We are taking a vacation (our only one as a family of three) from June 29-July 5. We will be going to Virginia to see my family, and will only be about 40 minutes away from the beach. I am so excited. Anyway, we were talking about having a first time evening date alone since A was born (we have done lunch dates but A has never been away from us at night) and I was wondering A12's opinion. We are talking about asking my 17 yo sister watch him. I would put him to bed and she would only really have to do anything if he wakes up (a rarity for him). What would you offer her as compensation? I wasn't sure if it is different if your kid is sleeping the whole time.
I was thinking 8/hr might be appropriate, but I am so unsure.


Re: s/o babysitter rates.
Eh, I would hope your sister wouldn't charge anything, but if you insist, I'm sure $8 is good enough for a family member.
Where are you going to be in VA? I'm in the Hampton Roads, Norfolk/Virginia Beach area.
well I hope so. Maybe we should just do a rate for the evening. I hadn't thought of that. Honestly I think she would do it without pay, but she can't have a job because she is involved in EVERY program on the face of the planet it seems and I just figured it would give her some spending money.
I give my sister $20 for 3 hours. She gets paid $10-15/hour by her families (she nannies for a living, is 23, and has a degree in education) and 2 of the hours she's here, he's asleep, plus he's her nephew, so...that's what she gets.
She actually tells me that I don't "have to give her that much money." So, I could probably get away with paying her less, but she leaves one of her families early to come watch him on Fridays, so I feel bad because she's missing out on $30 from that family, KWIM?
SCANDAL!