"Mother's Helper"

Hi ladies,
I am looking for some advice today. I work in a school setting as a speech therapist. For the past two years I have developed a close relationship with one of my students. She stutters and had some difficulty adjusting emotionally to things when she transitioned to our school. (It is a fifth and sixth grade building, but all kids who come to our building have usually spent 5 years at the same school before us). I worked closely with her mom (I had had her older brother in speech for two years as well) to provide support and the student and I often wrote in a journal to each other on the days she didn't have therapy with me. So, last school year, when she was in the sixth grade, I went on bedrest in November and quit working. We continued to write to each other (my husband teaches at the school so he'd bring the journal home to me and back to school) and she and her mom came to see the babies when they were born. She has just finished a babysitting class and really wants to come help with the twins. She is 12- and capable of playing with them, feeding them- but I am obviously not comfortable leaving her with them while I am away. So, I told her she could come over and be a "mother's helper" and play with the twins while I did things around the house. That way she learns about how to care for infants for future experience, but is "supervised" while learning. My question (sorry for the long post) is- do I pay her? She is coming for the first time next week. I really have no idea and don't want to do the wrong thing. Part of me says it is just a learning experience for her- and time for her to visit with me and the babies- and part of me thinks I should treat it more like an "official" babysitting experience. Thoughts?
TIA!

 

Well I’m sure you will get a lot of advice from people who have experience in that dept, but my gut says I would pay her a small amount… she will take the “job” more serious if she is getting paid… I use to help a mom in my neighborhood when I was a 12 (granted my mom was over the fence) and when she started to pay me… I took it very serious… GL
Elizabeth

 

I agree with the PP - pay her a small amount. Although not sure what that amount should be.

 

Yes...pay her. I wouldn't pay her an extreme amount...for one she is young, and you are still going to be there doing things with the babies too, so not like she is babysitting. What would you pay a babysitter if you went out for dinner? No clue what kids get these days. Maybe look at that, then go under that amount per hour...or set a daily rate. Good luck and let us know what you decide.

Dianna

 

I would also pay her a small amount. You could turn her into a really good responsible babysitter for yourself one day!

 

Yeah, I would pay her a small amount.

 

I too would pay her. Maybe 3 or 4 dollars an hour or something? I dont know but I do know it would mean a lot to her to make a little money.

 

I pay mother's helpers $4/hr. I have one who is 13 and the other is 14. This is what they want to charge. I find it to be reasonable and a big help! GL!

 

Thanks for all the opinions ladies! I will plan on paying my mother's helper $3-4 dollars an hour and let her know as she gains experience and independence, I will increase the amount I will pay. As a pp said- I might just get a very responsible, familiar babysitter one day!

 

My oldest is 11 and she helps out alot. I don't pay her exactly (because I feel she should help with her sisters and your situation is different)but we do get little treats every now and then like when my mom watches them for a few hours for me to work and my oldest helps her for hours at a time. That age they love nail polishes, little makeup things etc. bath stuff, gift card to claire's. When you see them cheap you can always pick up some. My mom gives her like 5 or 10 dollars when she helps but my daughter doesn't expect it so anything seems good to them at that age. When she helps out for the day I may get her a cd or maybe just stop and get custard or a snowball. Not so much putting a dollar amount on the treat as much as showing thanks to her. Showing they are appreciated gives them a huge sense of pride I think.