When you go out for dinner

[Soootiredman]

How long would you typically stay out for?

I’m babysitting (it pays €18 per hour where I am, can’t turn it down!)

Lovely parents, dinner was booked for 9.30, the mum texted and said they got seated a bit earlier..just after 9

Wheh would you leave the restaurant/return home?

How long would your dinner last?

Ive been running around with my 5 year old today, I’m tired 😂

I'd probably expect them to leave the restaurant 2 hours after being seated (or less, depending on the type of restaurant). But if they don't go out much and were planning to go for a drink afterwards (understandable) then it's anyone's guess...

If I was seated at 9 and had a leisurely dinner and a drink after I would probably be done by 11. However if I was in the mood for a night out and had no commitments the next day it could be midnight.

My immediate reaction is you are being paid in euros , they have gone out for dinner in August. 1 am . Expect a call at 12 asking if you can do a bit longer! If it's as hot and lovely as it is here they will not be rushing home ( amazing rate btw)

This is basically how it goes with my babysitter- sorry for bad news.

A couple of hours in a standard restaurant, but if babysitting, I'd factor in three hours including getting there and back etc

Maybe 2 hours in the restaurant on a Sunday (school) night?

We’d normally book dinner for 8 and be home about 11/11.30 so I’d say midnight ish

Did you not discuss this beforehand? Personally I wouldn’t agree to babysit with no set hours. For example, they could turn up after 30 minutes and only pay you €9, or they could stay out til 3am.

It’s not a school night as it’s the school holidays and they’re here on holiday
We didn’t discuss beforehand, I don’t mind midnight so it would be ok, I personally would say 2 hours for dinner, I’m imaging home just after 11

Midnight I’d say

@sofasofa42 Where are you?

Amazing rate for me or for them?

Can you not just go to bed? Is your child there too?

If they are on holiday then I would say about 1 but they should have agreed with you first. Are you staying in the one place? Could you go to bed and listen out for the kids or do you need to travel hoke when they come back?

I can’t understand why you are starting a thread about this on MN and didn’t discuss it with the people who booked your services?! No one here can have a clue when they’re going to be home!

@Whyohwhywyoming 😂Calm down, it’s ok. I was just asking on average people stay out for dinner

My Dd is at home with dh

Cant fall asleep, I drive home when they’re back -10-15 minutes drive, not too far

I generally wouldn't arrange a set time to be home with the babysitter if I were going out. Kind of puts a dampner on the night if you have a curfew so I don't think it's strange that you haven't discussed it with them.

If it's just dinner then around 2 hours, if they decide to go for a few drinks after then 4+ hours.

This.

Also, dinner for 2 is over quicker than dinner for 8, say.

But if you aren't booking dinner until 9.30, then you are on a different schedule from me, so I suspect the return time is likely to be later than I would return too.

But, wow! What a nice rate for babysitting . I'd be happy to stay as long as they liked for that money.

Came home at 10.45 🤷🏻‍♀️Much earlier than I expected. They left at 8.30, wasn’t much of a night out for them really, I hope they didn’t think they had to return earlier as I could’ve stayed awake until midnight to be fair

i think it varies a lot: maybe the restaurant was open only until 11pm or they were tired or fancied sex or thought that your rates were too expensive or had an argument…