People often brag about how their entire lives revolve around their children, how their kids have given their lives meaning and purpose.
Why then, is it so difficult for them to pay a reasonable salary to those who care for their children on parent's-night-out?
Ah yes, the babysitter's complaint; not enough pay, too many bratty kids. Even for someone like me, who wants more than anything to birth and raise children, the act of babysitting is a trying one. I don't know what other's charge, but I charge five bucks per kiddo. I feel that's more than reasonable, as I am a damn good sitter. Never do I text message buddies, watch tv, talk on the phone, etc. while caring for another person's children. I think of them as little lives, little personalities, to be nurtured and taught and spoken to and listened to. I enjoy babysitting, ninety percent of the time.
What gets at me, though, is when I'll run into those couples who live in their huge house, with their designer dogs, and drive big, fast cars, and buy jewlery for kicks and go shopping for fun, who claim they smply can't afford fifteen dollars an hour for three children under the age of five.
I want to ask, what do you care mos about; having a good, reliable, fun, CPR-certified babysitter or some young teen who couldn't find another job? Are you, dear parents, willing to pay for a good sitter if it means the kdis are better off, or will you take the cheap way out for convenience? Was that diamond ring equal to the lives at home you've brought into the world?
I don't know, I guess, because I am childless teenager myself, but it seems to me that your babies and the care they recieve should come first and foremost in a mother's mind.
Far ahead of shopping sprees with girlfriends.
I've had a few jobs as a babysitter where the people didn't pay me enough.
One couple left me with 5 kids. One was an infant, 2 were under 7 years old, and the other 2 were 7 or 8. They gave me $20 for 4 hours.
Now I tell them what I normally charge. When I first started off when I was 12, I would say $8. Now I say between $10-15.
I have some really high paying babysitting jobs where one couple will pay me $20 an hour for 2 of their boys.
I definately agree that you should get paid at least $15 for 3 boys. If you have a problem with the price, tell them. Otherwise, you'll be used and won't gain anything from it.
You are probably the most logical mature big brain teen I have heard type here in a while. Enjoy your time of logic labor and children zap it right from your brain. Just lidding. Good post.
I am pretty sure the parents do not see it your way. I have two kids of my own and I never baby sat as a youngin because kids are nuts and you would have to be equally so to watch them when they are not yours. Lucky for my kids they are mini adults and are easy...I think.
We have nothing (never wanted diamonds anyway). My husband and I go every where (even dates) with the kids because we really like them and are patient.
AT least we know why they are broke. Keep up being responsible. Good job.
~T
All truths are easy to understand once discovered; The point is to discover them ~Galileo
pkubik08, THANKS for validation on babysitting charges. Everytime I say I charge $7, parents look at me as if I told them I'd like to take their car off-roading.
whispers awnesty, your comment made me laugh. My parents hung out with my siblings and I, also, and (this is crazy) legitimetaly LIKE us! I hope someday I'll be the kind of momma who honestly enjoys my children's presence. :D
Thanks for reading!!!
"Happiness only real when shared".