Babysitting Mom Is Late Picking Up

I would tell her that the next time she is late is the last time you babysit for her. Since you've let her get away with it, I think it's only fair to warn her before you quit.

Our daycare charges us a late fee if we pick up past pick up time. Implement a reasonable one.

one time occurrence or ongoing issue?
you have to provide SOME detail and context if you want helpful answers.
khairete
S.

Elanor Roosevelt said: People will only treat you the way you let them treat you. I would love to say it's her fault, but in reality, you allow her these freedoms. You have your reasons for babysitting after school for free, and they are your reasons. But if at any time you feel that you are uncomfortable or being taken advantage of, you have to decide to stop it or not.

Stopping it is easy, you simply say, "this arrangement does not work anymore, please find another location for your child."

Do you mean that you watch the child every day after school? If so, was this a 1-time thing, or has it happened before?

Everyone gets unexpectedly stuck in traffic every once in a while. But if looks like a pattern, you just tell her you can't do it anymore.

Your Options are:
1) tell her
2) tell her and tell her it cannot happen again. Her being late, means you are then late for YOUR commitments too.
3) start charging her, for your babysitting. AND document it. For your records.
4) she is getting free, child care from you.
5) If that is not okay with you, doing it for free, for her, then charge her for it. AND have a signed agreement, saying so, which ALSO needs to be signed by, her.

6) and remember that: if you are a "babysitter" and also take in other kids, you need to protect yourself, have a "contract" and get licensed, and charge for your services.
7) ALSO remember that, because they are using you as a Babysitter, they CAN claim it on their taxes. But if you are not claiming it either, or your "services" or that you are getting an income for it, you will be "lying" on your taxes. Not good.

8) And, you can always tell her, you are not babysitting anymore. And stop.

Did this happen one time, or is it a regular occurrence? You could tell the mom that because she is not on time picking up that the arrangement no longer works for you and she needs to make other plans. If you are babysitting for money then you need to make a contract, and in that contract you should include your late pick up policy, such as late fees.

You're the baby sitter? Charge $1 per minute (cash) past the latest time of pick up agreed upon as your "hours."

Your babysitter picks up your kids in the morning? Tell her "Marge, if I don't leave the house at 8:00 am, I get to work late. And I need to get to work on time to keep my job. What can we do to make sure I can leave by 8:00 am latest?"

Watching her for free? AND she's picking up late?

You're being a pushover and a doormat. Something tells me you aren't new at this - you've been taken advantage of by people for a long time...

You need to think more of yourself than this. There is a difference in helping and letting someone walk all over you. Stop letting her walk on you. Ask her to find someone else to watch her child.

She is taking advantage of you. I'm not sure why you're watching her daughter for free, but she's now using it as an opportunity to walk all over you. If you want to continue watching her for free, that's fine, but you need to start charging for the overtime hours. Many day cares charge $1 for each minute that a parent is late; some charge $5 per minute. If you don't give her a reason to be on time, she's not going to make it a priority.

I would reiterate your schedule. If yo do this often and she is late often, you're going to have to say, "I'm sorry, but my schedule only leaves me available til x time. If you're going to be coming at y time, you'll have to find someone who is available til then." And then if she keeps being late, tell her she needs to find someone else by x date.

Tell her if she can't be there on time she needs to find someone else. I'd have already quit if it really mattered to me. When I watch someone's kids for free I don't work certain hours. I watch the kids because their my friend, my buddy and I enjoy spending time with them. I am not their keeper either. They come over and sort of blend in with the other kids. I often don't even notice then still there at dinner time to be honest. They're part of my family if I'm family friends. They aren't a burden.

If this is a stranger that's only an acquaintance then give her notice you're quitting.

Charge her double time.