Top three things that parents do to annoy babysitters:

[Anonymous]

I have never been a sitter, but I thought it would only be fair to see it two ways.

[Anonymous]

Come in late and pretend they don't acknowledge it. They look at the microwave clock while checking on JR sitting on the high chair and say OOOOOOHHHHH SOOOOOOORRY I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE LATE!!! and pay you only for the hours they said they would be out, leaving out the "late time"

[Anonymous]

Saying they want a regular babysitter but only using your services a couple times a year. Yet agitated when you can't babysit for them some random weekend like New Years Eve!

One lady worked as a bartender/stripper/shot girl for about 6 weeks...just long enough to pay for a breast reduction and then let me go. In the interview she said several times that she was looking for someone who could make a long term commitment because she doesnt like people in and out of her children's lives. I saw her at Target and she was so orange and fake I didnt even recognize her.

[Anonymous]

Are either of these threads productive?

[Anonymous]

They should be eye openers to both sides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are either of these threads productive?

Yes.

Is your statement? No.

[Anonymous]

I guess I'm a softie then b/c I not only pay the extra time we're late, but I round up especially if it wasn't planned and is encroaching on her plans or bedtime.

I also usually pay a bonus to the babysitter if we're running later than I thought and/or we called her and she came over on short notice (<24 hours advance). I always explain that it's a bonus over her hourly rate b/c she was able to come at the last minute - - the upside for me is that in the future she knows we'll pay more for this and is usually always available (or willing to cancel her other job, lol) for us on short notice.

[Anonymous]

I babysat for years. As a parent now, I always round-up to the nearest hour of when we arrive home. I always leave dinner for DC and babysitter. I always show babysitter how to use the remote on the TV before I go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess I'm a softie then b/c I not only pay the extra time we're late, but I round up especially if it wasn't planned and is encroaching on her plans or bedtime.

I also usually pay a bonus to the babysitter if we're running later than I thought and/or we called her and she came over on short notice (<24 hours advance). I always explain that it's a bonus over her hourly rate b/c she was able to come at the last minute - - the upside for me is that in the future she knows we'll pay more for this and is usually always available (or willing to cancel her other job, lol) for us on short notice.

you sound nice.

I had a family asking if I had change. They owed me 58 bucks and they only had 20's.

I could not believe!! I had no change on me and they asked if I minded having them discounting the 2 bucks from the next time.
No need to tell that I drove by their home next day dropped the 2 bucks in their mailbox with a note saying HERE IT IS THE 2 BUCKS I OWE YOU and I never picked their calls again.

[Anonymous]

I give combat pay when it looks warranted!

[Anonymous]

The most annoying thing to me is when parents who let their kids watch tv all day, then tell me they can't watch it. I spend the whole time fight with the kid, trying to get them to do something else besides watch tv.

[Anonymous]

Or when they take forever to leave, or keep poping in and out. I work for a stay at home mom during the day and the kids are total brats when she's around and angels when she's not. And if she disrupts lunch, which is often, they hardly eat

[Anonymous]

1) when they are late and they dont txt me or call me
2) when they are late and they dont pay me for the min..extra hours
3) when they dont leave anything for me to eat
4) when they tell me not to eat their ORGANIC FOOD
5)when they tell me not to put the kids in front of the TV since thats were what the kids were doing 2 mins a go
6)ask me if I DONT MIND staying 1 or 2 more hours everyfriday
7) when the parents call all day long to CHECK but they forget that a few seconds on the phonesometimes I can loose them at the playground since they are a bratz

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The most annoying thing to me is when parents who let their kids watch tv all day, then tell me they can't watch it. I spend the whole time fight with the kid, trying to get them to do something else besides watch tv.

The difference is babysitters are being PAID to watch and interact with the children. If I wanted to sit them in front of the tv all day I wouldn't need to pay a babysitter. If I'm paying you $10.00 an hour or more, you better believe I expect you to interact with the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The most annoying thing to me is when parents who let their kids watch tv all day, then tell me they can't watch it. I spend the whole time fight with the kid, trying to get them to do something else besides watch tv.

The difference is babysitters are being PAID to watch and interact with the children. If I wanted to sit them in front of the tv all day I wouldn't need to pay a babysitter. If I'm paying you $10.00 an hour or more, you better believe I expect you to interact with the kids.

Trust me I do play with the kids, I charge around 15 an hour I bring my own games and supplies, so I really try to get the kids to do something. I am talking about the kids (and there have been a few). Who watch tv ALL the time with mom and are adictted to it. They fight me and refuse to do anything else unless it's the tv.

Or the family who I used to sit for frequently who had about half hour of TV as part of the bedtime rountine while they got the baby ready for bed. Then tell me no tv so the two oldest would either fight with each other or come in the babies room while I was trying to get her to sleep.
Honestly I hate tv, I only watch it on rare occasions and I get bored quite easily with childrens shows but it's hard to deal with the but mommy let's us do it.