[Coldjensens]

One of my daughters still does a lot of babysitting. She is a great babysitter, she is certified, she is an A student, she is in college studying Child Psychology. She carries little toys and games in her purse just in case she is asked to watch children on short notice. She is in pretty high demand. People pay her $7 to $10 per hour many of them rond up, especially when it is for a short time. Just the time and effort of going to someones house for a one hour assignment is hardly worth $7. However other things are more important to her than the hourly rate.


She can watch up to seven kids, but she expects to be paid well for more than 3. With large numbers of kids, the hourly rate does matter more. Lots of kids really wear her out, so she is not really interested unles it pays quite well.

Are the parents respectful towards her, or do they treat her like the hired help?

Do the parents thank her and mean it, or do they look down their noses at her, or demand more and more non-babysitting work. (She has no problem doing some dishes or cleaning up after the kids, but dont ask your babysitter to take out the garbage cans, do your laundry, or clean up the dog doo in your yard. She likes to focus on the kids at all times.

Is the job regular and conveneint to her school schedule?

Are the assignments long enough to be worthwhile" Obviously it is more worthwhile to prepare for and drive to a three or five hour assinment than it is to go for one hour.

Do the kids like her, are they spoiled, disrepectful? She can deal with these things, but for an extra dollar or two an hour, she would prefer to deal good kids. Wild, energetic, or even mental problems do not bother her, it is the spoiled, condescending,snotty or disrepectful kids that she prefers not to work with. Since she only works a few hours a week, a dollar or even three dollar an hour is not worth taking something unpleasant.

Remarkably, when she decides to decline further work from a family, it is usually the way that the parents treat her that triggers her choice. It is only rarely that she has any problem with the kids, or with the pay. he is lucky to have a good enough reputation, that she can pick and choose amongst jobs. the hourly rate is fourth or fith on her list of considerations.