/times with this mom yet but i want your opinion. She will be bringing her own two kids to the practice as well. She mentioned to me that she needed to get a job but didn't want to leave her kids for the summer - so this seemed like a good solution.
Initially I thought I'd pay her $5/hr for the time that she is actually "in charge" of my kiddo and he isn't practicing. So $25 for the two shorter days and $75 for the 3 longer days - a total of $100 a week - (This includes 30 minutes of drive time to bring them to practice) does this seem fair?
My son is 8 and she has two kids, one 9 and the other 11, and they are all on the same swim team and practice at the same time.
I'm going to talk with her about it today so I'd be interested in your thoughts. I would of course provide a lunch for him each day as well as his own snacks and send cash if they were going to do anything that required entrance fee's, etc.
I'm trying to be fair but also realistic as I have to pay for my daughter's care as well - so right now with my tentative pay to her ($400 a month) and my actual daycare bill for my daughter ($560 a month) I'm looking at $1000 which will be tight but I do not think I can afford much more.
I should add that the $100 figures in a 30 minute drive (total there and back) and I factored it in with the $5 an hour rate for each day.
If she is free to leave practice and come back to get the kids, since she was going to be driving her own there anyway, I don't think you have to pay her for "practice time" but definately from the time she gets him until she leaves him at practice AND from the time she picks him up until the time you pick him up.
Why don't you ask HER what she was thinking of for price first?
You might be surprised. She might ask for less than you are thinking of offering. But if you don't ask her first, you'll be stuck with the $100 per week to start negotiating.
I think $100 a week sounds very fair.
I would not discuss the breakdown you are using as a formula with her, but offer the $100 and be prepared if she wants to negotiate higher.
Is a parent required to be there during the swim practice? What will the procedure be for an emergency during this time? If parents are normally off-site, then policies must be in place? Make sure both of you are on the same page and understand who is responsible for your child during the swim time.
If more of a friendly negotiation occurs, then use this information to show your position. Comparisons to other daycare options that are available, both of you understanding that you do not consider her "on the clock" until swim practice is over, etc will help if you get to that detailed point will help?
Best of luck and a happy summer!!
I think being that he is 8 $100 is more than fair. I would just be honest with the mother. Say you were thinking on a fair price to pay and what you would like to pay. And give her a nice out if she doesn't think its fair.
But I think its fair.
I think your idea of $100 per week sounds very fair. You could check with programs for kiddos the same age as your son like YMCA care to see what they charge if you wanted a comparison of some kind.
M
At this age he is fully able to be in charge of himself with his coaches supervision at practice. You stated that you can drive him there and then go back to get him so you routinely leave him in his coaches care.
I think that is acceptable. If she is picking him up from practice at 11 then that is when she is responsible for him. If she is taking him and bringing him home perhaps that would be different.
In child care she would only get a portion of what you are paying her. She would get about $11-$15 per day for him in Oklahoma if she was operating a child care business. That would include feeding him too.
I think what you are offering is fine. If he were younger and more needy then more per hour would be needed but at his age he is almost old enough to stay home alone. Over the next year he needs opportunities to learn how to manage simple tasks so he can start being responsible for himself, with you in the home he is more than safe even if he is heating up lunch on his own and entertaining himself.
What I would budget for this summer is what you said. Then by next summer I would chip in for gas and have her just give him a ride there and back to your home. No babysitting at all. Just giving him a ride. He can learn to let you work and you can teach him to be self reliant.
She is in charge of him at swim practice. What if he gets hurt or gets sick? She will be the mom in charge.
I wouldn't go into that part of how you arrived at the number. If you feel $100 for the week is fair, including gas, offer $100. That will probably save you $ in the long run. Otherwise, on days when practice is cancelled or not scheduled, you would have to increase the amount you pay.
I would not tell her how you are breaking it down but ask it $100 a week will work. That is less than you would pay for him in a day care. She may even say it's too much but I think that is totally reasonable.
Good luck and God Bless!
I would suggest a fee for gas if you do not pay her for the hours she is not watching your son.
