Assistant Questions

[dEHmom]

ok, so i offered to 2 young girls i know who are desperately wanting to start babysitting, but don't have anyone to babysit except my kids , for $3/hr for approx 2.5 hrs a day 3 days a week to come....

I listed a bunch of different things they MIGHT be asked to help with, like watching babies while I make lunch, dishes, mopping, tidying toys, etc. But I figure out of the 2.5 hrs there is probably only about half an hour to an hour they will be actively doing something other than keeping an eye on the babies while I flip laundry loads or whatever.

but I asked my sisters what they thought of the email, and they said it's too much work and not enough money, and that i might not be allowed to ask them to do cleaning and stuff by law! . i don't know, i mean, i used to babysit 3 boys for 3/hr when i was 15. these girls are like 12 yrs old. and right now if i figure what i get paid per hour, they are making more than me!

[cheerfuldom]

it sounds like you have a reasonable option for the girls. Its not like they are slaves or held hostage there. If their mom or them is uncomfortable with the arrangement, duties or pay, they can leave. Mopping a floor or doing a load of dishes is certainly within a 12 years olds capability (or it should be) so I don't know what your sisters are talking about.

[dEHmom]

it sounds like you have a reasonable option for the girls. Its not like they are slaves or held hostage there. If their mom or them is uncomfortable with the arrangement, duties or pay, they can leave. Mopping a floor or doing a load of dishes is certainly within a 12 years olds capability (or it should be) so I don't know what your sisters are talking about.

my own sister had made a comment about that's what she used to make babysitting. but childcare rates haven't exactly changed over the years (that was 15 yrs + ago for her), and it's not like i'm leaving the house and expecting the girls to run the show. . It's basically just extra sets of eyes and hands so i can get stuff done. But i don't want to pay someone to sit here and do nothing either. I expect them to help out, make sure the kids aren't making messes, getting into trouble, or anything like that. And I am getting burned out lately because I cannot seem to keep on top of my families stuff and daycare stuff. I'm constantly falling behind in laundry (I cannot run the wash machine while one of my dcb's is sleeping cause it wakes him up) and I cannot go downstairs and put the load in the dryer while the dcb's are awake. While I am making lunch the dcb's are pulling toilet paper out, getting into all the bins (they figured out how to open them), pushing buttons, pulling apart plants, climbing on furniture, or screaming to be held. I just need an extra set of eyes and hands. I find by the time i'm done putting away toys, something else has to be done, so mopping and sweeping gets pushed to the side. I have resorted to sweeping and mopping with crap on the floor and just shove it all into a pile now. Because it is not as simple as just mopping or sweeping, there's always a mess to clean before cleaning.

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone! It does sound like a lot of work to get and keep someone who will actually work. I can't get over how hard it is for providers to find someone who will WORK, and the other basic stuff like being punctual. I get paid minimum wage, if daycare's closed I don't have work, nor get paid (the parents still pay, I just don't get any of it). I can get a week's vacation, but withOUT pay, etc etc (plus I'm the preschool teacher, also) But yet I still manage to get there on time, work HARD (I never have a chance to use the restroom or sit down, until nap time while we're patting backs. I pretty much have the same work as a partner would. I'm treated as a partner too, except for the rate of pay , and cut hours when owner is short on money). So I can't understand people when they arrive late, don't want to do the work, want to goof off, etc. I cannot imagine doing that, and I would just expect my assistants not to either. But apparently all assistants don't feel that way...It's discouraging when you think about it, isn't it? It'd make someone think twice before getting an assistant. Cheerfuldom, your reply is really good. Start out on my own when I open one and see how it goes and then decide later on down the road whether or not to have an assistant. I guess it's not exactly one decision and no changing it, is it:: I think I get ahead of myself sometimes...

[dEHmom]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone! It does sound like a lot of work to get and keep someone who will actually work. I can't get over how hard it is for providers to find someone who will WORK, and the other basic stuff like being punctual. I get paid minimum wage, if daycare's closed I don't have work, nor get paid (the parents still pay, I just don't get any of it). I can get a week's vacation, but withOUT pay, etc etc (plus I'm the preschool teacher, also) But yet I still manage to get there on time, work HARD (I never have a chance to use the restroom or sit down, until nap time while we're patting backs. I pretty much have the same work as a partner would. I'm treated as a partner too, except for the rate of pay , and cut hours when owner is short on money). So I can't understand people when they arrive late, don't want to do the work, want to goof off, etc. I cannot imagine doing that, and I would just expect my assistants not to either. But apparently all assistants don't feel that way...It's discouraging when you think about it, isn't it? It'd make someone think twice before getting an assistant. Cheerfuldom, your reply is really good. Start out on my own when I open one and see how it goes and then decide later on down the road whether or not to have an assistant. I guess it's not exactly one decision and no changing it, is it:: I think I get ahead of myself sometimes...

for the most part people need to look and live in the now, but you always should be one step ahead of the game, and looking down the road at an assistant is a good thing to have in mind now. figure out in your daily routines where you would need extra help and jot it down. things that you know you need to do but just cannot get to.

[cheerfuldom]

unfortunately, a lot of people get into childcare thinking "how hard can it be?" and that is why the turnover rate is so high for most centers or even home providers. LOTS of work for very little pay and that doesn't jive when there isn't a reason you *have* to do it. Like for instance, a college girl could get the same amount of money or more folding t-shirts and chatting with coworkers working retail at the mall, ykwim? unless you have a passion for this or some other driving force that motivates you, you very likely are not going to make it in childcare. and when you don't want to be at a job, you stop caring about things like keeping the boss happy. a lot of people dont have the integrity to do whats right even when they really dont care for the job

[nannyde]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone! It does sound like a lot of work to get and keep someone who will actually work. I can't get over how hard it is for providers to find someone who will WORK, and the other basic stuff like being punctual. I get paid minimum wage, if daycare's closed I don't have work, nor get paid (the parents still pay, I just don't get any of it). I can get a week's vacation, but withOUT pay, etc etc (plus I'm the preschool teacher, also) But yet I still manage to get there on time, work HARD (I never have a chance to use the restroom or sit down, until nap time while we're patting backs. I pretty much have the same work as a partner would. I'm treated as a partner too, except for the rate of pay , and cut hours when owner is short on money). So I can't understand people when they arrive late, don't want to do the work, want to goof off, etc. I cannot imagine doing that, and I would just expect my assistants not to either. But apparently all assistants don't feel that way...It's discouraging when you think about it, isn't it? It'd make someone think twice before getting an assistant. Cheerfuldom, your reply is really good. Start out on my own when I open one and see how it goes and then decide later on down the road whether or not to have an assistant. I guess it's not exactly one decision and no changing it, is it:: I think I get ahead of myself sometimes...

I guarantee my staff assistant a minimum number of hours per week and she gets the same paid days off I get off. If we are low on kids she just does deep cleaning and organizing. It's harder when there are less kids.

It's becoming very hard to find good workers. Not only do you have the challenge of finding one who will work.. you have to find one that CAN work. The obesity epidemic and all the health issues that come along with it is hitting the child care world VERY hard. Sprinkle in the cell phone addiction and you have distracted workers who struggle both physically and emotionally doing the H-A-R-D work of caring for small children.

The turnover rate is so high now... it's going to get WAY worse in the next five years.

[PeanutsGalore]

I guarantee my staff assistant a minimum number of hours per week and she gets the same paid days off I get off. If we are low on kids she just does deep cleaning and organizing. It's harder when there are less kids.

It's becoming very hard to find good workers. Not only do you have the challenge of finding one who will work.. you have to find one that CAN work. The obesity epidemic and all the health issues that come along with it is hitting the child care world VERY hard. Sprinkle in the cell phone addiction and you have distracted workers who struggle both physically and emotionally doing the H-A-R-D work of caring for small children.

The turnover rate is so high now... it's going to get WAY worse in the next five years.

Nannyde, seriously, what is up with the obesity epidemic thing? Are you interviewing 1000 pound people who are immobile or something? I can see how weight MIGHT impact ability to work a physical job, but it's really not an obesity thing. It's a lifestyle thing.

I'm a very big girl, and I'm really sad that I wasn't able to help out with the major yard projects we're in the midst of. Realistically, I have to watch the baby, and because he's not a lumpy infant anymore but a toddler getting into EVERYTHING, I couldn't be outside laying sod, or using the saw and building the fence the same way I was when we put in our tile and I both designed and cut it to spec on the tilesaw. And got down on my hands and knees to pound in the backerboard. Or mixed cement and slapped down the giant tiles, all while pregnant. But I have no problem taking care of my kid, and I've taken care of up to three infants at one time, by myself. I've fed multiple infants at the same time (one on my breast, one on the bottle), I constantly heft around two babies at the same time--nothing less than 45 lbs altogether. I run around after them all day long, and my own son knows no other speed than "RUNNNNNN!!!!!!" I'm on the floor with them. I kneel, I squat, I bend, I lift. I work, girl!

I wouldn't say I'm a person who loves to be active, because I really prefer to read a book rather than hike, but I'm strong, I have stamina, I'm a hard worker, healthy enough to engage in physical labor, and much healthier than a lot of slim people. We had to hire someone to help lay sod at the last minute, and I would have been able to get the job done in half the time he did, even though I'm a fatty mcfaticus and he wasn't. He was a doughy boy who complained about how he was a white collar worker doing this because he lost his job and was desperate for the money, like it made him better or something. Even when I was an office worker, I had a lot more stamina than my coworkers. And while I can't say this about all the obese people I've met in my lifetime, or even most of the obese people I've met in my lifetime, I can say it about a lot of them.

Why do you paint all groups of people with the same brush? Have you just not met a very diverse group of heavy people?

Again, sorry for derailing another thread, but you can really be offensive sometimes, Nannyde. And you have some really great experience that makes me want to learn from you, but then you harp on very specific issues in ways that just makes you sound like a bigot. I usually keep my mouth shut, but I couldn't this time, so I suppose it's time for me to sign off for the night! But I really hope there's a positive reason behind the things you say the way you say them.

[Country Kids]

Nannyde, seriously, what is up with the obesity epidemic thing? Are you interviewing 1000 pound people who are immobile or something? I can see how weight MIGHT impact ability to work a physical job, but it's really not an obesity thing. It's a lifestyle thing.

I'm a very big girl, and I'm really sad that I wasn't able to help out with the major yard projects we're in the midst of. Realistically, I have to watch the baby, and because he's not a lumpy infant anymore but a toddler getting into EVERYTHING, I couldn't be outside laying sod, or using the saw and building the fence the same way I was when we put in our tile and I both designed and cut it to spec on the tilesaw. And got down on my hands and knees to pound in the backerboard. Or mixed cement and slapped down the giant tiles, all while pregnant. But I have no problem taking care of my kid, and I've taken care of up to three infants at one time, by myself. I've fed multiple infants at the same time (one on my breast, one on the bottle), I constantly heft around two babies at the same time--nothing less than 45 lbs altogether. I run around after them all day long, and my own son knows no other speed than "RUNNNNNN!!!!!!" I'm on the floor with them. I kneel, I squat, I bend, I lift. I work, girl!

I wouldn't say I'm a person who loves to be active, because I really prefer to read a book rather than hike, but I'm strong, I have stamina, I'm a hard worker, healthy enough to engage in physical labor, and much healthier than a lot of slim people. We had to hire someone to help lay sod at the last minute, and I would have been able to get the job done in half the time he did, even though I'm a fatty mcfaticus and he wasn't. He was a doughy boy who complained about how he was a white collar worker doing this because he lost his job and was desperate for the money, like it made him better or something. Even when I was an office worker, I had a lot more stamina than my coworkers. And while I can't say this about all the obese people I've met in my lifetime, or even most of the obese people I've met in my lifetime, I can say it about a lot of them.

Why do you paint all groups of people with the same brush? Have you just not met a very diverse group of heavy people?

Again, sorry for derailing another thread, but you can really be offensive sometimes, Nannyde. And you have some really great experience that makes me want to learn from you, but then you harp on very specific issues in ways that just makes you sound like a bigot. I usually keep my mouth shut, but I couldn't this time, so I suppose it's time for me to sign off for the night! But I really hope there's a positive reason behind the things you say the way you say them.

I just want to send you lots of and today! Sending out hugs but no icons for that. Have a great day and remember you are great at what you do.

I used to be super small when I was younger. Hated it because I could never find clothes to fit and everyone was always saying how I needed to eat more. Now I have gained quite a bit of weight and would like to lose some but guess what I can find clothes now that fit and I look good in! I actually do have the energy now to work and do things. I'm personally God didn't make us to all look alike, that is the beauty in our world!

[nannyde]

Nannyde, seriously, what is up with the obesity epidemic thing? Are you interviewing 1000 pound people who are immobile or something? I can see how weight MIGHT impact ability to work a physical job, but it's really not an obesity thing. It's a lifestyle thing.

I'm a very big girl, and I'm really sad that I wasn't able to help out with the major yard projects we're in the midst of. Realistically, I have to watch the baby, and because he's not a lumpy infant anymore but a toddler getting into EVERYTHING, I couldn't be outside laying sod, or using the saw and building the fence the same way I was when we put in our tile and I both designed and cut it to spec on the tilesaw. And got down on my hands and knees to pound in the backerboard. Or mixed cement and slapped down the giant tiles, all while pregnant. But I have no problem taking care of my kid, and I've taken care of up to three infants at one time, by myself. I've fed multiple infants at the same time (one on my breast, one on the bottle), I constantly heft around two babies at the same time--nothing less than 45 lbs altogether. I run around after them all day long, and my own son knows no other speed than "RUNNNNNN!!!!!!" I'm on the floor with them. I kneel, I squat, I bend, I lift. I work, girl!

I wouldn't say I'm a person who loves to be active, because I really prefer to read a book rather than hike, but I'm strong, I have stamina, I'm a hard worker, healthy enough to engage in physical labor, and much healthier than a lot of slim people. We had to hire someone to help lay sod at the last minute, and I would have been able to get the job done in half the time he did, even though I'm a fatty mcfaticus and he wasn't. He was a doughy boy who complained about how he was a white collar worker doing this because he lost his job and was desperate for the money, like it made him better or something. Even when I was an office worker, I had a lot more stamina than my coworkers. And while I can't say this about all the obese people I've met in my lifetime, or even most of the obese people I've met in my lifetime, I can say it about a lot of them.

Why do you paint all groups of people with the same brush? Have you just not met a very diverse group of heavy people?

Again, sorry for derailing another thread, but you can really be offensive sometimes, Nannyde. And you have some really great experience that makes me want to learn from you, but then you harp on very specific issues in ways that just makes you sound like a bigot. I usually keep my mouth shut, but I couldn't this time, so I suppose it's time for me to sign off for the night! But I really hope there's a positive reason behind the things you say the way you say them.

It's a tough conversation to have. But it needs to be talked about in any discussions of hiring child care staff assistants. If it's off the table because it is offensive then I will gladly back out of any staff assistant discussions from here on out.

I can't discuss staff assistants without devoting a significant amount of my knowledge and experience in this within the discussion. There's no way to say it nicely or put words onto it that are exacting enough to not tweak peoples sensibilities. It's just impossible.

[PeanutsGalore]

It's a tough conversation to have. But it needs to be talked about in any discussions of hiring child care staff assistants. If it's off the table because it is offensive then I will gladly back out of any staff assistant discussions from here on out.

I can't discuss staff assistants without devoting a significant amount of my knowledge and experience in this within the discussion. There's no way to say it nicely or put words onto it that are exacting enough to not tweak peoples sensibilities. It's just impossible.

It's NOT off the table for discussion unless you want it to be. We're all grownups; and if the words are true and come from a place of knowledge and experience and a desire to enlighten, then back it up; don't back off. HAVE the discussion. We need to learn to discuss things again in this country, I think.

You didn't really introduce a topic of discussion; you dropped an incendiary bomb by implicating that all fat people are out of shape and incapable of performing as a daycare assistant. One can easily replace the word "fat" with any other descriptor based on age, race, religion, gender....it's the WAY you said it, Nannyde, that goads people who can't get beyond words into wanting to shut down the discussion. If that's what you want, then fine, but then if you truly have a valid point to make based on years of valuable experience, nobody is going to hear it, especially the people who need to hear it.

If you do truly believe that all fat people are incapable of being daycare assistants, then that's your opinion, though I find it hard to believe that it's your true experience in the reality of life. If it is, that's kind of sad. Still, I'd love to hear some sort of backup/logic/experience/data/anecdote or simply a clarification of whether this is really what you're saying or not. And why you believe what you do, and what you think can be done to help.

That's a discussion.

[nannyde]

It's NOT off the table for discussion unless you want it to be. We're all grownups; and if the words are true and come from a place of knowledge and experience and a desire to enlighten, then back it up; don't back off. HAVE the discussion. We need to learn to discuss things again in this country, I think.

You didn't really introduce a topic of discussion; you dropped an incendiary bomb by implicating that all fat people are out of shape and incapable of performing as a daycare assistant. One can easily replace the word "fat" with any other descriptor based on age, race, religion, gender....it's the WAY you said it, Nannyde, that goads people who can't get beyond words into wanting to shut down the discussion. If that's what you want, then fine, but then if you truly have a valid point to make based on years of valuable experience, nobody is going to hear it, especially the people who need to hear it.

If you do truly believe that all fat people are incapable of being daycare assistants, then that's your opinion, though I find it hard to believe that it's your true experience in the reality of life. If it is, that's kind of sad. Still, I'd love to hear some sort of backup/logic/experience/data/anecdote or simply a clarification of whether this is really what you're saying or not. And why you believe what you do, and what you think can be done to help.

That's a discussion.

This is a good place to start:

http://webcentral.uc.edu/eProf/media/attachment/eprofmediafile_571.pdf

[PeanutsGalore]

I just want to send you lots of and today! Sending out hugs but no icons for that. Have a great day and remember you are great at what you do.

I used to be super small when I was younger. Hated it because I could never find clothes to fit and everyone was always saying how I needed to eat more. Now I have gained quite a bit of weight and would like to lose some but guess what I can find clothes now that fit and I look good in! I actually do have the energy now to work and do things. I'm personally God didn't make us to all look alike, that is the beauty in our world!

Thank you, Country Kids! That was sweet. I love sunshine and hugs! It is hard to talk about body size, but I love diversity in all forms and I think we're all capable of doing whatever in the heck we want. We just have to decide to do it and do it the best way we can. And sometimes with body size, that means we have to have an honest discussion with ourselves and adjust our lifestyles to better meet our needs. I know that when I can't bend over to polish my toenails, I'm in trouble and had better start sweating more--and I do!!!

[PeanutsGalore]

This is a good place to start:

http://webcentral.uc.edu/eProf/media...iafile_571.pdf

Yes, it is. The conclusion was also really interesting, and the suggested workplace interventions are pretty prevalent in the corporate world today and, I think, very helpful to the overall health of employees.

Now since we're mostly in-home daycare providers, do you have an opinion on how we can take the suggestions in the study and bring them to life in our environment?

[MarinaVanessa]

I'm sooo confused :confused:. I'm still trying to figure out what about Nan's comment you find so offensive Peanut? I know you find something offensive and asked Nan "Why do you paint all groups of people with the same brush?" but I'm having trouble following you. Could you clarify please?