who?what?where?when?why? asked: This is a question for babysitters alike and parents who occasionally leave their kids in the hands of a babysitter. What do you think?
New Year’s Eve is a big party night for couples, leaving their kids in the trusting hands of a babysitter. I live on a street with several little kids. Currently, I have been asked by only one household to baby-sit their kid, but I know that other parents will eventually ask me to also baby-sit.
This question is really three questions:
Which household do I baby-sit for?
How do I say “No” or the “I’m already taken?”
I know it’s some-what rude and unfair to the first person who called for me if I take a different set of kids. How do I handle this situation if I choose differently?
Here are some facts:
I charge:
$5 per hour = 1 kid
$6 per hour = 2 kid
$7 per hour = 3 kid
(Please no remarks on how much I charge.)
*Parents usually ignore my rate and extremely overpay me.
The different sets of kids:
Household A:
1 kid- 4 years old
Experience: (Only once) POSITIVE, we watched a movie and ate popcorn. I only babysat for 1.5 hours and the parents paid me $20. The kid was sweet when I baby sat him but I know he has the potential to be troublesome.
Household B:
2 kids- 2 year old/ 4 year old
Experience: MIXED, these kids are spoiled, spoiled, spoiled. They watch TV every time they eat a meal and have so many toys that they don’t know what to do with them. The four year old even locked himself purposely in a room so I couldn’t get to him. I still love them. This household is like extended family to me.
Household C:
3 kids- 7 year old/ 9 year old/ 11 year old
Experience: MIXED, now one of these kids is Bipolar so I give him a little slack when he acts up. The youngest one cries real easily and throws fits when I tell him to sit in a corner or go to his room. I have no trouble with the oldest. If the younger kids won’t listen to me, the parents have me call them so they can end it over the phone. Overpay often when they are in a good mood.
Household D:
3 kids- 5 year old/ 7 year old/ 8 year old
Experience: POSITIVE, these kids are great when they don’t get riled up (which happens often). They are very disciplined except when they decide it’s funny when the babysitter gets hurt when they want to wrestle and tackle her.