| How old are your children, and how many would be the first part of any
sitter's consideration, IMO. You said relatives are 2 to "too many"
hours away, I say 2 hours might be worth considering if you get
desperate. Have you considered working out a cooperative agreement
with someone, perhaps a neighbor might take them for you, and you in
turn would take their child(ren) during another week while they take a
vacation?
Just some random thoughts,
Lyn
|
| I tend to overdo, but.... We have a 3 1/2 year old and most times we
have left him with either of the grandparents (who live in CT). This
last weekend trip they couldn't get here till a day later so we left
him with a 21 year we sometimes have babysit. I paid her the standard
$3.00/hr and she had him from 6:00 at night until she dropped him at
daycare the next morning.
On paperwork to have, I needed a authorization letter for the school
stating the people who could potentially pick him up (if they weren't
already on the emergency list they have). I left a medical consent
letter with anyone's name that he was to come in contact with over
the weekend and if any of our babysitters had to rush him to
the hospital it included my mothers numbers in Connecticut just
in case the kids couldn't make a decision. I also left the
insurance card with explicit instructions on what to do in case
of an emergency (we have a HMO and you have to get pre-approvals
for everything). I also have left my father-in-law with instructions
on where things are and left copies of our wills just in case something
happened to us (the first trip we took was on a plane).
Enjoy yourself on your trip. As I said, I tend to go over board
with thoroughness.
|
| I have an arrangement with my cleaning lady that she comes when J�rgen and I
have both be travelling at the same time. My boys are older (12 and 14) so
they just need someone to cook for them and get them off to school in the
morning. I pay SF50 (about $35) a night for this. The only complaint from the
boys is that she expects them to eat too much!!
I call every day and if there is a problem (as I had the first time I did this,
Markus became ill), I have a neighbor who helps out. She took him to her
pediatrician and either took him to her house or checked up on him when he
wanted to sleep in his own bed. Since it would be inappropriate to pay for this
and she doesn't need my sitting services, I bring her a gift.
I leave all food and some money for emergencies. I leave the telephone number
for all doctors we use, where both J�rgen and I are, our secretaries, the vet
and how to find him, and the school. The same neighbor is the person on our
emergency card at school and also looks after the dog and the swimming pool
in return for use of the pool in the summer.
Cheryl
|
|
Thanks for all the input so far. BTW, my kids are 7 & 9. I've drafted a
document for the sitter with the following information:
- Phone numbers - doctor, dentist, school, neighbor, friend,
parents, emergency (fire/police).
- Medical Release
- Daily schedule - wake-up, bus schedule, food preferences, pet
care, what needs to go to school with the kids,
evening routine, "chores" list, bedtime, etc.
- Misc - Our itinerary, who to call for snow removal, discipline
Did I miss anything?
On payment, what is fair? A few years ago, I had two young women from
my daycare at the time come and stay at my house while we went on vacation.
This "team" approach worked well for me, since my girls were a lot
younger then, and I felt better having two people in the house who could
support each other. Also, these women were young (18-19) but very mature
and had very good references. I think I paid them something in the
ballpark of $250, which included all day care for one weekend, then care
from 6pm. each night. They dropped my girls at daycare every day and
picked them up at night. I also left money with them for groceries and for
one or two nights out (pizza, etc).
Now the girls are older and require less "hands on" care and more
supervision (homework, chores, packing lunch, dressing, etc). What would
be a fair rate? This would be for one full week, Sunday to Sunday, nights
only during the week.
Thanks,
Barbara
|
| Barb,
When I went to DECUS I had my son's daycare teacher come live at the house
from Sat to Sat and paid her $250. I also left $50 for food or emergencies which
she did not touch. We worked this rate out together. Kyle was 2 3/4s at the time.
Your girls are much more self sufficient, so I'd say you'll have to pay less. But
then again there are two of them and if they have to go to Girls Scouts Monday,
piano lessons Tuesday, basketball practice Wed, etc. then that needs to be factored
into the rate. Not the gas expense, as much as the running around that all parents
live with.
Find your choice sitters first, start with a max in your mind (say $250) and
work it with them from there. Our daycare teacher was a college grad who was
living back at home and _grateful_ for a week in a home alone with a child who
goes to bed at 7:30PM and sleeps like a rock 'til 7:00 AM. A neighbor's college
kid might be a great find (if they are on break or are commuters).
good luck!
|