Decisions

[SquirrellyMama]

I was asked to take a couple of SA girls for the summer, but I'm not sure if I want to. I like the girls, they are easy going. They are friends with my youngest dd. My decision has nothing to do with the girls personalities or behavior.

My problem is van space. I cannot be cooped up in the house or in my town. We only have parks and a library. In the summer we go to the zoo, living history museum, ice skating, state parks, etc...

It should be an easy decision. The extra money would be nice this summer, and there would be 5 or 6 weeks when they won't be here.

They may not want to pay my rate anyway.

ETA: The girls are twins. I told my daughter that she wouldn't have to be here everyday, she could go and play with other friends.

Kelly

[Blackcat31]

So if you did take them, you wouldn't have room in your vehicle?

Would they be full time?

[SquirrellyMama]

So if you did take them, you wouldn't have room in your vehicle?

Would they be full time?

They would be full time, and I wouldn't have van space for everyone. Their dad did say they would be with grandma for 4 to 5 weeks in the summer, not all consecutive.

There are some people who are agoraphobic. I am stuck in my house phobic Just the thought makes me panic.

Kelly

[Blackcat31]

Yeah...if you are used to going places on a regular basis, I would either pass all together or maybe ask the family if you could do a "partial" agreement where grandma watches them a couple days and you have them a couple days...

With a little pre-planning you could have your own DD be gone the days the girls are there and plan all of your outings around the absences of the girls, your DD and any other DD kids you have.

Like if you only have 5 seats in the van....limit your spaces to 5 kids each day so the days you have than 5, the girls wouldn't be able to attend.

Unless that is just too complicated to do, then I would just politely decline.

Sometimes the work it takes to juggle all that stuff isn't worth the added income. *sigh*

[itlw8]

so 5 to 6 weeks is 1/2 of the summer. That is still lots of trips for your dd but If you need to get out weekly it will drive you crazy

[kitykids3]

I wouldn't be able to do that personally. I am like you and like to take the kids out and about, esp in the summer. I would personally decline. SA's aren't that much extra money and imho, if I was going to be stuck home I would rather have younger kids taking up the space and getting paid more and that would nap. kwim. But sometimes we have to think about our sanity more than the money. You have to decide how important it is to you to get out. Here we have very short summers, I'd have to be out and about.

[SquirrellyMama]

I wouldn't be able to do that personally. I am like you and like to take the kids out and about, esp in the summer. I would personally decline. SA's aren't that much extra money and imho, if I was going to be stuck home I would rather have younger kids taking up the space and getting paid more and that would nap. kwim. But sometimes we have to think about our sanity more than the money. You have to decide how important it is to you to get out. Here we have very short summers, I'd have to be out and about.

My rate for full time is the same for all ages so an extra $2000 for the summer wouldn't be so bad. It is not being able to go whenever I want that really gets me. I also have 2 other full time dck's and my 3 kids. My kids are all old enough that they are already not napping.

If I just had one more seat I would definitely do it.

I think I will go ahead and send my rate to him along with our vacation schedule and let them decide.

At least is is only for 7 or 8 weeks. I think I can handle that. I might give it a few more hours of thought first.

Kelly

[daycare]

no amount of money could take away my sanity and freedom. You will regret taking them if you are already having this much doubt about it.

I would do as BC said and see if you can arrange day off/on with GM....

[SignMeUp]

I think I will go ahead and send my rate to him along with our vacation schedule and let them decide.

At least is is only for 7 or 8 weeks. I think I can handle that. I might give it a few more hours of thought first.

Kelly

Maybe you should clarify their commitment to five or six weeks when the kids will not be there, since you might be frustrated if you do NOT get that many weeks of a break from them. Also whether they pay for that time, if that hasn't been addressed. Possibly you'd even have them not pay for some/all of that time if that cements the time off, kwim? They may or may not be ready to make a commitment to certain weeks off already.

[SquirrellyMama]

no amount of money could take away my sanity and freedom. You will regret taking them if you are already having this much doubt about it.

I would do as BC said and see if you can arrange day off/on with GM....

Grandma lives 2 hours north so it will be a week at a time with them but not consecutive weeks.

Kelly

[SquirrellyMama]

Maybe you should clarify their commitment to five or six weeks when the kids will not be there, since you might be frustrated if you do NOT get that many weeks of a break from them. Also whether they pay for that time, if that hasn't been addressed. Possibly you'd even have them not pay for some/all of that time if that cements the time off, kwim? They may or may not be ready to make a commitment to certain weeks off already.

I don't make families pay for their time off. Maybe they would add an extra week off that way

Kelly

[SquirrellyMama]

no amount of money could take away my sanity and freedom. You will regret taking them if you are already having this much doubt about it.

I would do as BC said and see if you can arrange day off/on with GM....

I haven't quite decided. I may take a few more days. I can't do day off/on with GM since she is a couple hours north of here. She will have them a week at a time, but not consecutive weeks.

Kelly

[cheerfuldom]

I bet that family is going to be really unhappy when your daughter is not there....just be careful they aren't expected a built in playmate for the summer because if they are and the twins come home complaining, you are going to have an issue for sure. A lot of parents ask particular people for summer care because they know their kids already like the providers kids and they are expecting the full playdate treatment, every day. I can see that being an issue.

[butterfly]

My experience with families saying that "the child will only be there X" always ends up being a lie. The kid is ALWAYS here more than we agreed upon. BUT, I charge a flat weekly rate, so they figure they are paying for it anyways.

I'd decline.