CM Club - If someone needed you til 10pm.......would you do it????

Some peoples logic never fails to amaze me either. As you say, a certain agency charges an hourly fee with 4 hour minimum, plus a booking fee and membership fee. Parents look at the hourly rate and compare that to the service we [childminders/nannies] provide, and then use the agency, when we may have been cheaper. Some people don't compare the full cost.
Like you, I don't like last minute enquiries - far prefer to build a relationship with parents & children, rather than do one-offs.

He he, this dawned on me that my babysitting rate I do thru agency is cheaper than my double time childminding rate, so when I advertised my on rate on my website for babysitting I made it £10 wheresas my highest minding rate would be £7 double time, and realised that it is usually easierfor me to do evenings at mine, it did not make sense to do their home for £5.35.
Also I had one enquiry for last min babysitting by a new prospective client, said it was £10 per hour, she wanted 2 -2 1/2 hours. or my agency rate (which she had phoned as well) was £5.35 with a 4 hour minumum, plus agency fee. she went with differnet agency costing £25 as I think she thought it was a fairer charge although it cost her more! realise now that £10 is right rate for me to quote as not really keen to do last minute enquiries and also it states on my site that lower rates are available for long term arrangments so i can charge less if I actually WANT to do it that night. but YES peoples logical never fails to amaze me.

well people do try and do whatever is cheaper for them unfortunatly it seems for me at least putting the price before their childrens routine/rest..i have also been asked to work full day from 6.30am with one child, then at 6.30pm when my rate changes to overnight, that i drive her to HER house and babysit in her homeuntil gone 10pm(as this is cheaper than my overnight fee)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
guess what i said!

Ueah quite agree, my regular contract was for a 12 yr old so that was not so bad, as had seperate liounge so he could lay on sofa in there when wanted so dosing time, but was still capable of walikng to car at 10pm. Other child was 2 and heavy sleeper so mum just wrapped her up and carried her to car, then bed, but that problem now solved as my sister who is my regiaster assistant and has seen her weekly since 6 months old now babysits for her on the occasional late nights taking her home from mine at 7 and letting her get ready for bed in her own home, its worked for everyione. Think I may set an 8pm curfew also now I am registered for overnight care. good plan Pink Chick

youve just spurred me on to send out newsletter detailing that i NO longer work past 8.30 due to keeping childs welfare in mind, i WILL do overnights still though so any later than 8.30 has to be overnight!

hi chick i know youve passed on this but i do, did rather offer late finishes and one mindee who was 3 was staying until 10pm...never again, its not fair on them and parent kept coming late..by about 30-45 mins!!, that is totally out of order when collecting that time of night!

Its OK, right now single is a good option. He's been on his new blardy fishing boat all weekend, and just keeps barking instructions at me! I have just had 'Oi Mo, I need an old jug for making up some paste.' Funnily enough, once a jug is old, I throw it away, not keep it to mix paste in! I'm sick of taking about boats too! IM NOT INTERESTED!!! The sooner he gets it in the water, the better. Then maybe he'll sail away for a couple of days and LEAVE ME IN PEACE!

Anyway, I'm sure we'll discuss this lots more during the week in the staf room. There'll be loads more ideas and advice there as well. I'm off to clear out my wardrobes now, having already done the garden toys, toy boxes, dresser drawers and book case drawers! Phew!

done loads of shift work from paretns and it does interfere with family life, sleep etc, but if its for teh right family you can both make it work for both. from sound of text this sounds like a caring parent trying to make best of her future while partner in irratic job situation. It good partner is going to do the awkward bits when he avialable as that suggests they both work together for the betterment of family life, and that usually makes a happier more settled child who will hopefully cope well with the situation. good Luck. ps perhaps you can ask for some knid of minumum weekly income whatever she needs you, with a maximum of odd shifts per month etc. she may not be able to afford it but she is unlikely to offer if you dont raise the subject.

Good point. It maybe that the mother would actually prefer over night care, but doesn't know that its possible. I think lots more e-mails to her might be needed! It might be worth mentioning at the outset that its by no means a done deal, just because you're asking loads of questions.

I think you need to do some serious thinking! I actually don't think it sound too bad. It does mean, of course, that you will be working shifts as well, but it could work out rather well. She sound like a lovely lady actually. (Dispite my initial thoughts!) She also sounds like she'd be very grateful if you could accommodate her! The other thing you need to consider, if how long she may need you for, because its going to make filling other places more dificult, if any of your others leave. I know you can do it now, but if anything changes with other mindees it might be a problem. You need to do a spreadsheet type thing! Work it all though and make sure DH is OK with it. Its not just about the money! Ultimately, I think it could work and work well & pay well. Once you get over the initial shock of doing shifts, it'll be OK.

I wouldn't. I enjoy my evenings too much.

Looneytune, is that 5.45 at night? If so then most day workers will have gone home so you would only have one child and it will not interfere with spaces during office hours.

As someone who used to work shifts (nurse) I now CM and offer care to shift workers because I felt there was a gap in requirements and availability in my area. Although currently I don't have any. I have a rate for 7-7 then time and a half for 7-10pm. I also have a night rate from 10-7am. I do also offer weekends. Remember that not offering this is the difference between a good and bad standard of living for a child, if the parent cannot work.

Ooops! DH has spotted me! I'll be back!

Which is exactly why I haven' got time to be on here today Henni!! I didn't even get on here yesterday until 10.30pm! I've still got to tidy all the toys and wash and sterilise them and thats before I notice I've got a daughter who is dying to do something and think about something for dinner tonight!