Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am paying our part time summer nanny $20 an hour to care for one 3 yo girl. She is a college student. We also had a regular babysitter during the school year who we paid $20. The babysitter tried to tell me that was "average," which I thought was laughable. I think $20 is top dollar.

For the $20 the summer nanny uses downtime to run errands for me, clean up around the house (mostly kid related), make lunches, etc. I like knowing that because I pay her a generous rate, she is willing to do a little extra for me when I need it.

Is this in DC? Because I get well over $20 an hour as a summer nanny and I would never run errands for the family, I never stay late, I only watch the kids and play. I make really basic meals and snacks. I don't think $20 is top dollar. $20 is pretty average.

Well then, you and I would not be a good match. My summer nanny is terrific. You sound like a phone-it-in kind of person. And yes, I,am in DC.

Why does every discussion always come down to this: "My nanny is better because she will do non-child related chores?" I hired our nanny to ONLY play, read and engage our children. This is exactly what I wanted and what I needed. I do not want her taking one second away from running their butts off at the park or reading to them to do anything else. She is an excellent nanny and doesn't "phone it in" because she doesn't run our family errands and I respect her enough to never ask her to stay late (unless planned far in advance and agreed upon).
Please - I'm getting so tired of this same old argument.

Well, your perspective is narrow-minded in my opinion. Children don't exist in a vacuum. My child is a part of a larger household and when everything is running smoothly, she is happier. My nanny can do the extras AND keep my daughter fully engaged. It isn't one or the other. If I need her to pick up dry cleaning, they can ride over there together while singing songs on the radio, she can teach my daughter about the different forms of currency, whatever. I question the attitude reflected by the statement that "I would never run errands for the family." it seems to come from a place of defensiveness, like by asking my nanny to get the dry cleaning I am demeaning her or disrespecting her childcare skills. I certainly am not. And to suggest that I do not respect her because I ask her to stay late is also too simplistic. She understands my line of work, that it can be unpredictable, I compensate her very well for extra time, she gets as much notice as I can possibly give, if she says she cannot do it then I accept her response with no further questions asked, and she and I agreed on this at the outset. I see it as a win-win. My child needs a companion and a role model during the day, and I feel she is getting both. I don't think she needs someone to cater to her literally non-stop. That's completely unrealistic.

Anonymous wrote:In my experience, good will has to go both ways. I demand adequate pay because I insist on giving the best childcare. To me that is what MBs should expect in exchange for their cash. Goodwill on the other hand is about mutual respect. You can not buy my generosity, you can only earn it by treating me the way you want to be treated. One MB asked me to take DC to my house because they had something going on at home. DCs diaper leaked and covered my pillows and bed with poop. The small laundry machines in my apartment building would have meant doing several small loads and drying each one twice or even three times for a comforter and paying $15 for it. Instead, MB took my bedding to a laundry center that had large machines. Paid for the professional laundry service, including a small fortune to have it done same day, and then returned it to me at 11 at night so that I would have clean bedding and get to sleep at a reasonable hour. So, when she asked me to sit in a hospital waiting room while her grandmother was being treated in ICU, I just showed up and I made sure DC was fed, entertained, and soothed for the next five hours so that MB could focus on her grandmother. I didn't interrogate her about whether it would be paid. I did not even ask her how many hours she would need. I decided I would give what I could and leave when I couldn't do it anymore.

THAT is the type of mutuality you need to be prepared to maintain in your relationships if you want someone to support you in a bind. You don't get it by paying for it. You must earn it. Nannies too, we can't expect to give the bare minimum - childcare only - and get the maximum benefit in return. I could have easily been left with a roll of quarters and a long night ahead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am paying our part time summer nanny $20 an hour to care for one 3 yo girl. She is a college student. We also had a regular babysitter during the school year who we paid $20. The babysitter tried to tell me that was "average," which I thought was laughable. I think $20 is top dollar.

For the $20 the summer nanny uses downtime to run errands for me, clean up around the house (mostly kid related), make lunches, etc. I like knowing that because I pay her a generous rate, she is willing to do a little extra for me when I need it.

Is this in DC? Because I get well over $20 an hour as a summer nanny and I would never run errands for the family, I never stay late, I only watch the kids and play. I make really basic meals and snacks. I don't think $20 is top dollar. $20 is pretty average.

Well then, you and I would not be a good match. My summer nanny is terrific. You sound like a phone-it-in kind of person. And yes, I,am in DC.

Why does every discussion always come down to this: "My nanny is better because she will do non-child related chores?" I hired our nanny to ONLY play, read and engage our children. This is exactly what I wanted and what I needed. I do not want her taking one second away from running their butts off at the park or reading to them to do anything else. She is an excellent nanny and doesn't "phone it in" because she doesn't run our family errands and I respect her enough to never ask her to stay late (unless planned far in advance and agreed upon).
Please - I'm getting so tired of this same old argument.

Well, your perspective is narrow-minded in my opinion. Children don't exist in a vacuum. My child is a part of a larger household and when everything is running smoothly, she is happier. My nanny can do the extras AND keep my daughter fully engaged. It isn't one or the other. If I need her to pick up dry cleaning, they can ride over there together while singing songs on the radio, she can teach my daughter about the different forms of currency, whatever. I question the attitude reflected by the statement that "I would never run errands for the family." it seems to come from a place of defensiveness, like by asking my nanny to get the dry cleaning I am demeaning her or disrespecting her childcare skills. I certainly am not. And to suggest that I do not respect her because I ask her to stay late is also too simplistic. She understands my line of work, that it can be unpredictable, I compensate her very well for extra time, she gets as much notice as I can possibly give, if she says she cannot do it then I accept her response with no further questions asked, and she and I agreed on this at the outset. I see it as a win-win. My child needs a companion and a role model during the day, and I feel she is getting both. I don't think she needs someone to cater to her literally non-stop. That's completely unrealistic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am paying our part time summer nanny $20 an hour to care for one 3 yo girl. She is a college student. We also had a regular babysitter during the school year who we paid $20. The babysitter tried to tell me that was "average," which I thought was laughable. I think $20 is top dollar.

For the $20 the summer nanny uses downtime to run errands for me, clean up around the house (mostly kid related), make lunches, etc. I like knowing that because I pay her a generous rate, she is willing to do a little extra for me when I need it.

Is this in DC? Because I get well over $20 an hour as a summer nanny and I would never run errands for the family, I never stay late, I only watch the kids and play. I make really basic meals and snacks. I don't think $20 is top dollar. $20 is pretty average.

Well then, you and I would not be a good match. My summer nanny is terrific. You sound like a phone-it-in kind of person. And yes, I,am in DC.

Why does every discussion always come down to this: "My nanny is better because she will do non-child related chores?" I hired our nanny to ONLY play, read and engage our children. This is exactly what I wanted and what I needed. I do not want her taking one second away from running their butts off at the park or reading to them to do anything else. She is an excellent nanny and doesn't "phone it in" because she doesn't run our family errands and I respect her enough to never ask her to stay late (unless planned far in advance and agreed upon).
Please - I'm getting so tired of this same old argument.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am paying our part time summer nanny $20 an hour to care for one 3 yo girl. She is a college student. We also had a regular babysitter during the school year who we paid $20. The babysitter tried to tell me that was "average," which I thought was laughable. I think $20 is top dollar.

For the $20 the summer nanny uses downtime to run errands for me, clean up around the house (mostly kid related), make lunches, etc. I like knowing that because I pay her a generous rate, she is willing to do a little extra for me when I need it.

Is this in DC? Because I get well over $20 an hour as a summer nanny and I would never run errands for the family, I never stay late, I only watch the kids and play. I make really basic meals and snacks. I don't think $20 is top dollar. $20 is pretty average.

Well then, you and I would not be a good match. My summer nanny is terrific. You sound like a phone-it-in kind of person. And yes, I,am in DC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am paying our part time summer nanny $20 an hour to care for one 3 yo girl. She is a college student. We also had a regular babysitter during the school year who we paid $20. The babysitter tried to tell me that was "average," which I thought was laughable. I think $20 is top dollar.

For the $20 the summer nanny uses downtime to run errands for me, clean up around the house (mostly kid related), make lunches, etc. I like knowing that because I pay her a generous rate, she is willing to do a little extra for me when I need it.

Is this in DC? Because I get well over $20 an hour as a summer nanny and I would never run errands for the family, I never stay late, I only watch the kids and play. I make really basic meals and snacks. I don't think $20 is top dollar. $20 is pretty average.

Anonymous wrote:I am paying our part time summer nanny $20 an hour to care for one 3 yo girl. She is a college student. We also had a regular babysitter during the school year who we paid $20. The babysitter tried to tell me that was "average," which I thought was laughable. I think $20 is top dollar.

For the $20 the summer nanny uses downtime to run errands for me, clean up around the house (mostly kid related), make lunches, etc. I like knowing that because I pay her a generous rate, she is willing to do a little extra for me when I need it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My rate is $20 to $25 an hour ($20 for one child). And like PP, I have not gotten offers from a few potential employers because of my rate so I agree that OP is not out of line thinking $20 is too expensive. With my current position, (one infant) I accepted $18 an hour because I could walk to work and in my area (not DC) that is a HUGE plus.

Maybe a more expensive nanny would be willing to lower her rate for a similar perk, OP. If you really like the $20/hourly nanny, OP, ask her if you can negotiate.

She expressed a willingness to negotiate but I originally posted to figure out what would be a fair rate. I was just really surprised by the $20 figure. I'm still fairly shocked. I guess we always had great sitters that charged a lot less.

Anonymous wrote:My rate is $20 to $25 an hour ($20 for one child). And like PP, I have not gotten offers from a few potential employers because of my rate so I agree that OP is not out of line thinking $20 is too expensive. With my current position, (one infant) I accepted $18 an hour because I could walk to work and in my area (not DC) that is a HUGE plus.

Maybe a more expensive nanny would be willing to lower her rate for a similar perk, OP. If you really like the $20/hourly nanny, OP, ask her if you can negotiate.