SCREWED *UPDATE* Here comes the Sun..

My kids start camp on the 30th.

School ends for Noah on the 13th and Robbie ends on the 27th... with a few half days for Robbie kind of peppered in there.

So I planned on having my nephew watch the kids for those 2 weeks. I was going to pay him 200 dollars per week. I should caveat by saying that I thought 200 was fair because he doesn't do the best job watching them - I actually had to have a talk with him about some of his stupid practices recently. Also, he's family - and if I can't catch a break from family - who can I catch it from? And lastly - he REALLY needs the money. The kid is FOREVER poor. He can never seem to pay his mother the lousy 100 dollars a week she asks him for because he doesn't have it. He is always late with his car payment, he is constantly borrowing money for tuition, etc.. I honestly thought I would be doing him a favor at the same time that he would be doing me a favor!

I call him and he says he will do it - but he will need more money because of gas increases. So I am thinking 250. Guess what? He doesn't want 250.. he wants 350! THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS!

My husband is probably going to be out of work in 2 weeks, I just found out that I owe 4000 in back taxes and I just paid 5000 for summer camp IN CASE Rob doesn't get laid off. I probably could squeak out the extra cash - but I just refuse. I absolutely REFUSE to pay him $350 to sit in my house, play on the computer, watch tv and eat my food while he checks on my kids 2-3 times a day. I just REFUSE. It's absurd.

So - does anyone know a reliable, trustworthy and reasonably priced babysitter in the Sayville area? It would be for a 4 year old from around 8:30 to 4ish from 6/16 - 6/27 and for a 7 year old POSSIBLY half a day on the 26th and the 27th.

Thanks in advance!

ETA: I work in Hauppauge - so if anyone has a sitter near there it would work too. And I am able to squeeze out a little more money for an actual sitter - I am not a total cheapskate - I am just really opposed to giving my FAMILY that kind of money to sit around and screw off all day. My nephew has his own son- whom he brings - and my kids basically babysit his son for him since they all play together!

Message edited 6/3/2008 8:13:53 AM.

Re: SCREWED

I am so sorry and even more so that I can't help. But I have a lot of these and these that it all works out.

Hopefully someone can recommend something.

Kinda yucky (for lack of a better no-bleeped) word that he's being like that. Man, things have really changed. When we were kids...that kind of money was huge...that would have made my eyes pop out! Now they demand more I think that you were very fair in your price...even going up to $250. These are two boys that are pretty self-sufficient and require little hands on work - heck they wipe their own butts! You can't ask for more for a babysitting job! Plus the way I see it...you are covering what he owes his mom, plus a lot of other expenses he has...this is a no brainer!

Sorry

Re: SCREWED

DH & I have friends in Sayville. I'm not sure if she'd be interested. She has two older girls but I can ask.

I swear - we have so much in common down to our husband's job. You need to move here so we can share the load of school holidays!

eta I emailed her. I'll see what she comes up with.

Message edited 6/2/2008 9:15:02 PM.

Re: SCREWED

Have you checked the Y out. During school breaks they always have programs, maybe they have a pre camp/daycare kind of program???

Or how about any of the teachers or aides that work at the kids schools??? Or maybe some of the local daycare centers, I know some of them have backup slots.

Good luck.

Re: SCREWED

I am so sorry I wished I lived closer to you.. CALL HIS MOTHER hahahaha thats just wrong. I hope it works out for you

Re: SCREWED

No advice, but sorry to hear that your nephew is being such a butt-head.

Re: SCREWED

Posted by DUCKS2001

I am so sorry I wished I lived closer to you.. CALL HIS MOTHER hahahaha thats just wrong. I hope it works out for you

Re: SCREWED

Ooooo, I'd be SOO mad! I babysat my cousins for free!!

Also, you should point out to him that I pay $250 a week for an infant in daycare, why should he make more than that! He isn't licensed, etc, etc!

If it were last summer I would have done it in a heartbeat!

Re: SCREWED

That's really messed up that he would even ask for extra compensation to do a favor for a relative.

What goes around comes around, you know? If you help me out, I'll return the favor later... this guy obviously has no concept of that and does not deserve to be babysitting your kids.

Good luck with your search! Maybe you can find a stay at home mom neightbor who will help out? How about parents of your kids' friends? They are usually a good source.

Re: SCREWED *UPDATE* Here comes the Sun..

Well my nephew called today.

He has a live in girlfriend. It turns out that she is the one who told him NOT to babysit for less than 350 - and honestly didn't want him to babysit AT ALL.

He had a chance to think about it and he apologized and realized that he was out of line asking for the kind of money he was asking for. She is not happy with him - but he said he will deal with it if I still want him to babysit.

Since I am sort of SOL unless he does it - I agreed.

I am still pretty hurt, but it actually makes a lot of sense having this extra context. His gf lives in his mother's house with him (with their 3 year old son). They share a car but she doesn't contribute to the car cost at all - except for filling the tank every other time it needs filling (get where that fuel cost surcharge is coming from now?). She herself has ZERO work ethic. He works full time, goes to school and watches their son when she works 4 days a week for half a day.

I am not making excuses for him - I told him he has no balls and needs to learn to do what he wants and make decisions for himself. And he still isn't the best babysitter. But it's a little light - so at least I am not wallowing in my little pity party anymore.

Thank you to everyone who responded and tried to help!

Edited to avoid drama.

Message edited 6/3/2008 8:16:08 AM.