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wwyd?
Hi ladies! i know i don't post much here but i know lots of you have children and well i just need some input. Currently I go to school FT and after-school nanny part time.
warning: this might be long. sorry in advance.
my current family has 3 children (ages 9, 11 &14) I don't really sit for the oldest, just drive her around. when i first started the hours were to be 16-20 hours. without going into too many details this was not the case and i'd be driving five days a week to work 8-12 hours max.
pros: i love the kids. adore them.
cons: traffic. the amount of time i spend driving vs.the actual hours i make. the parents do not round up and will pay me a half hour rate.
This week I told the mom I cannot come back in the fall and will be looking for something with a min. of 20 hours, and shorter commute. I have accepted a new offer. beginning in 4 weeks.
pros: i'll make a guaranteed amount and have set hours each day. two kids and she doenst schedule playdates for both of them on the same day so i'll always be "needed".
cons: i'll have to leave my other family.
Today the mom has asked that I reconsider, to think of an amount I would like that will allow me to stay with their family.
honestly I don't think she can compete with the new offer as its twice the hours and a 2 dollar hour raise. Aside from the money, it's the traffic i endure in the galleria during the school year. I just dont think my current family needs someone for that many more hours.
do i tell her the new offer details? or just stick with the commute issue?
Re: wwyd?
I agree. Plus, commute is a really big deal. Between gas and stress, a shorter commute is going to add to your quality of life. I would just tell her both, like Harmony said.
thanks ladies. I think I have a hard time telling/feeling like I am saying no to the children.
I just guess I feel like there really isn't an amount that makes spending 30 mins-an hour in traffic worthwhile for me. (it's only an 8 mile stretch) I need to get home and study.
It makes me feel awful that she wants me to give her a dollar amount. blah.
I understand the feeling of saying no to the kids. I was a nanny in college and quitting was really hard because I felt like I was abandoning them. Unfortunately, the kids don't pay your bills or take your tests.
Congrats on the new gig!
she probably just wants to know how much it will cost her to keep you. i can imagine that it's a royal pain to find someone new, plus if your kids are used to someone, that means a lot.
if there is a dollar amount it would take to keep you there, give her an honest answer. at least then she'll know, and will understand that she can't compete.
if i was that parent, and i really truly wanted to keep you i might find a way to make it work. don't think of it in terms of hours. tell her you need to make __ a week.
if you're dead set on leaving and looking more forward to the other situation, then tell her that as well. it's always nice when someone is honest with you!
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Go for the higher paying job. The kids will get over it.
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