Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2017 0:31:40 GMT
I have 3 kids and 2 of them have kids so I'm not a kid babysitting (I'm not a young person babysitting, I do babysit my grand kids) LOL One of the guys at work recently moved to the area so they have no family here. (8 months ago) - he and his wife have a 2 1/2 year old and expecting a baby in July. I have been around their precious girl a few times and I really enjoy her and she loves me a lot. I mentioned awhile back that if they needed help when wife goes into labor let me know and i'd be happy to help with the little one. Well this morning Joe approaches me and said you've mentioned watching M and wife and I would love to go to dinner tomorrow night with 2 other couples if I could watch M. Kinda caught me off guard and I do not mind - he said they pay well. Part of me wants to take the money but part of me feels greedy taking it. Now this couple make probably 8x's the money I make. I don't "need" the money but this does take up my time. I don't want it to be awkward but would like others thought on this TIA --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UPDATE: I watched M last night from 5:00-8:30 - parents were thrilled because she did not cry when they left and she and I had so much fun - she is such a smart little one and we played everything possible. Mom and dad asked that I send videos and pics - which I did and it made their night out so much better. We laughed and played and when it was time to get ready for bed she was so good. After reading her book she laid her head on my shoulder and we just rocked for 10 mins. I laid her in bed and I never heard another peep. They paid me $60.00 which I told them was too much and they both agreed that knowing she was in good hands was worth every penny. Mom told me 3 weeks ago they tried to go to dinner and got a college student babysitter and M cried the whole time and they had to cut the dinner short. Thank you again for the comments - except for the one where it said how will my kids feel about me babysitting someone else when I don't watch my own grands. Because I do and I do not charge my kids. I enjoy my grands and help my kids when I can  |
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Post by walkerdill on Mar 10, 2017 0:33:34 GMT
If he offered I would take it. Why babysit for free?
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Post by 950nancy on Mar 10, 2017 0:34:44 GMT
I think if you specifically offered to take her so they could have a night out as a one time offer, then maybe not, but they might want to use you again and you might really enjoy it. They would be paying anyone who probably wasn't a relative, so take the money.
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Post by littlemama on Mar 10, 2017 0:35:30 GMT
Take the pay. If you do it for free once, you'll always be expected to do it for free.
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Post by laureljean on Mar 10, 2017 0:35:54 GMT
People value what they pay for. And he did offer to pay. I would take the money.
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Post by padresfan619 on Mar 10, 2017 0:36:32 GMT
Take the money.
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Post by CarolinaGirl71 on Mar 10, 2017 0:39:57 GMT
Take the money - they probably would hesitate to ask you again if you do it for free, trying not to take advantage of you. OR, they will be asking you to babysit for free all the time and you will resent it.
Enjoy your time with her!
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Deleted
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Jun 2, 2024 4:35:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2017 0:45:18 GMT
Thank you all for the replies -
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Mar 10, 2017 1:01:59 GMT
Take the money.
If you don't want to keep it, set it aside (or set some of it aside) and gift it to them later as a stroller/car seat/crib/gift card when the baby's born.
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Post by imkat on Mar 10, 2017 1:06:33 GMT
I would not babysit. It would be awkward to me. There is a difference between offering to help in a pinch and being paid to babysit for a night out.
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cycworker
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by cycworker on Mar 10, 2017 1:14:44 GMT
Take the money. If you don't want to keep it, set it aside (or set some of it aside) and gift it to them later as a stroller/car seat/crib/gift card when the baby's born. Great idea! At first I was going to say I'd do it for free, but someone else made a good point. If you don't take it they could decide to not ask again for fear of taking advantage, or they could take advantage to a point you'd resent it. This method is a win-win for all. |
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Post by lucyg on Mar 10, 2017 1:29:42 GMT
Take the money - they probably would hesitate to ask you again if you do it for free, trying not to take advantage of you. OR, they will be asking you to babysit for free all the time and you will resent it. Enjoy your time with her! I agree with this. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind babysitting for free for one night out, but I would make it clear it's just this once. And if you don't want to continue babysitting for them on a non-emergency basis, you're going to need to tell them so. |
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SabrinaP
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Post by SabrinaP on Mar 10, 2017 1:37:27 GMT
People value what they pay for. And he did offer to pay. I would take the money. I agree completely with this. He offered pay, so I would take it. |
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Post by NanaKate on Mar 10, 2017 1:46:42 GMT
I have 3 kids and 2 of them have kids so I'm not a kid babysitting What does this mean? ETA: never mind...I got it! I'd take the money. |
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Mar 10, 2017 1:52:40 GMT
Why wouldn't you?
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Post by maryland on Mar 10, 2017 2:13:17 GMT
They are probably happy to have someone they know and trust to watch their child. And their child already knows and likes you. They will enjoy their time out knowing they don't have to worry about her. Take the money! They wouldn't have offered if they didn't want to pay you. You could always tell them when she has the baby, that they do not need to pay you then (if it makes you feel better). |
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Deleted
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Jun 2, 2024 4:35:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2017 3:10:51 GMT
Thank you everyone - I do value my time and although I like this family I surely don't want to spend my free time babysitting (it would never happen, they are not that type)
I do feel better and love the idea about saving the money for a baby gift. I plan to take over some books and color books and crayons to read and color with M tomorrow night.
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Post by Really Red on Mar 10, 2017 4:16:05 GMT
If I were in their shoes, I'd be super grateful to have someone like you and pay you well what you were worth and count myself lucky you would do it.
I say take the money and enjoy the kiddo!
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Post by 950nancy on Mar 10, 2017 4:23:14 GMT
If I were in their shoes, I'd be super grateful to have someone like you and pay you well what you were worth and count myself lucky you would do it. I say take the money and enjoy the kiddo! We were lucky to always high school kids with vehicles and they all had First Aid/CPR cards. We didn't have any relatives around that offered to help, so it was nice to have older girls. But I would have loved to actually have had a mom babysit. They know what to do. |
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Mary Kay Lady
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Post by Mary Kay Lady on Mar 10, 2017 7:11:41 GMT
Take the money. You are a mature adult woman with many years of childcare experience. You are providing a valuable service. Let them pay you so you won't feel like you're being taken advantage of. Put the money aside in an account towards a vacation or something else.
I started babysitting about a year ago. My youngest son is 17 and I miss the baby snuggles. I babysit for a number of families and they appreciate the wisdom and maturity I provide in caring for their children.
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Post by internetmama on Mar 10, 2017 9:24:43 GMT
If you do end up watching the 2 year,old when the mom has the baby, it's great to have babysat her a few,times before.so she is comfortable with you and you know her routine.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Mar 10, 2017 10:34:52 GMT
Definitely take the pay.
Not only because your time has value that should be paid for, but because the babysitting because an official business deal with the exchange of money for services.
It may set his/their mind at ease that you are taking watching his daughter very seriously since you will be paid for it.
Many/dare I say most people have the mindset "you get what you pay for."
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Post by annabella on Mar 10, 2017 14:33:44 GMT
There's no question that you should take the money, you don't babysit non-family for free. I thought the real question here was do you want to get into the habit of being your co-workers babysitter? How will your kids feel when they find out about this since you don't watch their kids?
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paigepea
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Post by paigepea on Mar 10, 2017 14:41:09 GMT
When I first started reading your post I thought no way should you take the money because you're helping out with the labour and you offered, etc.
By the time I got to the end of your post I thought for sure you should take the money. If not, they'll call you again and again and you can't start taking money later on.
I'm a parent with young kids - and I'm so happy to pay anyone I find that I trust to watch my girls. In the end, it's not about money. It's about showing the sitter that I trust them enough to pay them. If it is as you say, then take the money.
If we were getting a coworker of dh's and it was a one off and they had offered I probably wouldn't expect them to take money. If it sounded like it could be something more regular I'd expect them to take my money.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2017 0:38:23 GMT
There's no question that you should take the money, you don't babysit non-family for free. I thought the real question here was do you want to get into the habit of being your co-workers babysitter? How will your kids feel when they find out about this since you don't watch their kids?Where does the op say she doesn't watch her own grandchildren? OP I would take the money. He asked you and said he would pay. He might be reluctant to call on you any other time if you don't. As others have pointed out, he would probably think he would be taking advantage of you so won't ask in the future. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2017 14:18:22 GMT
Annabella - I do babysit my grandkids and see where the confusion might be - I just meant I'm not a young person babysitting.....
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2017 14:33:43 GMT
I'm glad to read your update and that both you and M had a lovely time together.I think little ones are very clever in detecting someone they are happy in their company. I always think that kids often "read" people better than adults do at times. It must be such a relief for the parents to know that they have someone they can totally trust to call on.
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Post by miominmio on Mar 11, 2017 14:50:10 GMT
A good sitter is worth her weight in gold, so I'm glad you accepted the money.
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Peamac
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Post by Peamac on Mar 11, 2017 15:03:54 GMT
What a great update! I bet M thinks of you as more of a grandmother than a "babysitter" and enjoys that security.
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Post by supersoda on Mar 11, 2017 15:11:35 GMT
I'm glad to hear it went well.
Having been in the parents' situation, I would absolutely want you to take the money so I didn't feel like I was taking advantage of you. I probably wouldn't ask again if you didn't let me pay.
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