Have You Ever Had A Parent Ask You...

[Stephnrich]

I had a family ask me to consider keeping their two kids for the entire weekend while they took a romantic trip to Austin. I declined. Time off is our time. Unless you are really money strapped, I'd say tell them sorry, but nope.

[DaveA]

I would happily give her a list of area teen babysitters I know though....

Networking and resourcing info IS something I will do.

This. I keep the name and numbers of a couple people who babysit for parents who are looking for babysitters.

Otherwise, no. My days off are not negotiable.

[christine19720]

I would happily give her a list of area teen babysitters I know though....

Networking and resourcing info IS something I will do.

This is what I was going to suggest

[Nisaryn]

I would say no and tell them to find a babysitter for that day, I know a lot of teens in our area that would do it. As a veteran and a military spouse I will not work on Veterans day. It's MY day. LOL!

[Snowmom]

JUST SAY NO! It will get easier the more you say it.

Totally agree. It's so hard at first, but once you say it a couple times, it feels so awesome that you can't wait to say it again!

[Lorna]

Yeah I was had them ask but just say no. They have also asked if my daughter could babysit at our house. But doing that a few times I just said she could babysit at their house. Ended up being too much work for me.

[MarinaVanessa]

I have had clients ask and I have said yes sometimes but it depended on whether my husband was also working or not and whether I had plans for the day already.

I also charge them my hourly Drop-In rate if I don't mind watching their child. For me it's twice as much as my FT weekly rate broken down hourly. But again, I didn't mind doing it and wanted the little bit of extra money. I charged them $6 an hour (with a minimum of 4 hours) even if they were FT clients and had already paid for the week which included the paid closed holiday. The FT clients never took me up on it because they felt like I was charging them twice for the same day (which I was but that was the only way that I was willing to watch kids on my holiday off) and a couple of my PT clients have taken me up on it so I ended up making about $33 extra that day.

I also explain to them that this is not a typical daycare day and that the majority of the day will be free-play and relaxed. I will get my housework done and do any regular errands that I need to and the daycare kid will just be a part of that. None have had issues with this part. My kids had a playmate for the day and I still got to catch up on projects and housework.

When I didn't want to watch kids on a holiday I just said that I couldn't and that I already had plans with my family.

It all depends on whether you want to or not. If you don't want to, say no. If you kind of want to but only if you can make a nice chunk of change, ask for a steep hourly rate. If you want to and really don't mind, ask for an hourly rate but make it more than your regular rate.

[littletots]

Once had a "Boss" dcp. 90% of favors. Uncomfortable being put on the spot. Yes, I've been asked to even work Christmas. Later found out dcm volunteer to work extra shift & got off 7a Christmas day. I open for her child as she slept until 2:30p. Not any more.

[KidGrind]

IF I did it, it would be at babysitting rates of $15/hr.

I doubt I would though. I really value my very few days off, my own kids will be home from school, and I find one child harder to manage than my whole group. Also, if they were aware of your closing in advance, they should have made alternate arrangements.