You must be kidding.

June 22, 2008 kaitlyncrenshaw

So I have tentatively found a job! Yay. MWF 9-4, $230 a week, and I’ll have to get a second afternoon job.

Then tonight, some people emailed me from craigslist. They need a sitter MWF 8-4, around 25 hours per week, and wanted to know my rates. I told them $300/week, which is what I normally charge- $12 an hour. They called about 5 minutes ago and said, “Hi, we’re the people that just emailed you. We just wanted to let you know- there is no WAY we would be able to pay you $300 a week. I’m a medic and he’s a something-or-another. We pay our babysitter now $75 a week.”

1) The reason you pay a nanny more is because she’s not a 13 year old girl (aka “babysitter”) looking to make some cash to blow on lip gloss and babydoll tees at the mall.

2) $75 a week? A WEEK? Even taking a serious pay cut at my new job, I’ll make that in a day.

3) $75 a week divided by 25 hours work is $3 an hour. Did you know gas is $4 a gallon? Also, did you know $3 an hour is poverty wages?

4) Have you ever heard of a daycare? Try one in Frasier. They should be able to help you out for $3 an hour.

In all seriousness it shocks the hell out of me that people are so stingy about paying for their childcare. If you won’t pay good money for someone to take care of your own flesh and blood, what are you going to pay for? Prada bags and $400 car notes for your Escalade? Okay, meanness aside, if $75 a week is all you can afford, that’s fine. But don’t waste my time and don’t insult me. Call a low-rate daycare (because yes, even most daycares charge way more than $75 a week) or an old lady on a fixed income who needs a few extra bucks at the end of the month.

And what bugs me the most is that I know these people thought I was CRAZY for asking for that kind of money. Being a nanny is hard work. Just because I don’t have my degree yet doesn’t mean I’m not as professional a childcare giver as you’ll find.

Though I want the best for Henley, I secretly selfishly wish the Robertsons would stay.

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