Coming home early to babysitter

[Anonymous]

Last Saturday I had our new sitter come over and I told her 6-10:30pm. I got home at 9:30. I still paid her for the full time because I figured she had made herself available and is counting on those hours. Is this the way it's done? Just wanted confirmation.

[Anonymous]

Typically, yes. Whenever I have done temp nanny work or babysitting jobs, there is a four hour minimum.

[Anonymous]

Yes, pay her for the time you booked her. Particularly if you want to use her again.

[Anonymous]

At least your paying I think most people think I work for free.

[Anonymous]

I just say how much I pay per hour and when to start. I don't give an end time because I'm an adult and don't have a curfew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just say how much I pay per hour and when to start. I don't give an end time because I'm an adult and don't have a curfew.

Are you serious? I'm a mom and I get that you don't want to be tied down to an arrival time, but you can't give someone the basic courtesy of giving them a ballpark of when you'll be home? The difference between coming home at 9:30pm and 1:00am is huge to someone waiting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just say how much I pay per hour and when to start. I don't give an end time because I'm an adult and don't have a curfew.

Are you serious? I'm a mom and I get that you don't want to be tied down to an arrival time, but you can't give someone the basic courtesy of giving them a ballpark of when you'll be home? The difference between coming home at 9:30pm and 1:00am is huge to someone waiting.

We give our babysitter a ballpark estimate and tell her we'll let her know if we expect to be later. But we don't give a set endtime for evening babysitting (different if we need a babysitter during the day).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just say how much I pay per hour and when to start. I don't give an end time because I'm an adult and don't have a curfew.

Are you serious? I'm a mom and I get that you don't want to be tied down to an arrival time, but you can't give someone the basic courtesy of giving them a ballpark of when you'll be home? The difference between coming home at 9:30pm and 1:00am is huge to someone waiting.

I agree her approach (and tone) are rude, but that is what most parents do. I always ask for an estimate end time, so I know if I can plan to go out after, but unless I had big plans and made that clear, I'm fine if you show up a little late.

As far as OPs question, I wouldn't demand payment for unused time, but I do have a 4 hour minimum, and if it happened frequently I would cease accepting jobs from you. So paying the full amount for the time you booked is a great way to maintain a positive relationship with your sitter!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just say how much I pay per hour and when to start. I don't give an end time because I'm an adult and don't have a curfew.

Are you serious? I'm a mom and I get that you don't want to be tied down to an arrival time, but you can't give someone the basic courtesy of giving them a ballpark of when you'll be home? The difference between coming home at 9:30pm and 1:00am is huge to someone waiting.

Of course I'm serious. If a babysitter is too stupid to calculate roughly how long we'll be gone when we say we're going out for drinks before an 8pm dinner reservation and then to a movie, then she's too stupid to be working for us. As an adult, I will NOT be tied down to when I have to come home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just say how much I pay per hour and when to start. I don't give an end time because I'm an adult and don't have a curfew.

Are you serious? I'm a mom and I get that you don't want to be tied down to an arrival time, but you can't give someone the basic courtesy of giving them a ballpark of when you'll be home? The difference between coming home at 9:30pm and 1:00am is huge to someone waiting.

Of course I'm serious. If a babysitter is too stupid to calculate roughly how long we'll be gone when we say we're going out for drinks before an 8pm dinner reservation and then to a movie, then she's too stupid to be working for us. As an adult, I will NOT be tied down to when I have to come home.

So when you don't come home until 7 am the next morning and I've been up worried all night and have probably called cps for child abandonment you won't be upset. Be ause you WON'T be tied down to a time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just say how much I pay per hour and when to start. I don't give an end time because I'm an adult and don't have a curfew.

Are you serious? I'm a mom and I get that you don't want to be tied down to an arrival time, but you can't give someone the basic courtesy of giving them a ballpark of when you'll be home? The difference between coming home at 9:30pm and 1:00am is huge to someone waiting.

Of course I'm serious. If a babysitter is too stupid to calculate roughly how long we'll be gone when we say we're going out for drinks before an 8pm dinner reservation and then to a movie, then she's too stupid to be working for us. As an adult, I will NOT be tied down to when I have to come home.

So when you don't come home until 7 am the next morning and I've been up worried all night and have probably called cps for child abandonment you won't be upset. Be ause you WON'T be tied down to a time.

Right, because I'm not ridiculous. Do a little addition in your brain based on what I've said we're doing, and figure out a rough estimate. If something comes up, like we run into friends and get invited to a wine bar, then I let the babysitter know. All I'm saying is I won't have someone meeting me at the door with a disapproving glare at 1:15 am because I said I'd be home around 12:30.

[Anonymous]

I like a rough estimate or a text saying we are going to be a little later then expected. I like to know if I'm going to get to sleep tonight or if ill be able to get to my job in the morning

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just say how much I pay per hour and when to start. I don't give an end time because I'm an adult and don't have a curfew.

Are you serious? I'm a mom and I get that you don't want to be tied down to an arrival time, but you can't give someone the basic courtesy of giving them a ballpark of when you'll be home? The difference between coming home at 9:30pm and 1:00am is huge to someone waiting.

Of course I'm serious. If a babysitter is too stupid to calculate roughly how long we'll be gone when we say we're going out for drinks before an 8pm dinner reservation and then to a movie, then she's too stupid to be working for us. As an adult, I will NOT be tied down to when I have to come home.

So when you don't come home until 7 am the next morning and I've been up worried all night and have probably called cps for child abandonment you won't be upset. Be ause you WON'T be tied down to a time.

Right, because I'm not ridiculous. Do a little addition in your brain based on what I've said we're doing, and figure out a rough estimate. If something comes up, like we run into friends and get invited to a wine bar, then I let the babysitter know. All I'm saying is I won't have someone meeting me at the door with a disapproving glare at 1:15 am because I said I'd be home around 12:30.

You're a piece of work. That you can keep a babysitter (or a husband or friends for that matter) is a wonder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just say how much I pay per hour and when to start. I don't give an end time because I'm an adult and don't have a curfew.

Are you serious? I'm a mom and I get that you don't want to be tied down to an arrival time, but you can't give someone the basic courtesy of giving them a ballpark of when you'll be home? The difference between coming home at 9:30pm and 1:00am is huge to someone waiting.

Of course I'm serious. If a babysitter is too stupid to calculate roughly how long we'll be gone when we say we're going out for drinks before an 8pm dinner reservation and then to a movie, then she's too stupid to be working for us. As an adult, I will NOT be tied down to when I have to come home.

So when you don't come home until 7 am the next morning and I've been up worried all night and have probably called cps for child abandonment you won't be upset. Be ause you WON'T be tied down to a time.

Right, because I'm not ridiculous. Do a little addition in your brain based on what I've said we're doing, and figure out a rough estimate. If something comes up, like we run into friends and get invited to a wine bar, then I let the babysitter know. All I'm saying is I won't have someone meeting me at the door with a disapproving glare at 1:15 am because I said I'd be home around 12:30.

That would be the last time I would babysit for you.
If you tell the sitter an end time, being 45 minutes late is unacceptable.
I don't give a damn if you don't want me giving you a disapproving look. Come home later than you told me and I'll tell you to your face that I don't like it.
You are nasty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just say how much I pay per hour and when to start. I don't give an end time because I'm an adult and don't have a curfew.

Are you serious? I'm a mom and I get that you don't want to be tied down to an arrival time, but you can't give someone the basic courtesy of giving them a ballpark of when you'll be home? The difference between coming home at 9:30pm and 1:00am is huge to someone waiting.

Of course I'm serious. If a babysitter is too stupid to calculate roughly how long we'll be gone when we say we're going out for drinks before an 8pm dinner reservation and then to a movie, then she's too stupid to be working for us. As an adult, I will NOT be tied down to when I have to come home.

So when you don't come home until 7 am the next morning and I've been up worried all night and have probably called cps for child abandonment you won't be upset. Be ause you WON'T be tied down to a time.

Right, because I'm not ridiculous. Do a little addition in your brain based on what I've said we're doing, and figure out a rough estimate. If something comes up, like we run into friends and get invited to a wine bar, then I let the babysitter know. All I'm saying is I won't have someone meeting me at the door with a disapproving glare at 1:15 am because I said I'd be home around 12:30.

Wow, PP - I don't think your concept is off-base, but your tone definitely is. Why the nastiness? Why not just say "I generally let my sitter know what our plans are, but don't give her a definite time we will be home in case we end up staying out a little longer than originally planned"?