I am getting frustrated with childcare arrangement

[Anonymous]

I am a stay-at-home mom and last month I agreed to do baby-sitting for another mom I met at a play group. Our children are both 2 and they play well together. The initial arrangement was supposed to be every other week as the child is with her dad every other week. The mom has been cancelling a lot. I have never had her a full week. Today the mom tells me that her father can't pick up the child so she needs to stay with me until 10 pm tonight. Her mom started a new job recently. She explained this in the beginning but she said her parents could pickup the child earlier. There are lots of issues and I am not sure how to go about trying to fix this. Would it be easier to quit? This mom is clueless and I really don't need the extra income.

[Anonymous]

Just tell her "Charlotte is lovely but this constant schedule changing is not working for me so as of next week you'll have to find other arrangements. Tomorrow will be the last day I can watch Charlotte."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just tell her "Charlotte is lovely but this constant schedule changing is not working for me so as of next week you'll have to find other arrangements. Tomorrow will be the last day I can watch Charlotte."

I agree with PP. just tell her it’s not working out anymore

[Anonymous]

Explain to her that you need a consistent schedule and tell her you can only work until 6 pm (or whatever time). See how she responds.

[Anonymous]

If you enjoy having her, you could also make it a less formal arrangement and tell her that you can't promise to be available since she's cancelling so often, but that if you are available, you'll watch her. And then you can decide on a case-by-case basis if the hours she needs work for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you enjoy having her, you could also make it a less formal arrangement and tell her that you can't promise to be available since she's cancelling so often, but that if you are available, you'll watch her. And then you can decide on a case-by-case basis if the hours she needs work for you.

OP here. Thank you. I DO really enjoy having her. My son is an only child and it's been great. I will suggest this option to her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you enjoy having her, you could also make it a less formal arrangement and tell her that you can't promise to be available since she's cancelling so often, but that if you are available, you'll watch her. And then you can decide on a case-by-case basis if the hours she needs work for you.

OP here. Thank you. I DO really enjoy having her. My son is an only child and it's been great. I will suggest this option to her.

+1

This sounds like the best thing to do moving forward.

Good luck OP & please keep us updated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just tell her "Charlotte is lovely but this constant schedule changing is not working for me so as of next week you'll have to find other arrangements. Tomorrow will be the last day I can watch Charlotte."

Plus, staying after 5 pm is a no go.