Would you do it?

[momofboys]

So I am not providing childcare on Friday, not by choice. DCM does not need me as she will be done with school & is not working that day. However, yesterday she asked me if I would be home & if her DD could get off the bus here. Now there was no offer of payment mentioned. Supposedly she would have grandma pick her up here but I truly feel like whether she is here 1/2 hr or 15 min I am still entitled to some form of payment. I almost want to tell mom that she needs to pay me for that day if she plans to use me even if it isfor a short timeframe. What would you do?

I should have mentioned the reason DCM won't pick her DD up is b/c she will be Christmas shopping with her husband & yougner son. I almost want to call & say sorry I won't be here then & I plan to pick my own boys up from school that day. I hate feeling like I am being taken for granted but I know I allow it to happen. I just can't imagine asking someone to provide a service for free!

[marniewon]

I think I would have said something like, sure, she can get dropped off here, and since she'll only be here a little while, the charge will only be $x (5-10?) for the day. Not sure what to tell you since you already agreed and no pay amount was mentioned though

[misol]

I would not do it - even for pay. I would tell her that she told me she didn't need me that day so I made other plans and cannot accommodate her request. It's not like she's working- she's shopping.

As soon as a family informs me they will be out for a day, I look at my personal to do list and immediately start scheduling appointments or making other plans. This is really the only way I can handle my family's medical and dental appointments and other personal business without having to close for the day.

ETA: If I know I will be down one or two kids (depending on who it is) I may also schedule a short notice field trip or special activity for the other kids who will be in care that day. It's so much easier to take a group of 4 year-olds to the zoo or to the bounce house without having an infant or toddler in tow.

[AfterSchoolMom]

If you don't want to, and you expect trouble over payment, just say no. Tell her "nope, sorry, I won't be home" and leave it at that.

[Blackcat31]

I think if you are responsible AT ALL for her you should be paid. If she is simply using your house as a bus stop and grandma will be sitting there waiting then I can see it being different but since DCM specifically asked if you were going to be home then she obviously wants you to be responsible for her DD you desreve to be paid. Idk about you but I have a minimum fee so SA kids sometimes get picked up minutes after they get here and parents still pay the minimum.

[jen]

I wouldn't...Grandma can meet her at the bus stop! Why mess up a perfectly good free day off for 1/2 hour and no pay!

[momofboys]

I guess this is what troubled me. . . . grandma lives 1/2 hr away. If she can be here whenever I didn't see why she coudln't just go to the school herself to pick her up. Whatever! Anyway, I think my issue is I don't think quickly enough to reply the way I should. Part of me feels "cheap" to ask for $$$ for short timeframes even when I know it is due me. I did call mom though & tell her I could not after thinking it through I explained I would want to pick my own kids up at school & hadn't thought of that since I normalyl would not do that with other kids in tow. She understood.

[DancingQueen]

I've had parents ask this before and I really don't see a problem with it.
I just say "the bus can drop her off here, but I won't be here so Gramma will have to be in my driveway waiting for her"