How do you pay your college loans, car loans, rent, utilities, food, plus other basic living expenses on less than $20 per hour?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My established hourly rates start at 25/hr for one child.

Families who hire me say they want my proven ability to appropriately manage any situation that may arise. Anything. I can also solve virtually any parenting dilemma (so far). Of course not every parent will like my solutions, but they are successful, both in the short term and longterm. There needs to be an overall agreement of goals and methods. We are a team.

Well, good for you. However, I would never pay this amount for one child, unless my child had dramatic special needs or my situation was so uniquely demanding that no one wanted the job. And I don't need you to solve parenting dilemmas other than the one for which I'm hiring you - which is childcare while I'm working.

The OP should not, in any way, be led to think that $25/hr for one child is necessary or typical.

People such as yourself are happy with a warm body who returns your child seemingly unharmed at the end of the day. If your sitter does your housekeeping, all the better. Very few families want (and can afford) a professional. They usually have a FT housekeeper and sometimes even a driver for the nanny. Those who have a professional nanny understand and appreciate the difference.

No need to be obnoxious there "warm body" nanny poster. Very few people are looking to pay $25 an hour because they can hire a high quality, experienced, college-educated, socially refined, fit, and energetic nanny who is soooo much more than a "warm body" for $20 or less. And most of these nannies are free from narcissistic personality disorder and are not obsessed with deriving personal status from their employer's net worth. If you've been able to maintain a $25 rate outside of a share, good for you. But don't fool yourself into thinking that those families with "a driver for the nanny" are better parents getting better care for their kids. And don't fool yourself into thinking that you bring more to the table than the scores of other great nannies who manage to drive themselves around town.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My established hourly rates start at 25/hr for one child.

Families who hire me say they want my proven ability to appropriately manage any situation that may arise. Anything. I can also solve virtually any parenting dilemma (so far). Of course not every parent will like my solutions, but they are successful, both in the short term and longterm. There needs to be an overall agreement of goals and methods. We are a team.

Well, good for you. However, I would never pay this amount for one child, unless my child had dramatic special needs or my situation was so uniquely demanding that no one wanted the job. And I don't need you to solve parenting dilemmas other than the one for which I'm hiring you - which is childcare while I'm working.

The OP should not, in any way, be led to think that $25/hr for one child is necessary or typical.

People such as yourself are happy with a warm body who returns your child seemingly unharmed at the end of the day. If your sitter does your housekeeping, all the better. Very few families want (and can afford) a professional. They usually have a FT housekeeper and sometimes even a driver for the nanny. Those who have a professional nanny understand and appreciate the difference.

Wow, the PP sounds like a great nanny, and THAT's who you want. Someone who can ask these questions, think this way, and work with your 3 children this way. I do think these are great questions to ask. Starting with your budget is critical. How much do you currently pay for childcare and what could you afford without breaking your bank? I think the rest will fall out from there.