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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Is $100 Too Much?
cheerfuldom 11:20 AM 05-09-2012
I have a daycare parent that has offered me $100 to watch their child all day Saturday and half Sunday.....I have watched her on the weekend before for a quick overnight and she is EASY to take care. I barely noticed she was here. I feel bad to take the full $100 because really, it is no big deal to have her here and $100 seems like so much, even though it is a weekend. We have nothing planned but they have no problem with us taking her out and about, she even went to church with us last time. My DH thinks I should take the money and run but I feel better agreeing to something like $75. Who's right?

They are GREAT daycare parents and even though they offered this amount, I wouldnt want them to feel like I am taking advantage of them and later they feel annoyed at the expense of the weekend care......
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DCP 11:25 AM 05-09-2012
Weekend care in my opinion should be FAR more than normal week day fee. I do not know what your rates are in your area - however a normal babysitter here would charge $10 and up per hour for weekend babysitting...depending on sitter's age and length of time.

I have only ONCE take a child on a weekend - one client only...and they paid me $9.25 per hour which at the time was twice their normal hourly rate.

They were happy and I was happy

If they are ok doing it..then you should be as well!!
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Childminder 11:26 AM 05-09-2012
I don't feel it is too much. They offered, you accept. How many hours is it total? Then divide into $100, I bet it comes to less than $3 per hour. If they were taking their dog to a kennel it probably would cost them more than that. It's a small price to pay knowing their child is safe.
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Blackcat31 11:28 AM 05-09-2012
I say take the money. They are offering you that much because they value you and I for one would not feel badly about taking it.

If you normally do not provide care on the weekends then that is even more of a reason to accept the money. They obviously feel as though you are worth that much or they wouldn't have offered that amount right?

Take it, treat the child to something fun if you feel like it. Or maybe use some of the money to buy something for the daycare instead if taking that much doesn't feel right.
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sharlan 11:28 AM 05-09-2012
If that's what they offered, accept it.
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Soupyszoo 11:28 AM 05-09-2012
If they offered that amount and you are willing to watch the child, just agree and say thank you! KWIM? I've always felt in situations like this where someone is offering its almost rude not to accept the offered amount graciously plus it's better to be over appreciated than under appreciated! It is your weekend
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JenNJ 11:28 AM 05-09-2012
I would charge more, lol. $100 doesn't cover a high school babysitter for a full day here. I would need 5x that to CONSIDER giving up my weekend.

If you are happy and they offered, take it.
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godiva83 11:31 AM 05-09-2012
I agree, I don't think $100 is an absurd amount plus she offered it!
It's your weekend after all, and I agree it's precious cargo for over night care - most DCP's wouldn't think twice spending that amount on a kennel, a date night or shopping trip
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cheerfuldom 11:32 AM 05-09-2012
Originally Posted by JenNJ:
I would charge more, lol. $100 doesn't cover a high school babysitter for a full day here. I would need 5x that to CONSIDER giving up my weekend.

If you are happy and they offered, take it.
well thats what I am conflicted about....I am not giving up my weekend. We do everything we would normally do and having one extra is not even a big deal at all. I already have three, with another on the way so whats one more, you know? This little girl is very well behaved with me, we could go out to eat or anywhere with no issues at all so its not like she is going to slow me down at all.

Thanks for all the posts....I am still not sure......
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temom 11:35 AM 05-09-2012
if they have offered take it, its a small price to pay for the well being of your child. i wish more parents thought like that
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sfp 11:38 AM 05-09-2012
I'd have a hard time taking 100 too... Tough call IMO.
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AmyLeigh 11:42 AM 05-09-2012
Can you take the extra money and do a fun outing for the whole family, her included? You know, the kind you would love to take the whole daycare too, but it's too expensive? That might ease your conscience a bit.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 11:43 AM 05-09-2012
Take what they offered. You don't base your weekly daycare rate on how difficult a child is. Don't base your weekend rate on that either.
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cheerfuldom 11:47 AM 05-09-2012
Originally Posted by LCLC:
Take what they offered. You don't base your weekly daycare rate on how difficult a child is. Don't base your weekend rate on that either.
well thats true....although there are some kids that I would certainly love to charge their parents more

I guess this is just the rare kid that totally vibes with me, I love her, I am attached for sure and she is like part of the family. She LOVES my kids, my husband.....she even said our dogs name as one of her first words!
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EntropyControlSpecialist 11:48 AM 05-09-2012
Originally Posted by cheerfuldom:
well thats true....although there are some kids that I would certainly love to charge their parents more

I guess this is just the rare kid that totally vibes with me, I love her, I am attached for sure and she is like part of the family. She LOVES my kids, my husband.....she even said our dogs name as one of her first words!
I'm sure they can tell that she is adored and well taken care of with you. That, in my opinion (as a parent), is PRICELESS.
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AfterSchoolMom 11:55 AM 05-09-2012
I'd take it in a second! They wouldn't have offered that amount if they thought it was too high.
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JenNJ 12:17 PM 05-09-2012
You ARE giving up your weekend. Don't downplay your personal family time. You re adding extra cooking, cleaning, supervising, and activities into your and your families weekend. Every moment you spend with her in your free time is a moment you could be with your own kids, husband, or by yourself.

Don't undervalue your worth. I think $100 is absurd for a weekend of babysitting. I think you are selling yourself and your family short. Honestly, a high school sitter around here is $10-$15 an hour. Weekend time is at a premium.
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Ariana 12:24 PM 05-09-2012
I'd take $100 so they aren't always asking you
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saved4always 12:42 PM 05-09-2012
I, too, think that weekends should cost far more than weekdays. I think $100 is fair since this is adding a day and a half to your "work" week. If they offered that much, they must feel it is a fair amount, too.
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SunshineMama 12:46 PM 05-09-2012
I completely agree! Theres no way I would do it for $100.00! That's 12 days of work in a row!

I would charge $500.00, because I wouldnt ever want to give up my family time. If they wanted to pay me $500 I would consider it


Originally Posted by JenNJ:
You ARE giving up your weekend. Don't downplay your personal family time. You re adding extra cooking, cleaning, supervising, and activities into your and your families weekend. Every moment you spend with her in your free time is a moment you could be with your own kids, husband, or by yourself.

Don't undervalue your worth. I think $100 is absurd for a weekend of babysitting. I think you are selling yourself and your family short. Honestly, a high school sitter around here is $10-$15 an hour. Weekend time is at a premium.

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cheerfuldom 03:53 PM 05-09-2012
I guess the big difference is that when I am watching her, I dont even consider it babysitting. She is just like having one of my little nieces or nephews over....easier actually because she listens and plays so well for me. I dont consider my weekend compromised or that I am even at work. She runs around our living space and does not get into a thing or cause any trouble. Maybe the difference is that I have 3 kids under 4 right now....EVERYTHING we do involves the kids and is kid friendly. There is nothing I have to change to keep her here.

With that in mind, I offered $75 provided she is picked up at my chosen time on Sunday which was a few hours earlier than what they originally said. I think we were both happy with the arrangement and it should be a good weekend. Rumor has it that mom is sending her here rather than the (free) in laws....a very big compliment dont you think?
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AnneCordelia 04:21 PM 05-09-2012
I would charge at least $100. I can't take 5 kids for a weekend...which is what I have during the week to make my hourly rate a decent one. Only one child means he hourly fee will be higher to make it worth my time.

I love my dcfamilies but I would never give up my weekend. If anything my husband and four kids look forward to my full attention on the weekends.
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DaisyMamma 07:26 AM 05-10-2012
If thats what they offered and you are willing to do it, take it.

I personally wouldn't give up ab entire weekend for $100. I would consider a half day as all day. Especially if its every weekend.
I would want $15/hr and even then I might say no thank you. But I have a couple of young kids.
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Fruitloops1 08:40 AM 05-10-2012
I think the $100 is resonable for weekend care. They offered it because they value the care that you provide. If you rather lower it to make yourself feel comfortable then do so. If you feel like it is worth $75 for all day Saturday and half Sunday, then do what makes you feel comfortable! If I was in your shoes, I would take their offer and go Goodwill shopping for some new DC toys.
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My3cents 09:28 AM 05-10-2012
you should have taken the $100 and said yes but she will have to be picked up by such and such time. Why would you undercut yourself, if they offered?

I always want to do the right thing, and sometimes I end up cutting my own throat and then resenting it or questioning myself after. You could use that money for your family and maybe do something special above and beyond the normal weekend.

Don't let kids become personal-- separate business and personal life. Once the child is no longer in your daycare and then if you want to pursue the personal relationship then go for it.- I know it is hard. I have this one parent, and I would love to be the best of friends with her, but deep down I know that would not be the best idea for my business. I never would have met her outside of daycare but we have so much in common. It stinks but I feel I am doing the right thing by separating the two. On the other hand, some people are great at doing both and it works for them.
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small_steps 09:56 AM 05-10-2012
I kept a school age child (about 7 years old) for a whole weekend...friday around noon until sunday around 3 or so. He was really a good kid and no trouble at all plus he was great company for my twins that are 8. His mom gave me $200. I felt bad about taking it because even though we aren't friends we do see each other a lot and chit chat from time to time through school activities. But it did change my weekend. Even though he was easy I was still responsible for him and that's a big thing. We didn't do as much as we could have done (getting out of the house and such) so I think $100 bucks is very fair. And as a parent I wouldn't mind paying that amount if I wanted a night off if I knew my child was in good hands. It would be well worth it to me.
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cheerfuldom 12:13 PM 05-10-2012
Originally Posted by My3cents:
you should have taken the $100 and said yes but she will have to be picked up by such and such time. Why would you undercut yourself, if they offered?

I always want to do the right thing, and sometimes I end up cutting my own throat and then resenting it or questioning myself after. You could use that money for your family and maybe do something special above and beyond the normal weekend.

Don't let kids become personal-- separate business and personal life. Once the child is no longer in your daycare and then if you want to pursue the personal relationship then go for it.- I know it is hard. I have this one parent, and I would love to be the best of friends with her, but deep down I know that would not be the best idea for my business. I never would have met her outside of daycare but we have so much in common. It stinks but I feel I am doing the right thing by separating the two. On the other hand, some people are great at doing both and it works for them.
Thanks for your post but I am not a newbie in need of a pep talk. I feel confident that I did the right thing in the situation and have no resentment for offering the lower price. This is my favorite daycare family ever and she has been with me for almost two years.....with that in mind, I am not going to worry about $25. I fully realize the risk of becoming too personal but seriously, don't worry about me. I am very good with boundaries and dont feel at all that any line was crossed in the family asking for weekend care or me accepting it. I feel I did the right thing and was happy to get so many responses that cemented in my mind what I was already feeling (even though the posts mostly disagreed with me, I am okay with that and it doesnt mean I did something wrong).
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