Comments on: At the mercy of the babysitters. http://mssinglemama.com/2008/04/19/at-the-mercy-of-the-babysitters/ Single Mom Dating? Real advice from a real single mom. Tue, 22 May 2012 16:28:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: babysitterhttp://mssinglemama.com/2008/04/19/at-the-mercy-of-the-babysitters/#comment-26838 babysitter Wed, 11 May 2011 04:30:09 +0000 http://mssinglemama.wordpress.com/?p=360#comment-26838 I'm a babysitter, and mom's you should know there are in fact kids out there that love kids and want to spend time with yours! unless you're in a large city paying more than ten dollars is ridiculous unless it is consistent or for a large family. I have several jobs with families of three and am more than comfortable with 6-9 dollars an hour. Five is minimum for me, but I don't even think i would accept anything more than $10 an hour unless I was transporting their kids long distances, in that case i would take gas money. One other place to post is if you're in a college area on their student job board. That's how I have made most of my connects, that and through working at the nursery at my church. Hiring a babysitter to sit there and do nothing is a waste or your money and a waste of their time, always give them a couple chores if you know they're going to have some down time. That's the perfect test to see if they're a keeper! Good luck moms! I’m a babysitter, and mom’s you should know there are in fact kids out there that love kids and want to spend time with yours! unless you’re in a large city paying more than ten dollars is ridiculous unless it is consistent or for a large family. I have several jobs with families of three and am more than comfortable with 6-9 dollars an hour. Five is minimum for me, but I don’t even think i would accept anything more than $10 an hour unless I was transporting their kids long distances, in that case i would take gas money.
One other place to post is if you’re in a college area on their student job board. That’s how I have made most of my connects, that and through working at the nursery at my church.
Hiring a babysitter to sit there and do nothing is a waste or your money and a waste of their time, always give them a couple chores if you know they’re going to have some down time. That’s the perfect test to see if they’re a keeper!
Good luck moms!

]]> By: Bethhttp://mssinglemama.com/2008/04/19/at-the-mercy-of-the-babysitters/#comment-1196 Beth Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:49:36 +0000 http://mssinglemama.wordpress.com/?p=360#comment-1196 like the other parents on here, i've used the teachers at my son's school at the going rate of $10 hr. he knows (and loves) them already and i am very comfortable with them, as well. maybe your readers could start some sort of bartering system where we swap kids on alternating weekend nights?? like the other parents on here, i’ve used the teachers at my son’s school at the going rate of $10 hr. he knows (and loves) them already and i am very comfortable with them, as well. maybe your readers could start some sort of bartering system where we swap kids on alternating weekend nights??

]]> By: Lesliehttp://mssinglemama.com/2008/04/19/at-the-mercy-of-the-babysitters/#comment-1195 Leslie Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:21:13 +0000 http://mssinglemama.wordpress.com/?p=360#comment-1195 Dang that's a lot of money! Especially when the kids are old enough to not have to do much other then supervise or watch a movie together! Diapers and all I guess I could understand but geez, maybe I should babysit for single parents as my second job instead :) I've always been lucky enough to use family or just not go out so not much help. Dang that’s a lot of money! Especially when the kids are old enough to not have to do much other then supervise or watch a movie together! Diapers and all I guess I could understand but geez, maybe I should babysit for single parents as my second job instead :)

I’ve always been lucky enough to use family or just not go out so not much help.

]]> By: Elizabethhttp://mssinglemama.com/2008/04/19/at-the-mercy-of-the-babysitters/#comment-1194 Elizabeth Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:32:42 +0000 http://mssinglemama.wordpress.com/?p=360#comment-1194 I date a single dad and he uses a service. (Childcare Solutions I think) He pays the girls, and the service. I think it ends up being about $15/hr. (three kids) But it ensures there is one scheduled every Saturday night. (Yay for me.) They have all been good and reliable. I date a single dad and he uses a service. (Childcare Solutions I think) He pays the girls, and the service. I think it ends up being about $15/hr. (three kids) But it ensures there is one scheduled every Saturday night. (Yay for me.) They have all been good and reliable.

]]> By: mssinglemamahttp://mssinglemama.com/2008/04/19/at-the-mercy-of-the-babysitters/#comment-1193 mssinglemama Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:44:47 +0000 http://mssinglemama.wordpress.com/?p=360#comment-1193 $15/hour! OMG! I thought I was paying on the higher end...sigh. $15/hour! OMG! I thought I was paying on the higher end…sigh.

]]> By: Angiehttp://mssinglemama.com/2008/04/19/at-the-mercy-of-the-babysitters/#comment-1192 Angie Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:15:34 +0000 http://mssinglemama.wordpress.com/?p=360#comment-1192 Ditto sparklingmama's sittercity.com idea. It is a fortune, however. Ditto sparklingmama’s sittercity.com idea. It is a fortune, however.

]]> By: singleworkingmommyhttp://mssinglemama.com/2008/04/19/at-the-mercy-of-the-babysitters/#comment-1191 singleworkingmommy Sun, 20 Apr 2008 12:10:56 +0000 http://mssinglemama.wordpress.com/?p=360#comment-1191 Matthew--lol. Would Kristy be the president? (you *are* kidding, right?) MSM--I second what MommyPie said. Try your daycare "teachers". Also, what sparkingmama said--other moms. My friends and I have this thing where we switch off watching babies. I watch theirs--they go out; then they watch mine, I go out. It also nice because Son has someone he can play with. Matthew–lol. Would Kristy be the president? (you *are* kidding, right?)

MSM–I second what MommyPie said. Try your daycare “teachers”. Also, what sparkingmama said–other moms. My friends and I have this thing where we switch off watching babies. I watch theirs–they go out; then they watch mine, I go out. It also nice because Son has someone he can play with.

]]> By: sparklingmamahttp://mssinglemama.com/2008/04/19/at-the-mercy-of-the-babysitters/#comment-1190 sparklingmama Sun, 20 Apr 2008 11:28:27 +0000 http://mssinglemama.wordpress.com/?p=360#comment-1190 Finding a good reliable babysitter is SO hard. It is something I am constantly struggling with as a single mom. The best babysitter I use right now is also a single mom. She watches my kids when her kids are with their dad. My kids adore her and she is extremely responsible. I have had a lot of luck finding sitters using sittercity.com. You might want to check it out and see if they have sitters in your area. I can't find a sitter to watch my 2 kids for less than $15/hour. It's pretty painful! Which is why I don't get out much. Finding a good reliable babysitter is SO hard. It is something I am constantly struggling with as a single mom. The best babysitter I use right now is also a single mom. She watches my kids when her kids are with their dad. My kids adore her and she is extremely responsible.

I have had a lot of luck finding sitters using sittercity.com. You might want to check it out and see if they have sitters in your area.

I can’t find a sitter to watch my 2 kids for less than $15/hour. It’s pretty painful! Which is why I don’t get out much.

]]> By: mscheevioushttp://mssinglemama.com/2008/04/19/at-the-mercy-of-the-babysitters/#comment-1189 mscheevious Sun, 20 Apr 2008 02:28:18 +0000 http://mssinglemama.wordpress.com/?p=360#comment-1189 Girlfriend you just need to do some serious networking with other moms - share lists. Call the neighborhood churches, where you feel they are not like the Branch Davidians, and they'll gladly post a notice. Also call some of the area prep-high school counselors and have them add you as an "employer." They are always trying to find jobs their students can do. If you want college age, do the same thing at the university level. It works! Also - the Red Cross teaches a babysitting class. You can post your "job" with them as well. :) Girlfriend you just need to do some serious networking with other moms – share lists. Call the neighborhood churches, where you feel they are not like the Branch Davidians, and they’ll gladly post a notice. Also call some of the area prep-high school counselors and have them add you as an “employer.” They are always trying to find jobs their students can do. If you want college age, do the same thing at the university level. It works! Also – the Red Cross teaches a babysitting class. You can post your “job” with them as well. :)

]]> By: mssinglemamahttp://mssinglemama.com/2008/04/19/at-the-mercy-of-the-babysitters/#comment-1188 mssinglemama Sun, 20 Apr 2008 01:39:53 +0000 http://mssinglemama.wordpress.com/?p=360#comment-1188 Matthew! I know!!! Is there a babysitter's club? Somebody help me! I think I'm actually going to give up. He had an amazing sitter during for the first 18 months. She watched him 3 days a week and knew him as well as I did. But, alas, she moved away. Ever since I just can't seem to find anyone as good. These dispassionate sitters scare me. I'd rather stay home than leave him with a total stranger who is blankly staring at me. Matthew! I know!!! Is there a babysitter’s club? Somebody help me!

I think I’m actually going to give up. He had an amazing sitter during for the first 18 months. She watched him 3 days a week and knew him as well as I did.

But, alas, she moved away. Ever since I just can’t seem to find anyone as good. These dispassionate sitters scare me. I’d rather stay home than leave him with a total stranger who is blankly staring at me.

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