Angry And Hurt Right Now

[awestbrook713]

Small steps: Thanks, not sure when we are meeting still waiting for that detail. I'm supposed to have one of the girls today so maybe at pick up mom or dad will tell me. I will definately let you know how it goes.

Melskids: thanks printed it off and looks good!

[Cat Herder]

wow, that's low minimum wage!

here minimum wage is 10.00 per hour!!!!! I average about 2.10/hr on a normal day. Then factor in my expenses such as food, crafts, water, hydro, etc. I get to write off a portion of my bills, but when you have 4 or 8 or 12 kids flushing toilets, that's a minimum of 1 flush every half hour.

So even a single mom working at mcdonalds here makes 5 times what I do. I realize that childcare is a big chunk out of a paycheque, but when you consider what you make per hour, and what I make per hour, I don't understand why it's such a big fuss.

I agree...

I make enough to break even on my half of the household bills, put $200 in my IRA each month, and be home with my kids.

Being home with my kids IS my pay, IMHO.

I am not making a fortune, here.

[Country Kids]

Is there anywhere in the US that minimum wage is $10.00 an hour? I know ours is going to like 8.75 an hour and everyone is gripping about it because usually minumum wages are the only ones who seem to be getting raises anymore. It is taking me more and more children to make minimum wage but I can still only have 6!

[Unregistered]

Daycare is also the one service that parents pay for that they feel they have the most say in but pay the least for!

The hourly wage paid to childcare providers is so low that we are forced to charge for spaces, regardless of whether parents use them or not.

If you want to pay at least minimum wage for the 3 days you use then I would gladly only charge you for those 3 days.

Oh and FWIW, not sure about auto repair shops where you live but where I live auto mechanics charge by the hour too......even if it only takes 20 minutes to do the job, the rate is still hourly. Oil change places charge by the job.

Why should you get minimum wage from me when you also care for other kids?

Right, oil changes are charged by the job...my point was would you like it if they charged for a whole hour of work when it only takes them 20 min?

[AnneCordelia]

Why should you get minimum wage from me when you also care for other kids?

Right, oil changes are charged by the job...my point was would you like it if they charged for a whole hour of work when it only takes them 20 min?

The point is that if she can't fill her spots on ALL the days of the week then she won't be getting minimum wage even WITH the other children's fees.

Your point is moot because the guy who changes oil isn't limited to 5 oil changes per day. I am limited to 5 children per day. I have a parttimer right now who comes 3 days a week. It's the same three days every week so I charge only for those 3 days, as I can fill the other two days with drop-ins or someone who permanently needs those two remaining days. I know that he will never be here on those 2 days so I am free to fill them. However, if he came on different days every week then I would charge for every potential day he could come so that my income doesn't suffer for not being able to fill that spot on his 'off' days.

[Cat Herder]

Why should you get minimum wage from me when you also care for other kids?

I knew that was coming.

What does the money paid to me by other clients have to do with you?

I also have a part time job...does that mean they should get to pay me less?

I work 70 hours a week. Of course I should make more that you at 40.

[awestbrook713]

They still charge for the hour........

[Unregistered]

You pay for 30 days (or 31 days) of cable even if you only watch your TV 20 of those days.

You pay for 30/31 days of water even if you go on vacation for 14 of those days.

If you need daycare the same 3 days, and only those three days each week, most people will charge for those three days--and try to fill the other two with another child. If you need 3 days per week, but they VARY (one week it's MWF, the next it's T,TH,F, etc), then the provider has the right to charge for all 5 days, because they can't predict WHICH 3 days you will need, and therefore can't fill the other two days...do you see?

(and FTR, you pay a mechanic a flat rate for an oil change...whether it takes 10 minutes or 55 minutes...so, the same principle on which daycares charge).

I pay for the water I use. If I go on vacation for 2 weeks, my water bill is less. If I water my garden, my bill is more. It would be great if the water bill was a flat fee. Cable is a subscription, just like a magazine. Daycare isn't a subscription.

I do get the rotating thing. I could see paying the weekly rate for a rotating schedule, as long as my spot is available whenever I need it. I was referring to only needing a specific 3 days that are the same all the time. I don't see where I should have to pay for the other 2 days then.

I know the oil change is a flat rate. My point was that you would not like it if that flat rate was based on his hourly rate if you knew it only takes 20 min to do the job. ie. If he charges $60 an hour, you wouldn't want to pay $60 for an oil change when it only takes him 20 min. You would want to pay the $20 that it's worth.

[daycare]

What a way to wake up. entertainment for the day already!!!

If only parents really knew what the break down was and that after all overhead is paid per child, I am making about $2.00-$3.00 an hour per child if that... I can only have 6 kids per my state LIC. and I have my own. So that means the most that I could make is $15.00 an hour....... For a TON of libality!!

[Blackcat31]

Why should you get minimum wage from me when you also care for other kids?

Because I am also working long hours, dealing with varying schedules, get no 15 minute breaks, or 1/2 hour lunches. You also do not pay me vacation time, sick time or give me standard yearly cost of living increases.

Also because I spend a good part of my day parenting the parent as well as the child. I go above and beyond a regular 40 hour work week to guarantee you that your child is safe and loved and nurtured AND educated while in my care. Because I take the time to snuggle with her, play with her and help her learn about the world around her.

But mostly because I do the least respected profession (yet most important after parenting) in the world and do it for the least amount of pay.

[SilverSabre25]

Why should you get minimum wage from me when you also care for other kids?

Right, oil changes are charged by the job...my point was would you like it if they charged for a whole hour of work when it only takes them 20 min?

I'm pretty sure that their rates are scaled to account for the number they can get done in an hour, and also take into account the cost of supplies (oil, etc) over and ABOVE what they "want" to get paid.

When I'm full (which I'm not) I make right around min wage per hour...assuming a 40 hour work week which mine is not--I work about 10 hr/day, 6 days/week and that doesn't count cleaning and planning done during off hours. First, we have to pay taxes--the same as you AND THEN SOME because we are self-employed--we pay the portion of the employer AS WELL AS the employee; we personally out of our income pay about double the taxes you do. But then we take out the cost of supplies, extra utilities, licensing fees, and the other costs associated with running a daycare. THEN we still have to pay all the same bills you do--the ones for our FAMILY not our JOB. Running a daycare is NOT a way to get rich, not in the slightest. I haven't done the math on what I "really" make...and I don't WANT to do the math.

[Unregistered]

What a way to wake up. entertainment for the day already!!!

If only parents really knew what the break down was and that after all overhead is paid per child, I am making about $2.00-$3.00 an hour per child if that... I can only have 6 kids per my state LIC. and I have my own. So that means the most that I could make is $15.00 an hour....... For a TON of libality!!

Entertainment indeed! LOL I'd love to make $15 an hour to stay home and play with kids. LOL

[Blackcat31]

I pay for the water I use. If I go on vacation for 2 weeks, my water bill is less. If I water my garden, my bill is more. It would be great if the water bill was a flat fee. Cable is a subscription, just like a magazine. Daycare isn't a subscription.

I do get the rotating thing. I could see paying the weekly rate for a rotating schedule, as long as my spot is available whenever I need it. I was referring to only needing a specific 3 days that are the same all the time. I don't see where I should have to pay for the other 2 days then.
I know the oil change is a flat rate. My point was that you would not like it if that flat rate was based on his hourly rate if you knew it only takes 20 min to do the job. ie. If he charges $60 an hour, you wouldn't want to pay $60 for an oil change when it only takes him 20 min. You would want to pay the $20 that it's worth.

I don't charge parents for the extra days IF they have a set 3 day a week schedule. If they have a rotating schedule and need access to the entire week just to accommodate their 3 days each week, then they have to pay for the whole week. In that situation, paying for the whole week gives them access to the whole week.

[Blackcat31]

Entertainment indeed! LOL I'd love to make $15 an hour to stay home and play with kids. LOL

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seriously????

[Country Kids]

One year I remember after expenses and everything that they do with your taxes my final taxable amount for the year came out to like $1,000. I looked at my husband and said thats all I made? He explained everything out but still I thought after all my hard work that is all I'm worth? I know we get all the deductions and such but still it was a real eye opener.