Daycare.com Forum
Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Is it Just a Name?
Brustkt 11:40 AM 04-11-2014
Just curious...how do you feel when you are introduced by one of your families as their "babysitter" rather than their "provider"? Is it just a name or am I too sensitive? I HATE IT! 
EntropyControlSpecialist 11:44 AM 04-11-2014
I've never been introduced that way but it would really bother me. In fact, I purposely did not interview a family once who kept using the word "baby-sitter" when on the phone with me. No thank you...baby-sitters are paid more, use food from the parent's home, choose their hours, use the parent's home, etc. DEFINITELY not baby-sitting. Baby-sitting was so stress free when I was a teen! 
Blackcat31 11:44 AM 04-11-2014
Depends. Sometimes it's just an interchangeable word and no disrespect was meant.
If it is said by someone who is trying to be condescending about it, I can see correcting them.
Most times, I don't care what people call me....as long as they pay me.
If it is said by someone who is trying to be condescending about it, I can see correcting them.
Most times, I don't care what people call me....as long as they pay me.
Blackcat31 11:46 AM 04-11-2014
This is a HUGELY debated topic that comes up often.
Here are some other threads discussing this subject.
https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.p...er+vs+provider
Here are some other threads discussing this subject.
https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.p...er+vs+provider
melilley 11:55 AM 04-11-2014
I can't stand to be called a babysitter either and sometimes it bothers me more than other times. I don't correct people when they call me one. But I know that honestly sometimes people don't realize that there is a difference between a provider and a babysitter. My infant dcg's gma used to do daycare in her home and I think that possibly back then, babysitter was the main word used and she always says "babysitter" when referencing me, but calls my home a daycare. That doesn't really bother me.
Now, I do have a dcm who works at a preschool and she always calls me their "sitter", now that really bothers me! She should know. I so want to ask her how her babysitting job at the preschool is going!
Now, I do have a dcm who works at a preschool and she always calls me their "sitter", now that really bothers me! She should know. I so want to ask her how her babysitting job at the preschool is going!
EntropyControlSpecialist 11:58 AM 04-11-2014
Originally Posted by melilley:
I can't stand to be called a babysitter either and sometimes it bothers me more than other times. I don't correct people when they call me one. But I know that honestly sometimes people don't realize that there is a difference between a provider and a babysitter. My infant dcg's gma used to do daycare in her home and I think that possibly back then, babysitter was the main word used and she always says "babysitter" when referencing me, but calls my home a daycare. That doesn't really bother me.
Now, I do have a dcm who works at a preschool and she always calls me their "sitter", now that really bothers me! She should know. I so want to ask her how her babysitting job at the preschool is going!
I would. Why not? You're a sitter ... she's a sitter. I can't stand to be called a babysitter either and sometimes it bothers me more than other times. I don't correct people when they call me one. But I know that honestly sometimes people don't realize that there is a difference between a provider and a babysitter. My infant dcg's gma used to do daycare in her home and I think that possibly back then, babysitter was the main word used and she always says "babysitter" when referencing me, but calls my home a daycare. That doesn't really bother me.
Now, I do have a dcm who works at a preschool and she always calls me their "sitter", now that really bothers me! She should know. I so want to ask her how her babysitting job at the preschool is going!
melilley 12:07 PM 04-11-2014
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
I would. Why not? You're a sitter ... she's a sitter.
I should! I would. Why not? You're a sitter ... she's a sitter.
I sometimes think that she thinks she's better than me because she has a BA and have an AA and she works in a preschool in a school district, and I work at home. Probably in my head, but that's the way I see it.
Wubby 12:40 PM 04-11-2014
My grandson was at the dentist, she asks " Are you in school yet?" He replies " No, but my daycare lady teaches me." What!!!!!
So I told him since I am his daycare lady, not his grandma, I get double presents. One for being his grandma and one for being his "daycare lady"
So I told him since I am his daycare lady, not his grandma, I get double presents. One for being his grandma and one for being his "daycare lady"
Second Home 12:45 PM 04-11-2014
Sometimes it bothers me depending on who says it . I do think most people really have no idea what we do . Especially the regulations we have to follow .
jenboo 01:48 PM 04-11-2014
Originally Posted by Wubby:
My grandson was at the dentist, she asks " Are you in school yet?" He replies " No, but my daycare lady teaches me." What!!!!!
So I told him since I am his daycare lady, not his grandma, I get double presents. One for being his grandma and one for being his "daycare lady"
My niece comes to my home daycare. Half the time I'm ms. Jen the other half I'm aunty Jen.. She called me ms. Jen the entire weekend! Drive me nutsMy grandson was at the dentist, she asks " Are you in school yet?" He replies " No, but my daycare lady teaches me." What!!!!!
So I told him since I am his daycare lady, not his grandma, I get double presents. One for being his grandma and one for being his "daycare lady"
but...I did get two Christmas gifts from her!! She was so excited to give me a teacher Christmas gift.I hate being called a babysitter!! Babysitting is what I do on weekend nights where we veg out in front of the TV and I eat their food
craftymissbeth 01:52 PM 04-11-2014
I'm the opposite, I guess. I don't care if they call me their babysitter, but it irks me when I'm called "teacher". I'm not a teacher. I don't even have a college degree in ANYTHING let alone teaching. I had a 4 yo dcb that called me Teacher all day and it drove me nuts.
melskids 02:09 PM 04-11-2014
I don't care what people call me. Show up on time and pay me on time and you can call me Bob for all I care. 
originalkat 02:22 PM 04-11-2014
It annoys me, but I rarely correct people because I really dont care that much.
Normally people introduce me as their child's preschool teacher. I think that is because I refer to the program as preschool from the very beginning.
Normally people introduce me as their child's preschool teacher. I think that is because I refer to the program as preschool from the very beginning.
cheerfuldom 02:42 PM 04-11-2014
I dont care at all. As long as they pay me and we have an understanding about what they will and wont be getting for that fee.
drseuss 03:48 PM 04-11-2014
HATE IT!! I was a babysitter in high school.
I do understand that some people really don't understand that there is a difference, so I don't say anything. Just grumble to myself and get over it.
I do understand that some people really don't understand that there is a difference, so I don't say anything. Just grumble to myself and get over it.
DaisyMamma 05:13 PM 04-11-2014
Originally Posted by Brustkt:
Just curious...how do you feel when you are introduced by one of your families as their "babysitter" rather than their "provider"? Is it just a name or am I too sensitive? I HATE IT!
I would simply and politely make the correction and move on. They have no idea it even bothers you unless you say something.Just curious...how do you feel when you are introduced by one of your families as their "babysitter" rather than their "provider"? Is it just a name or am I too sensitive? I HATE IT!
jenn 06:06 PM 04-11-2014
Originally Posted by melskids:
I don't care what people call me. Show up on time and pay me on time and you can call me Bob for all I care.
I don't care what people call me. Show up on time and pay me on time and you can call me Bob for all I care.
TaylorTots 06:19 PM 04-11-2014
I have been called a babysitter, a teacher, a daycare provider, and others. Usually it's just our "Miss A" -- so I don't get called any of them but I don't care what they call me as long as its' respectful.
Lucy 06:46 PM 04-13-2014
It's all semantics to me. The parents don't say "babysitter" to insult us. Just like we don't mean any offense by saying "stewardess" instead of "flight attendant", "trashman" instead of "sanitation worker", or "secretary" instead of administrative assistant. Doesn't really matter to me as long as I am treated with respect.