Should I provide meals for babysitter working 3-4 hrs/ day?

Question

Hey, we hired a babysitter, she works 3-4 days per week, max. 4 hrs per day. She starts at 2pm, and stays till 5pm or 6pm. At the beginning we discussed it and she said because she works so long hours(??), she needs little somehting to eat. I told her no problem, here is a fridge, you can make yourself something. But now in 3 weeks working for us, she never opened the fridge, I just end up feeding her dinners! A few times she just took the last stuff from the pot, leaving miserable bits for my hubby. I had to do sth again. I told her I have no desire to cook for anybody else but my family (which i do every day), but i seems like she .. forgot about what was said at the beginning? We pay her higher than average wage. What should I do? How do I tell her diplomatically? Or am I wrong??

Answer 1

if I have a babysitter during meal hours I feed them, if food has become a problem for you you should let your sitter know.

Answer 2

At least minimum wage. Possibly minimum + 1/2 if two kids. I think a consideration too would be what the babysitter is doing for the kids while she is there....preparing dinner, helping with homework, etc. That would be worth paying extra for.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, you're going to have to talk to her face-to-face and explain your aggravation to her. Hopefully she is mature enough to understand. Either way you need to communicate your feelings to her the way you would to anyone else. In my opinion, you should time your meals so that dinner will be ready shortly after she leaves. If it is completely unavoidable that she eats then make a small plate for her and spread the wealth to the rest of your family. Immediately, put any leftovers into storage "for your husbands lunch tomorrow". This is a backdoor approach that will hopefully give her the hint.

Also realize that her shift is ending right in the middle of the accepted time for eating dinner. You're just going to have to send her away more quickly.

However, you should talk to her as stated before to avoid all of this. Explain that dinner time for you is strictly a family time where you all get to share what precious little time you have together and that you stocked the fridge with snacks to tide her over. She is an employee for your family and not an actualy family member..... I'm sure you'll find the right words.

Answer 4

Sounds like I'd get a new babysitter. I wouldn't want someone who would do that having influence over my children for 3-4 hours a day 3-4 days a week. Greed is ugly, isn't it, in any form no matter how small!

Answer 5

To tell her diplomatically, you have to leave the pot empty. Your hubby's food should be in the warmer or food flask out of her reach. Otherwise tell her that the food you cook is for your family only. But if she is around when dinner is served, she should be allowed to join.

Answer 6

I am a mom too. I feel for you. I say feed her temporailly for now...then begin interviewing other sitters. Don't hire young immature girls even though it can be convenient for the time being. You get all sorts of problems because theycan be mischievous. Instead look into a local babysitter service that shows licensed sitters...than get part-time providers. normally there's no fee for this they just mail you a list of local licensed providers in your area. Tell them up front they are resposible for their own meal...licensed sitters already will discuss conditions in advance.

Answer 7

If you feed her dinners then that's your choice. She is not making you do this. If she works until 6 then have dinner after she leaves.

Answer 8

I think you should start looking for a new sitter. This one sounds pretty rude. Telling her to help herself to whatever is in the fridge is enough. You aren't obligated to feed her dinner before she goes home, and it was rude of her to help herself to your husband's dinner. I don't think telling her will help because you already did, and she's not listening. So, start looking for someone new.

Answer 9

Leaving her a snack is all you need to do, if even that. You probably need to be firm with her and tell her that you do not provide dinner for her. That she must get that at her own home. What time do you all eat dinner? Does she hang around for it? If she does, sweetly escort her to the door when you get home.

Answer 10

she needs to eat before she comes to baby sit and if she cant make her a sandwich. and eats all of your husband dinner when he works hard to support you and you baby . then she needs to understand that your husband deserves a hot meal not her