Okay, I know everyone is different, but here is a touchy topic for me; Babysitters. When I was younger I used to babysit (I started at 12). There is no way on this green Earth I would let a 12 year old babysit my children. I don't think 15/16 year old look tall enough to be 15/16. We have several neighborhood teenagers that are great girls, but I am stuck on the age factor.
Not, to mention money. How much to you pay babysitters these days? I have two children (Ben who is almost 6 and Anna who is 2 1/2). What if they babysitter watches them till.... let's say 11, and they go to bed by 8? Okay, I know you think I would know better, but most of our kids lifes we've had family watch them. What if a babysitter is old enough to drive, but wants you to pick them up?
Any helpful hints or suggestions on this topic are greatly appreciated.
My Little Who Girl
Ben
Ben & Anna
Tawas 2008
Dad and the kids
These are the days.....
Clean means nothing, dirt is eveything
Brian and I
Carriage Ride in Nashville
Ben
Our Stud Muffin
AnnE
AnnE in her Party Dress
Ben's 5th Birthday
Can I open them, please?
4 comments:
Isn't it crazy to think that at 11/12 we babysat? I don't know if I'd trust someone that young with my kids.
We haven't had to hire a "traditional" weekend/evening babysitter either. I did have my brother's ex girlfriend watch Porter a few summers ago and I paid her $5 an hour. As far as evenings, I'd say the same rate after kids are in bed. They're still at your house making sure it doesn't burn down. And I don't think the driving/picking up should factor in the price. If they want/need to be picked up then that's your job. When I babysat I was paid hourly from the time I got to their house to the time they got home. My pay rate "back then" was $2/hr for first kid and $1/hour for each extra kid. I think now its probably more like $4 or $5/hr for the first kid and $1/hour for each additional kid. Maybe more..??
I think age just depends on the kids... both your kids and the babysitter.
When we first moved here and had to find a babysitter (knowing no one), we asked through friends and used only the highest recommended ones and the ones we happened to be most comfortable with were 17/18.
Now that we've been here a couple of years and know more people, we've adopted our own favorite babysitters. One that's watched our kids the most now has been a 14 year old boy (yes, boy!) we know thru church. We know him and his family well, they live close, and although he's the youngest in his family, he's worked with the kids at church often and our kids love him. He's good with them and Sawyer especially loves having a guy here to play with.
I have another friend who has a daughter who is just turning 12 and we're having her watch the kids for our anniversary this month and I think she will be our first choice from here on out. Yes, she's young, but she has three younger siblings (two of them being exactly my kids' ages) and you can just tell she's the mother hen kind of daughter. She works with the kids at church all the time and she is just the perfect mix of fun and no nonsense responsible. I completely trust my kids with her.
With having a sitter that young though, you can't have very late nights out! I feel like I have to be back by 9 at the latest so I can get her home and to bed!
I am questioning this same thing myself right now. We are looking at hiring a high school student to watch our daughter this summer. Our daughter is self sufficient just not old enough yet to stay by herself. So practically this girl would have to do nothing except hang out. I was thinking of paying her $70 a week (don't ask me how I arrived at this number) but is she going to laugh at me when I put that number out there?
Hi Lisa...
We pay big bucks for day care... More than I make I think. We have gotten babysitters in the past for long nights. We have always made sure that they understand our situation and what is expected of them. Our sitters didn't mind making 15-20 a night. We didn't want to commit to an hourly thing, if we went out at 6 and got home at 12 we would give like $15. I don't think age is as important as trust and maturity. For example, my 18 year old sister will not watch Mya because she won't change diapers or clean up messes, but we have had 15 year old girls watch Mya overnight before (they spent the night because it was easier for them and we had the extra bed). I just hate thinking that going to dinner and a movie costs about $40 for three or four hours and add another $20 for babysitting... That is one expensive night out!
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