Babysitting

So if you read some of my other questions, you know that I have been babysitting my best friends 3 month old baby for 20 days tomorrow [she goes back home tomorrow] her husband is in the army, which is why im watching the baby [she is in texas visiting...

him before he goes to iraq] but he is the one who is going to be paying me..
I looked it up on google, and people around here charge $20 an hour for over night babysitting.. So for 20 days, $20 an hour, that is almost $10,000.
Now I know my friend and her husband cant afford to pay me that much, he only gets paid $800 a month, and she doesnt have a job.. But, they only plan on paying me $100.. Actually, ill be lucky if I get that much..
We never talked about how much ill be getting paid, because I honestly would do it for free if she really needed me to..
But after looking it up and seeing I should be getting that much, I think $100 is just ridiculus..

I dont know if it would be rude to tell her I want more or not
What do you think?

:]

ask your mom to ask her so you dont have to. if she doesnt raise it, be extra nice and butter her up!

Put it to her like this. "I am so glad your home... blah blah blah... I did a little research and professionals get paid $20/ hour. I would never try to bankrupt you like that. I think $20 a DAY would be much more appropriate, since we are such good friends." This will let her know what you are expecting, and put a little pressure on her not to cheap out. And, you still get to be the nice friend who did her such a favor by loving her daughter for so little pay. I still think $50 is a more appropriate price, but she is your (broke)friend.

Put it to her like this. "I am so glad your home... blah blah blah... I did a little research and professionals get paid $20/ hour. I would never try to bankrupt you like that. I think $20 a DAY would be much more appropriate, since we are such good friends." This will let her know what you are expecting, and put a little pressure on her not to cheap out. And, you still get to be the nice friend who did her such a favor by loving her daughter for so little pay. I still think $50/day is a more appropriate price, but she is your (broke)friend.

If it were me - knowing the hardship of not much money - the worry of a husband going to a dangerous area - the uncertainty of it all for her and the little one - knowing he is going to protect the freedoms and way of life I enjoy - I might not charge at all.

lalalalalani- I would do it for free if she needed me to, but no way am I going to say no to money, lol.. especially because the 20 days shes been here, we have washed all her clothes [which uses water, that costs money], we give her baths which also costs money, we have bought her diapers and cereal because her grandma [who is supposed to be getting the things she needs] is a very selfish woman who only thinks of herself. There was no one else to watch her that the babys mommy trusted enough to leave her baby with for 20 days.. the grandma works from 7am-6pm so she couldnt do it.

jonasbrothers622- haha, yeah, my mom plans on talking to her about it.. saying even if she cant pay me all at once, she thinks she should pay me more than 100.

nerd- well I would be fine with just getting 100, but my mom thinks I should be getting more, especially since the husband doesnt even give his own wife and daughter money, I should try to get as much out of him as I can, lol.

amblessed- like I said, id do it for free.. but not for him, id do it for her. her husband is... not a good father or husband. He joined the army to get money, thats all.. and no one knows WHAT he spends it on.. he defiantly doesnt give any for the baby..
And I know how it is to not have money, but he makes 800 a week, and somehow it ends up all gone within a couple days..
and her mom makes 500 a week, and acts like she cant afford to help at all with the baby, she buys the formula and diapers, but I asked her to get bigger nipples, because the baby needs them... and she called me last night and said "I dont know how you expect me to afford all this stuff on your list!" when all I had was diapers, wipes, water[she uses bottled water], bigger nipples, and maybe formula.. and that [except for the nipples] is what she gets for her every week, but noo, she couldnt get them.. [she makes me so angry lol]

From the way you write, I cannot tell if it is you feeling sorry for her, or if she has a complete victim mentality. Despite their ability to afford it, your friend's parents shouldn't have to take care of their grandchild. Your friend had options when she got pregnant, and chose to keep the child. It was not necessary to visit her deadbeat husband to survive, so she needs to pay you. You could really do her a favor by not feeling sorry for her (enabling her irresponsible behavior) and making her man up to her responsibilities as a mother.

Her grandma wants to help, she thinks it should be her baby. but I agree, she should be doing it herself.
im pretty mad at her right now..
she called, and said her plane wasnt getting here till midnight, so I asked her to just come later [when me and the baby were actually awake, because she sleeps all night] and then her flights kept getting cancled because of storms I guess, so she didnt end up getting home till 2:30 this morning, and she came to get the baby, after I asked her not to.
she shined a flashlight in my face and woke me up, then just took the baby and left without even saying anything to me.
I made her a welcome home cake and everything.