What would you pay my sitter?

[leebee]

$350/ week sounds great to me! I'm a teacher and after child care costs, I bring home $150 week. Awful. I am sticking it out until I hit 10 years so I get what the state paid into my pension. Ironically, that is year my little one goes into Kinder.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing! I work in special ed, teaching mostly math one-on-one to kids in grades K-5. I work hard to bring home $350 a week. I'm not being snarky, but I'd LOVE to be in a position where an additional $18K per year was optional. I am glad the OP gets to stay home with her kids... just wish I'd been in that position.

 

[AZMermaid]

Wow, so you are doing it for the pension I assume? Teachers are so underpaid, but we appreciate you!

Thank you! At this point, mostly pension and insurance. I factor the cost of adding me to my husbands insurance into my "pay" but the actual bring home is awful. I also really enjoy my job (most days). My kids are 17 months apart, so I didn't really spread out that child are cost, ha ha!

 

[kimsuenew]

I accepted a job offer. From Stay at home to full time....yikes! Anywho, it is a great opportunity.

My youngest is in 5 day preschool 9-2:30. I have found a SAHM neighbor to do the following:

I drop DS4 at her house at 8am and she drops him at preschool at 9am.

She picks him back up at 2:30 and keeps him at her house til I get home (around 5). DS5 gets off bus at her house at 4 and stays til I get there.

Since it will be at her house and her kids there, not sure what appropriate amount would be. I have already stated that I will pay for gas to drive to/from preschool.

I would prefer a nanny at my house so she could bathe kids for me and start kids’ dinner when Dh is out of town, but I haven't found anyone.

So what would you pay her?

You are adding an extra dynamic with two trips during the day. Not only would it be an inconvenience, it is an extra liability (drive someone's child) and even though you are paying gas you are not taking into consideration the "wear and tear" on her vehicle.

 

[kandb]

OP you are making the right decision. As a working mother (my husband is a firefighter, so is home with the kids or a family member when he works), working is hard when there are little ones at home. When you have to start paying someone to watch your children, sometimes it's not worth it when you see what you are ultimately bringing home. Children are small for such a short time, stay home and enjoy them.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

WOW! Im shocked at childcare costs other places! the center I work at with aswome staff( most of us have at least 1.5 years schooling or an assocites degree) and infant care is 145 for a 40 hr week. School aged? 50 for 20 hours a week and we have a very nice program.

 

[cel_disney]

WOW! Im shocked at childcare costs other places! the center I work at with aswome staff( most of us have at least 1.5 years schooling or an assocites degree) and infant care is 145 for a 40 hr week. School aged? 50 for 20 hours a week and we have a very nice program.

Hahaha - there are some schools here that charge that infant rate DAILY! And I have not found one that doesn't charge 50$ a day for a preschooler for a day! (Most are 320$/wk for an infant and 270 or so for a preschooler weekly)..

I am sure that childcare is generally relative to the cost of living/salaries in the area...but it's always startling to hear the numbers here (for me - its hearing them be so low elsewhere!)

OP - I am glad you looked at the numbers and that you are happy with your decision. I am a working mom and both my DH and I travel periodically for work. It can be stressful to be a single parent during those times - but even harder to meet work commitments and parenting commitments at the same time. If you financially able to put this position off and you expect career wise to also be able to put this off - enjoy it!

 

[AZMermaid]

I agree! I pay $345/ week for my 1 and 3 year olds... And my 1 year old only goes 3 days a week, Grandma watches her her 2 days a week. I'd be right around 400 if they both were full time.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

OP you are making the right decision. As a working mother (my husband is a firefighter, so is home with the kids or a family member when he works), working is hard when there are little ones at home. When you have to start paying someone to watch your children, sometimes it's not worth it when you see what you are ultimately bringing home. Children are small for such a short time, stay home and enjoy them.

Thank you! I knowi. Am fortunate to have the option. Sometimes I just miss working. My sewing teacher gave me some great advice..."you can do everything, you just can't do it all at once." She is right. This is a season of my life and someday I will be missing it terribly. I just have to remember that on days when I am drowning in housework and the kids are making a mess faster than I can clean it up.

 

[FlyingDumbo]

Hahaha - there are some schools here that charge that infant rate DAILY! And I have not found one that doesn't charge 50$ a day for a preschooler for a day! (Most are 320$/wk for an infant and 270 or so for a preschooler weekly)..

I am sure that childcare is generally relative to the cost of living/salaries in the area...but it's always startling to hear the numbers here (for me - its hearing them be so low elsewhere!)

OP - I am glad you looked at the numbers and that you are happy with your decision. I am a working mom and both my DH and I travel periodically for work. It can be stressful to be a single parent during those times - but even harder to meet work commitments and parenting commitments at the same time. If you financially able to put this position off and you expect career wise to also be able to put this off - enjoy it!

I pay 133 per DAY. And my little one goes 3 days per week. I am looking for a new place though, I'd love to find someone to come to my home.

 

[PatsGirl]

This is a season of my life and someday I will be missing it terribly. I just have to remember that on days when I am drowning in housework and the kids are making a mess faster than I can clean it up.

I always wished that working full time was an option when my kids were babies and toddlers but alas, it was not so although I was able to work a schedule where they didn't need full time day care.

I think the best of both worlds is having a part time evening job (1 or 2 nights a week) to get you out of the house, a little extra "fun" cash in your pocket, and most importantly, time to be you, the person, not you, the Mom or you the wife. It gives you access to friends and if you play your cards right maybe even allows an hour or two after work to have a drink or see a movie with your work friends.

Me time always made me a better Mom