So I just recently (wed.) started babysitting for a single female soldier. I am NOT a child care provider..and I normally just babysit for date nights and stuff...but I felt bad that she was single..and didnt really have anywhere else to turn..she waited until the day before she had to go back to work to find someone apparently. That means she needs childcare from 530 am until 530 pm. which is A LOT! I only charge her $20 a day because I know what its like to be a single parent and trying to make ends meet. but now we have this issue...today she had to drop off 30 minutes earlier than the agreed time, so 5 am instead of 530..okay..find..I get it..PT test..whatever. Today she comes to pick up her child and informs me that monday she has to be at work at 330-4AM and will be gone until as late as 10 PM!!! They are going on a "field trip" (so to speak lol) to a place 4 hours away. I am a little peeved..because this stuff doesnt happen at a child care center..you dont just get to drop off HOURS earlier and pick up HOURS later. You would have to work something else out! So my question is..how can I address this tactfully before Monday? Thanks ladies!
It might be too late to change the situation for Monday anyway. You should have addressed your concerns when she brought up the hours. I know its hard-I used to babysit for a friend. You are not only giving her a heck of a deal on cost but also by watching her child during hours that most child cares (at least ones I know) aren't even available.
She waited till the final hour to find someone and she should be working with you. She has to have other friends on base who can also help?
she brought it up TODAY..all of 3 hours ago. so its not like I had much notice to begin with. I am sure she does have other friends on base, as well as the baby's father being a soldier as well and being on this same post.
Quoting Vertical15:
It might be too late to change the situation for Monday anyway. You should have addressed your concerns when she brought up the hours. I know its hard-I used to babysit for a friend. You are not only giving her a heck of a deal on cost but also by watching her child during hours that most child cares (at least ones I know) aren't even available.
She waited till the final hour to find someone and she should be working with you. She has to have other friends on base who can also help?
there are FCC providers who can take on her child. I was just trying to help her out until a slot openes up for her child at the child development center. technicily I am only allowed by military housing to sit for 10 hours a week per child...so really I am breaking the rules anyways...and could lose my housing. I was trying to help her though because apparently FCC providers here are allowed to chrage as much as they want. (Back home it was 100$ per child a week)
Quoting nikkik526:
You said yourself she has no where else to turn so how would you like her to set something else up??
that was kinda what I was thinking. In a normal situation you have to find someone else to keep your children until the center opens..so I have NO idea how she is going to work this mess when her son does get a slot in the center. I have learned over the last 3 days that it is making our life kinda a hot mess so I was already tossing around the idea of telling her I was sorry but I cant keep doing this. I am concerned its just going to keep getting worse...when she first mentioned the hours to me yesterday it was just supposed to be 530 to maybe 7..today is when it all changed to 330-4 until 9-10.
Quoting TerriC:
I would just let her know it is more than you signed on for. That is worth more than $20 a day. Tell her it is taking a toll on your own kids; it has to be disrupting their schedule a bit I am sure. If you don't talk to her now, it will just keep getting worse. Sounds like she is taking advantage.
Yea. Just let her know in the future you can't do that early maybe? If your even willing to do that early? Or just tell her that would be too early for you and your children. She should understand you don't want to interupt their schedules for one day. The father couldn't bring the child over at a later time?
Quoting sunshine86912:
she brought it up TODAY..all of 3 hours ago. so its not like I had much notice to begin with. I am sure she does have other friends on base, as well as the baby's father being a soldier as well and being on this same post.
Quoting Vertical15:
It might be too late to change the situation for Monday anyway. You should have addressed your concerns when she brought up the hours. I know its hard-I used to babysit for a friend. You are not only giving her a heck of a deal on cost but also by watching her child during hours that most child cares (at least ones I know) aren't even available.
She waited till the final hour to find someone and she should be working with you. She has to have other friends on base who can also help?
You tried to help her out, sometimes things just don't work out. Hopefully she will understand. =-)
Quoting sunshine86912:
that was kinda what I was thinking. In a normal situation you have to find someone else to keep your children until the center opens..so I have NO idea how she is going to work this mess when her son does get a slot in the center. I have learned over the last 3 days that it is making our life kinda a hot mess so I was already tossing around the idea of telling her I was sorry but I cant keep doing this. I am concerned its just going to keep getting worse...when she first mentioned the hours to me yesterday it was just supposed to be 530 to maybe 7..today is when it all changed to 330-4 until 9-10.
Quoting TerriC:
I would just let her know it is more than you signed on for. That is worth more than $20 a day. Tell her it is taking a toll on your own kids; it has to be disrupting their schedule a bit I am sure. If you don't talk to her now, it will just keep getting worse. Sounds like she is taking advantage.
I don't know if you can really address it before Monday. Yes, it was inconsiderate of her, and it messes with your schedule, but if you tell her no on such short notice, then it makes you look like the bad guy. I would tell her that in the future you are not going to be able to provide care for extended hours, and tell her that if the schedule is going to be irregular, that you will need to approve it in advance and there will be an extra charge. Then stick to it.
Wow! I didn't know there were such strict regs about babysitting hours. I would definitely not put my family at risk of being booted off base.
Quoting sunshine86912:there are FCC providers who can take on her child. I was just trying to help her out until a slot openes up for her child at the child development center. technicily I am only allowed by military housing to sit for 10 hours a week per child...so really I am breaking the rules anyways...and could lose my housing. I was trying to help her though because apparently FCC providers here are allowed to chrage as much as they want. (Back home it was 100$ per child a week)
Quoting nikkik526:
You said yourself she has no where else to turn so how would you like her to set something else up??
My 5yo is emotional, tired, and complaining of stomach pains.
Yellow soft drinks or dark?
- sunshine86912
on Aug. 17, 2012 at 11:22 AM