Need some advice

[txteach]

My daughter will start school in the fall and will not need full time care after school. I proposed that we cut how much the babysitter gets now from $130 to $80 a week since Lizzy will not need care full time. My babysitter countered with "what if she is sick from school and has to stay with me, what then". So I made up this contract. I would actually get rid of the sitter but I enjoy football coaching and Lizzy likes the family. Tell me what you think of the contract.


7/11/08



Proposed contract for babysitting

We have had the same sitter for approximately two years and would like to keep her if possible once the school year resumes. Elizabeth will be attending kindergarten full time from 8:00a.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Our proposal is that You watch Elizabeth Monday -Friday from 3:30- 5:30. We will pay you $80 for a week if she just attends for that period. If Elizabeth comes more because of illness or work for the parents, we propose :
1- If Elizabeth is at the sitters for one day full time and the rest of the time part time we will pay the sitter $100 for the week.
2- If Elizabeth is at the sitters 2 or more days full time we will pay the full price of $130.
3. If the parents pick up Elizabeth late (after 6:00) we will pay the sitter $100 for the week. If the parents pick up the child 2 or more days within a week the week becomes a full week and the parents will pay the full price of $130.
Please let us know by July 25th if this arrangement is acceptable to you. We desire to keep Lizzy with people she loves and we are comfortable with. Thank you.

John and Jane Adanosky


Parents Signature ____________________________________



Care provider _____________________________________

[AUSSIE-Rebooted-AMM]

I think It is a pretty fair contract John. You don't want them to tell you to go and get screwed. I like the way you have built in what happens if you are late as well.

I hope it works out he way you want.

[toys2cool]

so that's 10 hours a week for $80,it's $8 an hour
Just add $8 an hour for what ever time you need extra,that's the only thing that sounds fair I guess

[grayhank]

Deleted

[toys2cool]

My only question is when did Kidnergarten become all day now? It used to be half a day.

Kinder was always all day for me when i was a kid,I think maybe an hour earlier then everyone else

[garagesale]

John:

That seems fair to me. You might think about countering with $90-$100 if you really get in a bind and have the possibility of losing a good and trusted sitter. I'm glad we live only blocks from Grampa!

JamesD

[grayhank]

Deleted

[Brue]

Seems reasonable to me. If you have someone who is willing to plan ahead to be your sick day person AND she is your trusted sitter that is as good as gold. You are paying her fairly for her end but for you it is a deal considering how hard it can be to find a reliable / trusted sitter. Havin something in writing is always a good idea.

[Mikey]

When I was in Kindergarten, I only went a half a day.

They changed that ? ... or is it a regional thing ?

[mitchedwards]

Looks reasonable to me.

Only question I have is, would the baby sitter lose a slot for another kid if she watches yours only part of a day?

[txteach]

The babysitter only watches 2 other kids so no, she would not lose anything. If she is unreasonable we will take Lizzy to an after school program at another place. She really likes this sitter but the sitter has dictated her terms to me in the past (If you don't keep me for the summer I may not take you back) so I'm ok if she declines this. I personally think my daughter would do well either place but the sitter we have now is a block away.

[Bo8a_Fett]

I think you're being fair John...It's either as you've set it out or offer an hourly rate as suggested .....You are the employer so you should not b dictated to...is proberly a ploy to make you panic into agreeing her trems....it is hard getting a sitter that a) your kids like, b) you trust and c) is resonable financially. She must realise that children grow up and that word of mouth from parents is the best advertising she will ever get.
Hope you sort it mate..

[toys2cool]

is it worth losing her though? how much is the after school program? I know they're pretty pricey here

[Adam West]

Just to add my nickel's worth.

My mom was a licensed day care provider when I grew up. She was only allowed to watch so many kids and if the child was only watched part-time, it still counted as one.

Seeing it from her perspective, I felt like she was taken advantage of and taken for granted a lot. Parents used to get angry if she ever raised her rates and wouldn't think twice about showing up late or what scorched her the most was dropping their child off for daycare when there was a holiday...for example President's Day or something like that. The parents would have a paid holiday, drop them off for my mom to watch and go shopping.

Finally, my mom wrote up a contract herself. If you wanted your slot held open for the Summer, you paid. She had paid sick days, holidays, and vacation. Her viewpoint was that she was providing a service but also deserved the same benefits as your employer would extend to you. It was take it or leave it because she always had a waiting list of parents because she had a great reputation.

If you really like your sitter, I say bite the bullet and pay her. I don't think it's worth it to go daycare shopping. Just my opinion.

I also don't agree with prorating by the hour. If she is there for less than full time, her hourly rate should be higher. In my opinion, you are getting off cheap. My wife works a couple of days a week and we pay a teenage babysitter $50 a day to watch my 8 year old...which would be $250 a week and he needs much less supervision than a preschooler. This is the going rate. I have two other children (a 13 year old and an 11 year old). We would have the 13 year old do the sitting and he does when it's just a few hours but honestly he is too immature and fights too much with the 8 year old to make it work.

I really don't think your sitter is bluffing and I'd rather have peace of mind if it meant paying an extra $20 or $30 a week. Be kind to her, give her a Christmas bonus and let her know how much you appreciate what she does. Just like in teaching, it is generally a thankless job and you'd be surprised how much a little appreciation will go especially when you are in a bind.

[txteach]

For one, I never took advantage of her. We even paid her on OUR vacations and on holidays. She has asked to be paid weeks early because she was broke and we did. I don't see where we took advantage of her. She has been the one calling the shots in the past and we have complied. She only has 2 other kids to watch, not 5. To say we took advantage of is just wrong. I honestly don't care if your reliving your mom's experience but read back again. We have been very good to this woman.