I’m having a bit of an internal conflict with today’s post. I mean, there’s some pretty big stuff going on in our nation right now, in my hometown. (Yes, I know yesterday I was all, I’m from Delaware! and today I’m all, WhutWhut, Denver representin, yo! but I am from both. Let’s move on.) I am more tuned in to this electoral race than I was even prepared to be, and I can’t seem to get it off my mind. And Hillary’s speech last night? Well, let’s just say that I am kind of quietly hoping that none of her followers listen to her and there’s a bit of a surprise for everyone come Thursday. I was never sold on her before, but today I am.
So, I want to talk about the convention. I want to talk about our country. I want to talk about important things. I also want to talk about babysitting. I’m torn.
Since I leave in about 30 hours for Denver, I figured I’d give the babysitter talk a shot, and save myself for the trip home, when I could tell you all the fabulous things I saw and heard whilst mingling with the dead sexiest group of bloggers the world has ever known. But then, oh, but then, something came up, and I decided to do both.
My dear friend Stephen is out and about Denver mocking covering the protests in Denver for Pajamas Media. Stephen is a republican, he drinks scotch, and he’s kind of a jerk when he wants to be. We have NOTHING in common (maybe except that jerk bit. Bygones), but I love him and I read him religiously because, well, no one can make me laugh at myself better than he can. He’s brilliant, and he always remembers to tell me I look pretty. I’m a chick, and quite susceptible to flattery. I digress.
Anyway, Stephen was downtown at the mint, filming some protesters doing something completely ridiculous for his video debut on Pajamas Media, when he tripped and fell on an event that I can only describe as the reason I am not registered as a Democrat, and the reason I’m really reluctant to call myself one in public. This asshole? Is giving us all a bad name. And has no respect for others. Especially women. Even women who’s politics I abhor; she’s still a woman, and still a human. Go watch. Watch it all. It’s terrible in that Oh My God This Tastes Like Shit You HAVE To Try It way.
Next, babysitters. I am doing something I’ve never ever done before; I am leaving my children in the care of a 14 year old for TEN STRAIGHT hours on Thursday so I can fly 1600 miles and throw a party. I am kind of scared shitless about the whole thing. She’s quite capable, and very loving to the baby, but still. 10 hours straight with my kids and I’m hitting the liquor cabinet. What’s this poor girl going to do?
Anyway, I had to make sure the Babysitter Instructions were still on the fridge, and indeed they were, and as I reviewed them I realized that maybe I ought to share them with you. Because maybe you need to make a babysitter instruction list, and maybe I can help you out with that. I’m a giver. Here we go, copied straight from the sheet on the fridge, I promise:
The BLT Instruction Manual (My kids initials spell a sandwich. I like food)
- Don’t kill them, please. I’ve been waiting for 10 years; I have dibs.
- Don’t let them have candy. Unless you are on great medication or don’t value your sanity.
- Bedtime is at 9, 8:30 if you start prematurely aging.
- They can read in bed with their lights on. No, they may not read Playboy.
That’s about it. Thanks, dude!
Yes, that is the whole list, excluding our phone numbers, which nice try, but you have to work way harder than that to get my digits.
One question: As much as I love Little Ms Sitter, she is one of those girls that refuses to name her price. Which annoys me to no end. Have a little sense of self value, already. Besides, I don’t know what the exchange rate is from shoulder shrug to CAD. My question is this: Normally, we pay $10/hour for sitting. But there’s no way I’m giving a 14 year old $100 for one day’s work. No way in hell. I don’t make $100 in a day, and I’m betting most of you don’t, either. So, what do I pay her for a 10 hour day of chasing my toddler, playing my Wii, eating my chips and making sure the boys have bandaids and cookies?
Tagged with: asshats, Denver DNC, going rate for babysitters, Michelle Malkin
mn
Wednesday, 27 August, 2008 at 19:31Also, 10 hours with (three kids) is quite a bit. Maybe you can do $60. It’s over fifty and not exactly 100. i so rock at math.
mn
Wednesday, 27 August, 2008 at 19:37and i agree yeah, maybe she is expecting something close to it. and if anything paying her well can give you a peace of mind. maybe you can tell her $50 and if she does a real good job, throw in an extra $10 at the end as a surprise, so she would see it as a last minute tip not something she should expect all the time from you.
Babysitting is a big job.
and also, if you pay her $100, then we’re all screwed man. i had someone tell me if they paid me that much, they expected me to have the living room cleaned up and dishes put away too…etc. etc. which i wouldn’t have minded doing if asked, i liked to keep things clean.
janethesane
Wednesday, 27 August, 2008 at 20:43Pay the $100 and enjoy your freedom. And be careful in Denver. Lots of crazies about *wink*.
janethesanes last blog post..Diablo II – How I love thee
Leslie Dillinger
Wednesday, 27 August, 2008 at 21:28Dude, I hate to say it, but you probably have to pay her the $100. (And Jesus. Can I just say? I wish I had made that much back in the day!) Here’s what: I’ll come up there sometime soon and babysit all three of ‘em for free, and that’ll totally make up for it. They know how to mix martinis, right? And can bring me a smoke if directed as such?
Leslie Dillingers last blog post..
flickrlovr
Wednesday, 27 August, 2008 at 21:36As a sitter myself (and a nanny), I get paid $15/hr . But then again, I DO live in California. I know it’s different everywhere. But I do expect and appreciate parents who pay me the same as they would if the kids were awake. It’s time I could be spending sitting for another family, if they’d pay me more, you can bet I’d be more loyal to them. Sad, but true. I value my time, and I only work for families that do the same. I love the kids I watch and make sure they’re happy, healthy, safe, and feel secure. I definitely didn’t start out at $15/hr. When I was younger, I got $11/hr I think. And I made sure not to short-change myself by keeping on top of the ‘going rate’ in my area (which is fairly affluent, I might add). There are still moms that ask how much I charge and then give me the stink eye and an “oh, really?” with a long pause when I state my price, but I know how hard I work, I know what I deserve, and I know I can find families that’ll pay that much.
Just my opinion.
flickrlovrs last blog post..How’s About A Little Q&A?
Jack
Wednesday, 27 August, 2008 at 23:24I don’t make $100 in a day
It is time to get you a new job. How does $500 a day for blogging sound.
Jacks last blog post..Sex And Marriage- They have It Every Day
Loralee
Wednesday, 27 August, 2008 at 23:26I realize I am in the minority here but no way in HELL would I pay that.
50-60 for a 14-year-old is perfectly sane. (Of course, I am middle of the road politically and do live in Utah where my senator since birth has been Orrin Hatch and his fugly neck-ties, so you may want to take that into account.)
Just my 2 cents.
Loralees last blog post..Yes and No
Blake
Wednesday, 27 August, 2008 at 23:37Mr. Lady,
Do you remember me? It’s the worst co-blogger you’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, Blake. Just for the record, you still suck donkey balls. Wait, maybe I’m thinking of Andy. I don’t know, I get you two so confused. :)
colleen
Thursday, 28 August, 2008 at 1:51dude. i SWEAR i am insane, but I would have done the whole hanging out with them thing for the day for FREE. What the HELL have you done to me?? It’s JUST your kids, I swear, but I would have done it. Fuck, you have wifi. I’d have figured it all out.
i will miss you when you’re in Denver. Come home soon please. and, also, let me come hang out with you again soon please.
OH! and now I feel special i have your digits. and the donor’s. srsly. major score.
OH OH! remind me to tell you about #3 and the recent drama. and the yelling. LOUDLY. in public.
I think that’s all. I miss you already. have a blast at yr party, wish I was with you. wear the corset. <3.
soon. will see you soon. :D
colleens last blog post..Nominated for the Hot Blogger Calendar
MommyTime
Thursday, 28 August, 2008 at 12:50Back in the day, and I am NOT even joking about this, when I was 14, I made $1 an hour to babysit, and the generous folks gave me $1.50 — and there was no sliding scale of higher rates for more kids. Now, lest you think I am a dinosaur, I will tell you that at the time, the legal minimum wage was just over $4 an hour. (So I’m old, but not a fossil.) I think this: if you’ve had her sit before, and you picked her because you trust her, then you should pay her per hour exactly what you’ve paid her in the past, with no deduction for the long hours. How, logically, does it make sense to earn the same amount for 10 hours of work as for 6 hours of work? On the other hand, if you’ve never had her sit before, then you would be within your rights to decide that $10 an hour is too high a rate for a 14 year old. In that case, you might reduce it to, say, $7. Or, if she’s coming in the afternoon and will be there for many hours while the kids are asleep, I think it’s not unreasonable to suggest to a 14 year old that you pay $10 an hour while the kids are awake and $6 an hour while they’re sleeping, or something like that.
But, honestly, as someone who pays $10 an hour here for two kids who are ASLEEP for more than half of the gig, I think that $10 an hour is actually a really decent rate for three kids, especially if she’s going to be there all day long.
Alternately, if you’d like to go back in time and hire 14 year old me for the job, you could pay me $10 for the WHOLE DAY.
CourtneyRyan369
Thursday, 28 August, 2008 at 13:37As someone who has gone from $2 an hour (for 2 kids an additional $1 per child over that) at age 14 to $20+ an hour now (late 20s). I’m going to say to give her the $10 an hour. (Or even a little more if she does a really good job…long jobs are hard! Bonus can be a thank you in the mail with a gift card later on. You know as in “Thanks for sticking it out, the kids had a blast, you made it possible to do xyz”)
I say if you’re having her do it because you like her and you don’t want her pirated by the neighbors on big nights fr the future then you have to pony up the $10 an hour for the whole time.
I mean I do have my favorites and I cut them a break, so maybe be prepared to give her $100 and ask her what it’ll be? If she’s a good kid and wants you to hire you again she’ll aim low. Then you can always tip her.
Good luck!
Oh and if you really like her? NEVER EVER give her name to someone else. Even the nice kids will go to the higher paying jobs if offered enough.
CourtneyRyan369s last blog post..Swan Gate 2008 (continued)
Caroline
Thursday, 28 August, 2008 at 14:01Ummm, in repsonse to Traci’s comment, ” I have everything I need, with extra cash kids buy drugs.” That’s ridiculous. Kids buy other things, too, and lots of times, if kids are going to buy drugs, they’ll do it with whatever money thier parents give them, too. That being said, give her what you owe her, $10/hr. I babysat when I was a kid and also when I worked in preschools, as an adult. As a kid, I charged whatever I was given, as an adult, there is no way you’d get me for less than $13/hr for 3 kids, and longer than an 8 hr workday. Consider yourself lucky.
Also, I stumbled upon your site about 2 weeks ago and then spent those weeks reading all of your archives. You’re great. Thank god for someone like you.
Gnilleps
Thursday, 28 August, 2008 at 15:45Thanks for that Pajamas site, it rocks…
10 hours… thats a long day for a 14 yrold. I bet if most of us worked 10 hours we would make at least 100 bucks (and expect overtime and extra break and maybe some good sex in the copy room ). The real question is “How much is it really worth to make sure my kids are well cared for…” If you normally pay 10 bucks an hour and she has cut her entire day away for you and your needs… give her the hundred buck already. just my 2 cents…
pam
Thursday, 28 August, 2008 at 15:58I’m with the ‘if you normally pay $10/hr she doesn’t get penalized because you want her for 10 hours’ crowd.
When in Denver is you see my 30 year old son say hi to him for me. He’s in Central City.
manager mom
Thursday, 28 August, 2008 at 18:05I dunno…I’m such a wuss when it comes to the babysitting. I pay a BASE RATE of $15 per hour, and I’m all, “Whut? it was two hours and fifteen minutes? Why, SURE, I’ll just round up then!”
This is why I never go anywhere.
manager moms last blog post..I’ll Take Manhattan
Melanie @ Mel, A Dramatic Mommy
Friday, 29 August, 2008 at 0:33I’m totally late chiming in but agree with everyone else. Fork over the $100. To me, that seems like a bargain for 10 hrs./3 kids.
Melanie @ Mel, A Dramatic Mommys last blog post..Wordless Wednesday #12 – Playing Calvin Pool with Drama Dad
Sally
Friday, 29 August, 2008 at 17:15I’m late to the party too but want to point out that this is $100 Canadian we’re talking about and won’t go as far as some people imagine. My kids are older teens now but if they were paid on the basis of diminishing returns (i.e. the longer you stay, the less you will be paid/hour) I would suggest they never babysit for that family again. We always paid the going minimum wage (I live in Richmond – so it’s the BC minimum wage) and then rounded it up – mostly we paid $10/hour and that was 10 years ago. For that we got the pick of the babysitters (word got out) whenever we wanted. When our usual babysitter grew up and got a real job she even switched her shifts at the restaurant so she could sit for us.
She is in her mid 20′s now and works in accounting but still comes and looks after our house/feeds the cats when we are away. Last time we went away we came back to find that she had gardened for us and left us a jar of fresh home made jam.
Sara
Sunday, 31 August, 2008 at 6:52I know you’re already gone and this is settled, but I have to say: dude, docking someone’s pay because they work more? Crazy talk. Her age isn’t what you pay her for; you pay for the work. The work is $10/hour, she’s working 10 hours, she gets a hundred bucks. I know, I know, it’s expensive and she’s just a kid and some adults don’t make $100 a day… but most adults aren’t only getting paid for one day, either; if an adult only makes $80 a day, he/she is making it five days a week. And? I don’t know any adults who get paid the going rate for certain hours and less than that or nothing for other hours.
To be honest, I think if you change the pay at all, it should go up. I know that when I was babysitting I made more for longer days, and if someone wanted me to work ten straight hours and offered less than my usual rate I would have flat turned them down. What she does with the money, even if she’s a relative or a good friend’s kid, isn’t your business. Paying for the work you receive is.
(I am so sorry if this sounds rude or harsh. It’s just how I see it.)
Saras last blog post..All that exposition for one lousy picture.
lisa
Sunday, 31 August, 2008 at 17:46I think you should give her the 100$ if she is going to be there 10 hours. I know it is alot of money, but you get to go do something fun, and without her, you would have to take your kids with you. How fun is that?
Tootsie Farklepants
Monday, 1 September, 2008 at 23:31True dat. Babysitting is where the money is at. If I could tolerate more children than I already have I would totally. do. that.
Tootsie Farklepantss last blog post..Swag Did Not Include Beer Cozy