My sister isn't mad at me anymore...
By sunshine4
@sunshine4 (8703)
United States
April 13, 2007 4:01pm CST
I started a discussion a few days ago regarding my sister assuming that I would babysit for her daughter so she could go to the casino for her birthday. Well, I caved and did watch her today. I also babysat for her on Tues and Wed. If you didn't read my other discussion, I run a daycare in my home. I use to babysit my neice before she started preschool. Now she goes to a sitter in her town so she can get bused to preschool. This week being vacation, my sister asked if her daughter could come over on Tues and Wed for me to babysit her. Well, she came in to pick up her daughter today and didn't offer to pay me for my babysitting. She knows that I charge $20 a day and didn't offer anything. I wasn't going to charge her for today since it is her birthday, but I definitely was going to charge her for the other days. I can't stand it when she takes advantage of me, but I don't like confrontation. I have mentioned this subject to my mom thinking my mom would say something to my sister, but nothing. How can I tell her that she owes me this money with out creating hard feelings? Do you think I shouldn't be charging her since she is family? It really makes my day much harder when she is here, so I think that I should get paid.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@rusty2rusty (6763)
• Defiance, Ohio
24 Apr 07
I think you just need to deal with your sister and tell her. You either pay me when you ask me to watch your daughter. Or don't bring her. Explain to her why you feel this way.
I had to put my foot down to a sister of mine to. I felt she was taking advantage of me. As she wanted me to watch her two kids all the time. I may not work. But extra money helps. Plus when it is promised than never delivered. I have already told my sister I will not babysit again for her. As I was promised money the last time and never recived it. She offered the money...Now she has a 17 yr old girl watch her kids all the time....Last thing I heard meats she just bought was taken from her house...I wonder what is next?
I hate to be like that with my ister but I have no other choice. Espically since I am on medicines and am suppose to take it easy.
2 people like this
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
24 Apr 07
It's finally nice to have someone realize that you don't have to babysit for nothing all the time just because it is for a sister. I totally agree with you. If told you will be paid, you should get the money. I think we both were taken advantageof.
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
13 Apr 07
I wouldn't charge my sister because she's family, however if she offered to pay then ok. I wouldn't demand it from her but then again your in a different situation where you run a daycare facility at your home. And in that regard then maybe she should pay what you charge just like any other parent would if you baby sat their child. I think you need to sit down and talk to her about it. I know it might cause a bit of friction, but at least you have told her how your feeling instead of letting it boil up inside of you. Something will trigger it off and you will explode - better to deal with it now, talk to her and tell her how you feel and that you don't want to be taken advantage of. You have a daycare business and you need to be earning money from it. If its once in a blue moon then ok, but if its more than that, then you need to be compensated for the babysitting. Something along those lines but im sure you can think of something better than what ive said. Hope it works out for you!
2 people like this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
19 Apr 07
Thanks for best response :) hope it all worked out for you!
1 person likes this
@Ridgydidge (558)
• Australia
26 Apr 07
There is 2 sides to every coin as you are running a business child caring, your sister should have said up front if she wanted caring as a favour or will pay you. I guess you could have offered a “family discount”. Is there a maximum or minimum of children you are allowed to have in your home & having your sisters child there affecting that?
It is not often we would get family to baby-sit our daughter (now 11). When my husband was working nights cleaning, I would sometime go to help him on a busy night. Only way I could get my mother in law to baby sit, would be to offer to pay her for daughter to sleep over. You would think nanna would do it for free, but it was the only way we could guarantee reliable care.
Good luck
1 person likes this
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Yes, if my neice is here she takes a spot in my daycare. This means if another parent needs me I would have to tell them no. During the school year I don't ever have any problems with this as I am full on kids, but during the school breaks, it is a first come basis. Since this is my way of earning income for my family, I would rather take paid kids than not getting paid for my neice.
