Help..advice needed...

[RazorNribbonz]

Hi Ladies,

I seriously could use some advice and the womans group is the first place I thought of to ask......Here's the situation: My neighbor/best friend just got custody of her grandson ( 8 months old)..Her and her husband both have full time (pretty decent jobs)..Because they are away so much I go over there twice a week and clean for her ( approx 2-3 hrs a week for 50$ = ecig money lol)...Well now she wants me stop cleaning and start babysitting...The thing is I'll have the baby for 9 hrs a day, about 45 hrs a week... I have no idea what that would usually pay...I just know I'm not used to having a baby around..I'm going to grow attached and at 8 months He'll be into EVERYthing lol...
I don't want to charge my friend what a daycare would, shes my best friend....But at the same time I don't want them taking advantage of that fact ( as the husband is known to do)..She just now called saying hubby ok'd 125.00 a week.. And im thinking, ok you want me to drop the 50$ -2 hrs a week cleaning for 75 more dollars to take on 43 more hrs woth of work? lol.. She was all bright and bubbly> "how's that sound?"..I said umm not so good..She said ok how about 150$?..I told her I'd call her back..I don't know what to tell her or what would be reasonably fair...I sure could use some advice on this..Thanks you guys....Ivy

Ps..Background history> I'm the god mother to their children..Whom if watched over the yrs ( done their hair etc) And theres always been a struggle to get paid right...Because, I'm the "best friend/godmother..They can make me doubt if I'm being unreasonable, which i don't think I am....

Never mind ladies, I sat down and called around to several child care centers and got a general Idea..I feel a lot better now..Thanks

 

[ladyraj]

Ivy, I also had to wrestle with the childcare issue and the loss of freedom inherent with the endeavor. My children are grown and because I'm retired my free time is often requested to ease another's burden. I normally do not mind. But full time childcare removes the freedom to engage in social functions or even visiting a physician when ill. This is a life-changing event and I suggest treading carefully. Good luck with your choice whichever it may be.

 

[RazorNribbonz]

I agree ladyraj,, And I only considered it because the full time need will only be for a month until she switches to nights...Then only a few hrs so she can sleep...Otherwise theyd have to pay me a looota $ to change my life indefinitely like that lol

I need time to paint... that would leave me nooone lol

 

[BARENETTED]

DITTO - everything Lady said. You may as well have a child of your own.
You cant even call in sick. No benefits. No holiday or sick pay. It could also put the kabosh on your relationship if it does not work out. You would be better off working in Walmart and getting benefits. Just MHO.

 

[Mary Kay]

I am 58 and wouldn't do it! I love the grands to peices, but I only do a week each in the summer and 1 week together in the winter..a few days on weekends if the boys really need a grandma/grandpa fix the rest of the year. I would never sit with kids again full time! My daughter had surgery a couple months after oldest boy was born and I took him up here. Never again!
I used to sit with kids as a young mother. It was demanding and too hard to work around shopping, Dr.'s and anylife at all. They dropped them off at 7am and then..often went to dinner before getting the kids! called on weekends to get a sitter and generally tried to guilt me to death. Not worth the hassle. By the way..they were our best friends and a work mate of hubby's.

 

[RazorNribbonz]

Go to dinner before picking up the kids?! eeck lol...I got a mouth on me if pushed, friend or not...She knows me too well :: lil laugh::...But yes, I agree..With your own grandbaby that would be much harder...:: pause::..
nahhhh..My son knows me too well too ..I'd be all > :: head movin side to side with attitude:: > "You best come get your daughter/son or I'm going to punk her/his hair out in blue spikes and pierce her/his nose!"....He'd laugh his a** off but, he'd high tail it home lmao

( funny thing is.. I probably would do it up in spikes and put a lil magnetic nose piercing in just to mess with em lol)

 

[Momof3]

Glad you got it all sorted. I was guilt tripped in to it once for family. It was horrible and took forever getting out of. I'm already home with my own, childproofed, etc. and still wouldn't do it. IMHO watching kids for friends and family is far worse than watching kids professionally. They tend to take advantage.