Tell me if this would upset you

[Sleepy]

I would help out with a request like this once in a while, but habit for her convenince...no way!

 

[antkim]

I can assure you there is no romance between us! LOL Just a good old girl friend relationship!!! Like gymnasticsmom68(that's a long one!) said MY job is watching her kids not getting them to the dentist!


Kim

 

[Lynn CC]

Take it from me, I did family daycare for 11 years. Some parents just want more and more and it's never enough!
Where she is a friend I would just tell a little white lie and say you have an appointment Each time she asks a special request from you. She should be scheduling around your hours not what's convenient for her. I'm sure you are doing her a great favor (your probably underpaid too) watching her child and she doesn't have to worry about a thing, she knows she's getting wonderful care.
After a few white lies she'll get the message, hopefully. Or else you'll have to draw up some sort of contract and keep business seperate from friendship. It's not easy.

 

[missyc]

I'm just wondering what people pay for home daycare these days?
I used to do this years ago and am getting ready to start up again but I'm not sure what the going rate is. I used to charge $20/day per child. Less for the 2nd but I can't remember how much less! Anyways, that was SEVERAL years ago. I'm just not sure people pay much more than that anyways.

P.S. My sister is the worst "taker" there could be! I've practically raised her 2 kids (And I have 3). She's been single off and on so I never charged her. Even when I was watching other kids for income.
She watched my 2 kids for a short while (six week course I took) and wanted paid!! I had just divorced, got no child support, was living with my parents, and was getting public assistance. And she expected ME to pay HER! We always fight about her just wanting more and more. She also manages to make the kids feel like it's them that is the problem. You know, like I just don't want them around! Always wants to leave them late. Of course that means after dinner and homework. How easy for her, huh? I'll never stop watching my niece and nephew, but I always have to set strict limits with their mom! I just say no....a lot! I don't even make up excuses anymore.

Anyways....back to my question! How much are stay at home moms charging for home daycare?!

 

[cgcw]

I think your good heartedness is getting you into a situation where your friend feels it is okay to have things most convenient for her and her family.

Four days a week is considered full time daycare. Anything more than 4 hours a day is a full day. I have not read that you are being paid for caring for your friends children. I hope you are -- you should be.

Prior to becoming licensed to do home daycare, I took care of only friends and family. I thought this would be easier -- but I quickly found out that they felt it was okay to take advantage of me because of our previous relationship. After all, we were friends/family and that's what made it okay. Once I started putting my foot down and not allowing it anymore, I came to the realization that I felt better about myself.

I hope everything works out for you. I know it's a tough situation to be put in.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Even though she is a good friend, it is obvious that her taking advantage of you is straining your relationship. I would do it this time, but explain that you don't prefer to do these types of things in the future. If she is a good friend, she will understand. I am quite sure she knows she is taking advantage.

 

[Lachesis00]

I'd put my foot down. She is asking way too much I think...

 

[Hillbeans]

Originally posted by missyc
I'm just wondering what people pay for home daycare these days?
I used to do this years ago and am getting ready to start up again but I'm not sure what the going rate is. I used to charge $20/day per child.

Wow...that's a bargain...want to watch my DS??

In all seriousness, here in the northeast I pay $40 at one and $50 at my backup daycare center for a day. That being said, I work 7:30 - 5:30, so my DS is there 3 - ten hour days. That probably averages about $5 per hour. I think it depends on how long your "day" will be. If it's a 6 hour day, I think $25 would be about right, maybe a little more. The older the child, the less it usually costs. When my DS was a baby through 18 months, I paid around $60 a day, but they needed a lower baby to-care provider ratio.

 

[Alice28]

In regards to the charging question; I charge my friend $25 a day to watch her son; he's 1 1/2 and that is for a 4-6 hour day. I don't mind every ONCE IN AWHILE (meaning once a month or less) watching him 7-8 hours for that price, but over 8 hours we agreed upon $35 a day.

 

[antkim]

Want to hear a good one? I just talked to her about tomorrow and told her that it might not work out because that is when Matthew(my 6 month old) is usually napping and because he has been sick for the last 3 weeks I really don't want to interrupt his sleep-that was the truth.(not sure if any of you remember me posting about him being sick the week before last. Well he was finally getting better last week and she sends her ds with a terrible cough/cold! Guess what- Matthew and A.J. now have the terrible coughs so back to up all night!!!)She tells me it's no big deal that she will have her in laws pick them up and continues to say "Oh, by the way, Jack has strep throat and scarlett fever"! I said "Well, do you think it's a good idea for him to be around my kids at all tomorrow"? She says "My ped. said kids under the age of 2 can't catch it" I said "I think I will check with my ped." Of course my ped. said it's not a good idea for either of my kids to be around him for the next day or so and that Mattie is more suseptable to these things because he is already sick!! So I'm not watching them tomorrow after all! This is what I deal with!

Kim

 

[cgcw]

Originally posted by Hillbeans
In all seriousness, here in the northeast I pay $40 at one and $50 at my backup daycare center for a day.

The last part time child I cared for was $47/day. Three days 7:30 - 4:30. The going rate in our area if $45-$50 a day.

Usually, a daycare provider in our area will take her weekly rate and divide it by 4. This then becomes our daily rate for part timers. Part time will always pay more than full time if equated to a full week because it's hard to fill in the off days with another child.

Antkim, this sounds like a situation going from bad to worse. I've also heard kids under 2 cannot get strep but still, you SHOULDN'T be caring for a sick child. That is a parents responsibility. Regardless of how good of a friend you are, and it sounds like you are doing your best, you are being taken advantage of.

Are you getting paid for caring for them?

 

[Hillbeans]

Originally posted by antkim
"Oh, by the way, Jack has strep throat and scarlett fever"!

Kim

I think you and her need to really have a talk. This is completely unacceptable. How dare she ask you to watch her kids when they have strep throat and scarlett fever. It's bad enough to ask someone to watch your kids if they have a cough.

You and your friend need to make this arrangement a "business" arrangement with ground rules and regulations. If she were at a daycare center, that child wouldn't be allowed in all week. Strep is one of the most contagious things out there.

I truly feel for you. I have my issues with my daycare, but I never ever take advantage of them and I don't bring my child in sick. Period.

 

[antkim]

I'm glad you all understand and it wasn't just "me"!!!


Kim

 

[Lachesis00]

How VERY inconsiderate of your friend send her kids to daycare while being so ill.

 

[kadaten]

Originally posted by antkim
The reason why I have a hard time saying anything is beacuase I feel like compared to her schedule and any working parents schedule I shouldn't complain....

Huh? Shouldn't complain because you think your day is a walk in the park compared to hers? I beg to differ, unless you've discovered a way to ensure ANGEL children that have no needs....and if you have, then I want the directions!

Being a SAHM and childcare provider is hard work, and she should realize that. So you get to work out of your home...big woop. It's still hard work!! And it's important work, too! Especially for her, since she doesn't want her kids in a big daycare! She should realize how hard you work and how lucky she is to have you and shouldn't take advantage like she is.

Since this has been going on awhile, it may be difficult to change, but you really should make an effort since it makes you feel so rotten. I might start with something like "You know, I find I have very little time to myself/for my family/to get my errands done/whatever these days. How about we sit down and take a look at our schedules and see what we can work out. I LOVE watching your kids, but want to make sure I have time to get my stuff done to; that way, I won't need to think about other things while I'm watching the kids (see...it's a win-win for her and her kids, too)." Then gently but firmly insist upon hours and responsiblities that you will and will not cover. Like "well, since you don't work on Friday, it would make more sense if you scheduled the kids' appointments for that day. That way, I wouldn't have to try to load up all 4 and meet you downtown..." etc.

Good luck! And I hope what you're being paid and the friendship you have with her add up to enough to make up for all the grief

 

[jipsy]

Charge her extra or tell her no. It's that simple.