I have a project due in a couple of months, which necessitates getting a babysitter for June. I’m torn because I want to turn in a killer project and I need plenty of time to do it, but on the other I’m not thrilled about farming out my kid when she’s only two months old.
So I’ve been making some calls trying to find halfway decent childcare around here. Some friends recommended their babysitter — an older woman who watches 4-5 kids at her home. I provide the bottles, diapers, wipes, etc, and she provides, as she said, “the love and kisses.”
I asked her how much she charges. Her response: $15 a day.
Not $15 an hour. $15 A DAY.
Furthermore, this price is the same whether you drop off your child for “two hours or eight hours.”
I mentioned this to my friend Maria, who asked, “What does $15 get you? A drawer? Will June end up in a drawer all day?”
And yet my friends who keep their kids with this woman have nothing but nice things to say about her. Maybe she charges so little because she’s a longtime country gal who doesn’t know the true value of her services and hasn’t kept up with inflation/taxes/eating food besides squirrels or June really will spend her day in a drawer in a back bedroom.
The woman invited me over tomorrow afternoon to suss her out. I can’t lie: I’m intrigued. And a little bit scared. Stay tuned.
All original content © 2012 by Jessie Knadler
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh, honey you are too funny. Can’t wait to know what is in store next!
Jealous! She sounds like the real deal, there are some of those out there, somewhere, still. Keep us posted, Karen
Karen: I called your friend who she said she wasn’t doing any sitting right now. So I had to call this lady — we’ll see what she says. Thanks for the contact!
Here in Belgium there are a lot of women who work the way your maybe-future-nanny does. My two girls were very happy about it, I think! It keeps your child in a family way of living, there aren’t too many kids screaming around, and I was very happy to find my baby relaxing in a nice garden when I came to pick her up. If you have a good feeling about the woman, go for it!!!
Hi Isabelle: (I didn’t realize you were writing me from Belgium!) June and I check out the $15 p/day babysitter today. If I don’t see any baby’s arms sticking out of various drawers, I might just go for it.
LOL, that’s another Karen, Jessie. I hope this lady works out for you. For the record, I’m jealous too. I pay more than $15 a day per child and I have to buy food too. But they do get fresh Knadler eggs when it’s my turn to send in a dozen.