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Limiting Hours
Hello all, I hope you guys can give me some advice on dealing with a single mom who wants me to watch her child longer than I want to.
I watch her daughter afterschool and am paid by the state. When she started, she would leave at 6:30, which is what I agreed to. The problem is, I become too nice and agree to exceptions too easily. The mother told me she had a month long class in October and would need to pick her up at 8:30, which I agreed to, and she got approval for me to be paid full time (same pay for 5 -10 hrs). Then I agreed to watch her until 8:30 in November so her mother could study (Nursing school). When December came around, and she was still staying until 8:30, and I had had too much, mostly because it was getting in the way of my caring for my family and getting my own kids in bed before 8:30. I spoke with her mother, who was not happy. I told her to pick up her child by 6:30 and I could watch her later 1-2x a week if the clinic where she works had her work late. She complied. Now it's February, she's started a new job, and within the last week, she's asked me to watch her daughter past 7.
She thinks I'm being unreasonable because she's only asking me to watch her 45 extra minutes. Also, she expects that because she made it possible for me to be paid for full time hours, I should take advantage of it by forging the hours (which I won't) and be flexible when she wants me to watch her daughter past the agreed upon times.
I am extra ticked because she doesn't give me her schedule and tells me the day of, that she has to stay late. When her daughter is home from school because of snow, she will sometimes even leave her with me 11 hours.
I have a family and a life. She is the only child I care for. I don't want to be flexible. I want her to be on time. '
What would you do?
I watch her daughter afterschool and am paid by the state. When she started, she would leave at 6:30, which is what I agreed to. The problem is, I become too nice and agree to exceptions too easily. The mother told me she had a month long class in October and would need to pick her up at 8:30, which I agreed to, and she got approval for me to be paid full time (same pay for 5 -10 hrs). Then I agreed to watch her until 8:30 in November so her mother could study (Nursing school). When December came around, and she was still staying until 8:30, and I had had too much, mostly because it was getting in the way of my caring for my family and getting my own kids in bed before 8:30. I spoke with her mother, who was not happy. I told her to pick up her child by 6:30 and I could watch her later 1-2x a week if the clinic where she works had her work late. She complied. Now it's February, she's started a new job, and within the last week, she's asked me to watch her daughter past 7.
She thinks I'm being unreasonable because she's only asking me to watch her 45 extra minutes. Also, she expects that because she made it possible for me to be paid for full time hours, I should take advantage of it by forging the hours (which I won't) and be flexible when she wants me to watch her daughter past the agreed upon times.
I am extra ticked because she doesn't give me her schedule and tells me the day of, that she has to stay late. When her daughter is home from school because of snow, she will sometimes even leave her with me 11 hours.
I have a family and a life. She is the only child I care for. I don't want to be flexible. I want her to be on time. '
What would you do?
I have learned less is more when saying no. You don't have to make excuses or explain yourself to her. "I am no longer able to work past 6pm (or whatever time)." If she pushes it tell her if she doesn't pick up on time you will no longer care for her child. Are you doing this for the money or to help her out? I am sure you can find a child with shorter hours, especially since you are providing nanny like care, with only one child.
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