Thursday, May 15, 2008

A question for y'all

Child Care.

A family member may be picking up my two kids at a local campish type place three days a week this summer (for eight weeks). It's about five miles away.

She'll be there around noon, bring them back to her house (around 12:30 by the time they get their stuff together and leave the place) and I will be there to pick them up by 1:30ish p.m. (1:15 one day and 1:45 two days).

I plan on packing their lunches to eat at her house.

So 1 - 1 1/2 hours, three days per week. Also, my kids (my daughter for sure) will be playing with her two year old and she suggested this arrangement to me with the statement that it would be good for her boy to see my kids this summer as he really loves them and it gives her a little break.

What do you think would be a fair price? I had an amount in mind and last night, when she told me what she'd like to be paid I almost keeled over.

Help!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hate to say this but for family? It ought to be free, especially if she offered. It would be very nice of you to spring for a gas gift certificate or maybe a couple of McDonald's gc's or something but otherwise....?

I care for my nephew (who, nothing against the kid because he is only 6 months old, is a screamer) one day a week while his mom works. I really don't expect anything for it or I wouldn't have offered.

Without stirring the pot, your kids are old enough to not be much trouble at all. You are sending them with lunch and really, they will probably do some quasi babysitting while they are there (and by that I just mean playing with her little one and allowing her a cup of tea or a private pee or some other small luxury that moms of little ones crave).

~Em

blackbird said...

Did she say $20 a day?
I have a friend who pays $20 to have her kids shuffled out the door and driven to school. I think that's a lot of money, but I can't see anyone doing it for less.

I'm thinking it either has to be $20 a day or NOTHING. (With a gift card or some such at the end.)

Jennifer said...

Oh wow...

Well I'm with Em, when it's family, I thought it would be free!

I totally suck because I can't even begin to think of an amount. Sorry..

Fairly Odd Mother said...

I'm kind of surprised she'd want anything. I mean 1 1/2 hours a few days a week? That isn't anything! Maybe gas money? If anything, $10 a day, MAYBE $15 if she really has to have the 'going rate'. But, again, for family, I'd think it'd be much less.

Anonymous said...

I was going to say gas money too. What the heck could she need any large sum of cash for? She'll automatically have a playmate for the 2 year old which will free her up to do lots of other things.

I think it's a little greedy to ask for much more than the price of gas to go pick them up and get back. $10 a day maybe? And that's a lot, IMHO.