So, as most of you know, I want to go back to school to be a preschool teacher/day care worker/person who enjoys kids. Well, occasionally I look on craigslist to see if there is anything that I may enjoy available. I came across an ad for a babysitter:
Hello! My husband and I recently moved here to Birch Bay and we do not have any family or friends out here. We are looking to interview a few good, loving and caring people that will fit our description of what we are looking for to babysit our children on the weekends so we may go out and see what the town has to offer! My boys are 1 and 3 and very good kids! We are looking for someone who has own transportation, non smoking, no drugs, no alcohol! Must have experience with toddlers and diaper changing, be very trustworthy and honest. We are looking for someone is available at last minute also. It is hard for us to make plans way ahead of time. They never follow through! Also, someone who loves children IS A MUST! Please email me with any other questions and what you have to offer my family and your rates! Thanks!
I was pretty excited. This sounded like the perfect opportunity for me. I could occasional work on the weekend, and be able to do the thing I love: work and play with children. So I eagerly wrote her back:
Hello, I was reading through the ads on craigslist, and came across your add. I wasn't really looking for a anything in particular (just browsing), but after coming across your add I think I found something I was looking for...and didn't even know it yet!
I am 21 years old, and currently working at Whatcom Educational Credit Union. This means I work Monday-Friday, and have the weekends off. Most weekends I am available (unless I have something planned ahead of time). I am looking to go back to school in the next few quarters to get a degree in early childhood education. I aspire to own my own daycare. I have not worked with children for several years, but I miss it thoroughly. Throughout high school I was a nanny 4 days a week and Saturday night for an infant girl and a toddler boy. I worked with them for about 2 years in high school along with babysitting several other children (a 10 year old, 2 infants, and a 6 and 7 year old) on the weekends. I was always known for bringing a fun new toy, or crafts for the kids to play with. I enjoy taking the kids to parks, running around, and getting muddy with the children.
I live in birch bay as well (and have lived in whatcom country forever), I have my own car, non smoker, would never do a drug in my life, and I do not drink. I have babysat infants up to 12. I am STARS certified and have taken many early childhood education classes. I am very negotiable with my rates. I charge around 9-10 give or take. Really depending on what we are doing and such. I'm not looking for more income really, I mainly would like the position just to make sure going to school for early childhood education is going to be the right decision.
Just a few questions for you now! : )
What are you looking for exactly? It sounds to me like you are looking for a list of people that you would like to call if you both decide to go out for a night or what not?
How often are you looking for someone? Every weekend? Once a month?
What kind of babysitter would you like? Someone who sits in a house and plays games and artsy stuff? Or someone who takes them out to parks and such? Both?
Let me know if I sound like what you are looking for, or if you have more questions about me. I hope to hear from you soon! : ) Thanks
So I eagerly awaited her reply. I thought I sounded like I was exactly what she would be looking for. Much to my surprise her response was not the polite mother I was expecting. Evidently my reply to her ad was rude? :
First off, I am not looking for a list of babysitters to be able to just call when we decide to go out. I am a very well mannered, over protective parent. Thanks. I am looking for a list of people to interview so we may be able to find "the right" person to babysit our children on a regular basis. I live in a community and for one, do not need everybody having the gate code, and for two, I don't want a ton of different people in my home. I have valuables and don't need them stolen or what not. We are looking for people to meet with and see what kind of vibe we get and ask questions. We want someone who is very good with our children and will keep them in the house. We do not want them out while we are not home. We want someone that we can actually consider like "part of our family". Someone we feel very comfortable with. Also the main thing is if my kids like you and how they feel around you (or whoever). I am not sure how you meant your questions, but they came across as something that I normally wouldn't have responded to, but I just wanted to let you know that we are not looking for "a list of babysitters for if we decide to go out or what not". I will never have a ton of different people watching my kids like that. We are looking for a list of people to meet with so we can choose just ONE person that we feel safe and comfortable with. I'm sorry, but that made us sound bad and we are very good people.
That defiantly was not the response I was expecting. I thought she would have said a little more about how great it was all the experience I had. And, how I obviously wasn't in it for the money. I thought she would think it would be nice that I lived in Birch Bay too, and I would be close. But I guess not. I decided to respond back to her, because I hate not "winning" a conversation. So I replied:
I would like to start by saying I apologize greatly if you thought my email sounded as if I thought you were a bad person in any way. I thoroughly did not mean to offend you. And I defiantly did not mean for my email to sound as if that was what I was implying.
I was simply asking what you were expecting. The craigslist ad did not get into specifics on exactly what you wanted--which is great, obviously craigslist is not a place to tell a life story. So, I just wanted to get a better feel of what you were looking for. I have worked for many people. And obviously every parent is different. Some parents feel more comfortable with the kids staying at home while they are out (playing games, doing art projects, watching movies), some want me to watch movies with them, some parents say "no t.v". There are other parents I have watched for that have told me they want me to take them out and about to different parks and such, and they do not want me staying in the house too much. I was simply asking what kind of babysitter you preferred for your children.
I was not stating that one parent is better then the other--because all parents are wonderful in their own way--I was simply curious what you were looking for. I completely understand not wanting to give your door code out to many people whom you do not trust (or more then one other person for that matter). And I did not mean it dis-respectful that I had assumed by "We are looking to interview a few good, loving and caring people", that you had meant you wanted to get several people for the position. Many parents have a list of a main babysitter, then maybe a back up or two if the first one is unavailable, so I had just assumed that is what you meant. I once again apologize that my email came off sounding as if I thought you were a bad person, I had simply just wanted to know a little more of what you were looking for.
I never heard back from her. I just assumed that she felt bad for being an evil witch lady, and gave up. Well last weekend I ended up getting a response:
Hello! I was wondering if you were available tonight (asap) and if you were willing to work with us on a pay rate?? Please let me know asap! Thanks!
Seriously? Are you kidding me? First you are offended that I would even assume that she would want more the ONE babysitter, then she wants me to babysit on a moments notice without even meeting me. What kind of mother is she? I would defiantly not trust someone I hadn't met prior with my children. This was absolutely ridiculous! I didn't want to respond. But, I never want to lose an argument (like I mentioned before) so I did respond:
Hello, I am sorry for not getting back to you right away. I was in Seattle all weekend for my younger sister's birthday, so I was unable to respond.
I hope you were able to find someone.
Are you still looking to interview people for the position?
Thanks
Her Response:
We always seem to have a rough way to go.. We find someone who we thought was the right person and who we thought was reliable and still can't seem to get ahold of her.. Oh well, I guess she wasn't as reliable as she said. We had tickets bought to go to the comedy show and wasted them because we couldn't get ahold of our babysitter at the last minute. So now, we start the search all over again.. I want someone who does not smoke, do drugs or drink "on the job". I want someone who is reliable because of the last minute plans.. We do not like to make plans because of reasons like this one. (she has known she was going to babysit and agreed to it since Monday). Most of the time, we won't know until a couple hours before. But Saturday nights are a must. The only thing is the time will vary.I want someone who will spend time and play with kids. I want someone who has a passion for toddlers. My kids are very good kids. They are boys! I want someone with a reasonable price also. We can't afford $10-15 an hour. Especially when we like to be out for alittle while. I'm sorry, but we moved here from Las Vegas and we have had a hard with babysitters. People saying they will do one thing and then do another. This is the reasoning as to why I am so picky with my sitters. I hope I don't offend you in any way, this is just what we are looking for. Please let me know if you are interested still (with the every Saturday thing too.) and what you would charge and we will go from there. Thanks!
Well, even though she sounded nice this second time. I couldn't help but be a little rude in my final response. I couldn't handle how bi-polar this lady was! So I responded, in my well educated-rude manner:
I am really sorry things just don't seem to be working out with sitters. I can only imagine how hard it is to find a reliable and responsible sitter.
I completely understand that you are unable to afford more then $10 an hour; However I can not justify a night of babysitting where I am not getting paid at least minimum wage which is $8.50 per/hour. Obviously if the kids are going to be in bed part the night (if you are out a little later) the pay could be slightly lowered. Possibly a flat rate of like $50 a night or something?
Unfortunately I am unable to guarantee you availability on every Saturday night. And I am unable to guarantee to you that I would be available on a moments notice. Since I work 40 hours a week, I have to plan out my weekend in order to take care of everything I can't take care of during the week. I would be able to babysit every few weekends with a few days notice, and possibly every now and then with only a moments notice.
It sounds like I may just not be the right person that you are looking for. I really do hope you find someone that will fit in with your many needs. But I just thought I would point out to you that I have been getting $10 per hour since I was 16 years old, and that is even when I was just going over to someones house to "watch t.v" while the child sleeps. I don't have a single friend that has worked for less then that either. The going rate for babysitting around the bellingham area is a bit steep, I do realize, but I just thought i would mention that to you before you are dissapointed once again. There are not going to be many reliable and responsible babyistters that are willing to work on an "on call basis" for minimum wage.
Once again, I do hope you find someone that will fit in with your family. I just don't think I am the right fit.
Thanks for the consideration.
Her Response is priceless. I'm sorry to say that I just laughed. I am so glad she turned back to her bi-polar self. She is one of the most comical people I have heard from. And I bet she was thinking that she sounded very mature:
That is completely fine that you feel that way but I'm not paying someone more than what we make an hour. I don't mind doing the flat $50 a night, but don't expect us to only be gone 5 hours.. It's sad that kids can't help out anymore. And it's nice to know that you would be in it just for the money. We didn't even pay $10 an hour in vegas.. And we usually ended paying at least $50 a night after we seen how good of a job the babysitter did when we got home. All we asked is that the house be the way it was when we left. And we usually are not out that long anyways. Especially with not a whole lot to do here. We actually do pay very well when we do find the right one. We look and talk and meet with people and see if they are in it at all for the money and if their not, then they are more likely to get the job because then I know my kids would be taken good care of. Thanks anyways! Oh and I don't have many needs. I'm sorry my kids have asthma and can't be around smoke, I'm sorry I don't want the drugs or drinking around my kids or in my house and I'm sorry that I want someone who will take good care of my kids. I don't think thats asking a whole lot. My posting was mainly to see who is greedy and who is not. That is how we decide who would be the right person for us. Thanks!
Ha, that lady is completely crazy. I did provoke this last conversation I admit. But, that lady should not be so "snapish", and bi-polar if she is wanting someone responsible. I wonder why they have such a tough time finding babysitters? HA!
I did respond:
Good Luck : )
I thought that was all that really needed to be said. I am proud to say, I win this discussion. But, I am sad that this mother is so crazy. She should move back to Las Vegas where that kind of thing is tolerated!
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