Family Wanting Childcare

[Anonymous]

Nannies,

Do you often have family members asking you to care for their children? My sister does this too me all the time and assumes that I love being around children 24/7. She even throws in the "I wouldn't trust anyone else but you with them". I so badly want to say, "Neither would my bosses but they also PAY me". We live about an hour away from each other so when she does ask, it's not just for a night, it's for the entire weekend. She asked me to do it at least seven times this summer and I have had plans for most of the times. I really do love seeing my niece and nephew but not enough to give up my weekends. Gr.

[Anonymous]

They are taking advantage...just tell them while you love the kids your full time job is child care and you need time to relax and do what you want to do. I have one friend who likes to visit and seems to think it's her break time from her baby and will do nothing while the baby cries and I tend to him. I had to just stop being so helpful and she finally has gotten better about it. I play with him, but I still relax and if he needs something I just force her to deal by ignoring it.

[Anonymous]

I give my siblings 6 days/nights up to 144 hours a year for free any additional sitting needed is given at a reduced rate and then only up to 48 hours at a time.

[Anonymous]

My sister-in-law (who should not have had a child) asked me to sit pretty much every week starting when Baby was 4 weeks old. It got to the point where I finally had to tell her "Honestly SIL, I spend 45-50 hours a week with children. By the time I get off work I really just want adult time." She no longer asks constantly so now I'm more likely to consent to the occasional evening. And, she pays me my hourly rate, cause of she has enough money to go party with her girlfriend's then she had enough money to properly compensate me for my time.

[Anonymous]

I literally just came out of this with my own sister. I just kept saying 'no' until she got the point