Is $100 Too Much?

[AfterSchoolMom]

I'd take it in a second! They wouldn't have offered that amount if they thought it was too high.

[JenNJ]

You ARE giving up your weekend. Don't downplay your personal family time. You re adding extra cooking, cleaning, supervising, and activities into your and your families weekend. Every moment you spend with her in your free time is a moment you could be with your own kids, husband, or by yourself.

Don't undervalue your worth. I think $100 is absurd for a weekend of babysitting. I think you are selling yourself and your family short. Honestly, a high school sitter around here is $10-$15 an hour. Weekend time is at a premium.

[Ariana]

I'd take $100 so they aren't always asking you

[saved4always]

I, too, think that weekends should cost far more than weekdays. I think $100 is fair since this is adding a day and a half to your "work" week. If they offered that much, they must feel it is a fair amount, too.

[SunshineMama]

I completely agree! Theres no way I would do it for $100.00! That's 12 days of work in a row!

I would charge $500.00, because I wouldnt ever want to give up my family time. If they wanted to pay me $500 I would consider it

You ARE giving up your weekend. Don't downplay your personal family time. You re adding extra cooking, cleaning, supervising, and activities into your and your families weekend. Every moment you spend with her in your free time is a moment you could be with your own kids, husband, or by yourself.

Don't undervalue your worth. I think $100 is absurd for a weekend of babysitting. I think you are selling yourself and your family short. Honestly, a high school sitter around here is $10-$15 an hour. Weekend time is at a premium.

[cheerfuldom]

I guess the big difference is that when I am watching her, I dont even consider it babysitting. She is just like having one of my little nieces or nephews over....easier actually because she listens and plays so well for me. I dont consider my weekend compromised or that I am even at work. She runs around our living space and does not get into a thing or cause any trouble. Maybe the difference is that I have 3 kids under 4 right now....EVERYTHING we do involves the kids and is kid friendly. There is nothing I have to change to keep her here.

With that in mind, I offered $75 provided she is picked up at my chosen time on Sunday which was a few hours earlier than what they originally said. I think we were both happy with the arrangement and it should be a good weekend. Rumor has it that mom is sending her here rather than the (free) in laws....a very big compliment dont you think?

[AnneCordelia]

I would charge at least $100. I can't take 5 kids for a weekend...which is what I have during the week to make my hourly rate a decent one. Only one child means he hourly fee will be higher to make it worth my time.

I love my dcfamilies but I would never give up my weekend. If anything my husband and four kids look forward to my full attention on the weekends.

[DaisyMamma]

If thats what they offered and you are willing to do it, take it.

I personally wouldn't give up ab entire weekend for $100. I would consider a half day as all day. Especially if its every weekend.
I would want $15/hr and even then I might say no thank you. But I have a couple of young kids.

[Fruitloops1]

I think the $100 is resonable for weekend care. They offered it because they value the care that you provide. If you rather lower it to make yourself feel comfortable then do so. If you feel like it is worth $75 for all day Saturday and half Sunday, then do what makes you feel comfortable! If I was in your shoes, I would take their offer and go Goodwill shopping for some new DC toys.

[My3cents]

you should have taken the $100 and said yes but she will have to be picked up by such and such time. Why would you undercut yourself, if they offered?

I always want to do the right thing, and sometimes I end up cutting my own throat and then resenting it or questioning myself after. You could use that money for your family and maybe do something special above and beyond the normal weekend.

Don't let kids become personal-- separate business and personal life. Once the child is no longer in your daycare and then if you want to pursue the personal relationship then go for it.- I know it is hard. I have this one parent, and I would love to be the best of friends with her, but deep down I know that would not be the best idea for my business. I never would have met her outside of daycare but we have so much in common. It stinks but I feel I am doing the right thing by separating the two. On the other hand, some people are great at doing both and it works for them.

[small_steps]

I kept a school age child (about 7 years old) for a whole weekend...friday around noon until sunday around 3 or so. He was really a good kid and no trouble at all plus he was great company for my twins that are 8. His mom gave me $200. I felt bad about taking it because even though we aren't friends we do see each other a lot and chit chat from time to time through school activities. But it did change my weekend. Even though he was easy I was still responsible for him and that's a big thing. We didn't do as much as we could have done (getting out of the house and such) so I think $100 bucks is very fair. And as a parent I wouldn't mind paying that amount if I wanted a night off if I knew my child was in good hands. It would be well worth it to me.

[cheerfuldom]

you should have taken the $100 and said yes but she will have to be picked up by such and such time. Why would you undercut yourself, if they offered?

I always want to do the right thing, and sometimes I end up cutting my own throat and then resenting it or questioning myself after. You could use that money for your family and maybe do something special above and beyond the normal weekend.

Don't let kids become personal-- separate business and personal life. Once the child is no longer in your daycare and then if you want to pursue the personal relationship then go for it.- I know it is hard. I have this one parent, and I would love to be the best of friends with her, but deep down I know that would not be the best idea for my business. I never would have met her outside of daycare but we have so much in common. It stinks but I feel I am doing the right thing by separating the two. On the other hand, some people are great at doing both and it works for them.

Thanks for your post but I am not a newbie in need of a pep talk. I feel confident that I did the right thing in the situation and have no resentment for offering the lower price. This is my favorite daycare family ever and she has been with me for almost two years.....with that in mind, I am not going to worry about $25. I fully realize the risk of becoming too personal but seriously, don't worry about me. I am very good with boundaries and dont feel at all that any line was crossed in the family asking for weekend care or me accepting it. I feel I did the right thing and was happy to get so many responses that cemented in my mind what I was already feeling (even though the posts mostly disagreed with me, I am okay with that and it doesnt mean I did something wrong).