friends

Well if this is a steady babysitting job I would say that you should most certainly be paid. If it was more of a favour because she was going out somewhere for a night, I would say maybe it wouldn't be such a big deal if she didn't pay because she can always return the favour to you sometime.

I do registered daycare so I can only have a certain number of children in my home at one time. My friends and family are kindly told upfront that friends are friends, but business is business. If they want a spot in my daycare they have to pay because that is how I pay my bills. If you worked at McDonalds and your friend was the manager would you work there for free? My friend who is a barber will sometimes trade haircuts for daycare but we make sure we are keeping things fair. Daycare providers get taken advantage of on a regular basis so you have to put your foot down from the start. You can do this kindly but do it! I even make family members sign a contract just like anyone else.

Whatever efforts you are putting in it should be rewarded. I do not think any one should take advantage of friendship.

One of my friends do the same job as you do... And she works with her friends and neighbours' children, and of course she gets paid. They are taking advantage of her because they pay her less than what they did in the very beginning, and sometimes it takes months before she sees the money, but still, she gets paid... And I think it's the right thing to do, 'cause it's not like you're working any less if they are your friends' children.

if its your job you should get paid, thats the end of it

Make her pay. If she is having a hard time with money lately I can see giving her a discount maybe (and only if her children are the easier ones) but don't let her take advantage of your friendship.

If you get pay for babysitting, you need to tell your friends to pay you. I baby sit my nephews sometimes and they expect me to watch their 3 boys for free for whole weekend. They just send clothes and that it. So I tell them that if they want me to keep their 3 boys, and dont want to pay me, they at least need to bring foods for the boys. I stop keeping my friends 2 kids because they dont pay when they said they will. So I think you need to make sure and talk to them about it before they bring the children to you. If other pay you, you need to expect your friends to pay you too.

I think you have been given good advice. Good luck with the big talk with your friend. It's a very difficult situation to be in.

I am glad she has finally started paying you. As a father who has paid for childcare in the past, it would be worth more to me to have a close, trusted friend watching my children. Someone who has a vested interest in me and my family would surely provide top notch child care, perhaps more than someone whos only interest in my children is a paycheck.

No she should still pay you best Friends or not this is a Buisness Arrangement When my Kids where little I paid my Friend to look after them as you say it is your Income

I think she should at least offer to pay. If you two never sat down and had some kind of agreement, it would be nice of her to make the offer. You are doing some really hard work babysitting children- never let somebody take advantage of you in that situation. Let 'em do it once, they'll do it as often they possibly can. If you just can't do it anymore w/out some kind of compensation, say so.