I currently take care of my sisters two sons,and I get paid through a childcare organization,not directly from my sister. My sister,and I are having a difference of opinion. I believe that my only "duties" should be to make sure that the kids are safe,and are fed when they are hungry. She seems to think that I should be cleaning there bedroom,and helping them with their homework. I already clean up after them,do their laundry,take them to doctors appointments. I feel like I AM their Mother. I figure if she thinks that all of these "duties" are my job,what the hell is left for her to do as their Mother?

What do you expect from your childcare provider?
[Edited 9/2/09 13:25pm]

EmeraldSkies said:

you should discuss what you will do before you agree to the job- sounds like a nanny job to me- maybe she should pay you more if she wants you to clean up- but doing homework should be a part of it.

There are different classes of childcare provider that is classified by A-D

It can be in someone's home
a babysitter's home
an establishment
etc

She's treating you like a nanny and not a child care provider...

However, you are their aunt and hopefully, the kids are old enough to help you clean their room. If they are not, only one or two toys need to be pulled out to play with and put back. You have to have structure or you will have chaos! I know you don't mind helping them with their homework but your sister needs to know what's going on in her own children's classrooms. Now, if your sister gets off late from work, then yes, please help the kids as much as you can.

The only things that I expected from my children's childcare provider was to keep them safe and to feed them. Where my kids went, they learned like school in addition. They gave them structure and got them ready for real school. As for kids that are in school, then yes, give them a snack, give them a time to rest, help them with homework and send them back home like you have been doing.

Do not let them run you! Always keep an eye on them and if they get out of hand, light a fire under their azzez LOL!

When my sister watches my kids, I only expect her to let them have fun and to feed them...she keeps them safe and I have no complaints. As for my hubby when he watches them, he does the same but if their homework isn't done, I get mad but I know that I want full knowledge of what and how they're learning so I jump on them to get it done...I'm trying to keep a schedule on what they do with enough time for them to relax and watch tv or play with toys or go outside. Good luck!

Angelic1302 said:

I take care of them in my home,my sister,and I share rent,so they live with me. I think my real problem with the whole thing is,that she doesn't ask me if I can help them with certain tasks,she just expects it to be done with asking,and then gets pissed off when it isn't done.

it sounds like ye need to have a talk about your 'duties'.

family can take liberties, also as ye all live together, do you 'clock off' at a certain time?

my sister has done this for me in the past when my daughter was a baby. so the care was straight forward enough, fed, clean nappy etc.

i would expect that if i was paying someone to mind my kids now, that they would pick them up from school, feed them, help them with homework, allow them to play but make sure that they tidy up after themselves.

i wouldn't expect them to do housework as such, but i would expect anything they were using or playing with would be tidied away.
when you are paid to mind children, that should be the focus of your attention, not cleaning.

Childminding is what it says - you mind the child - feed the child and look after it.

This does not include homework and tidying up after the child just because they have come in from work - this is down to parental responsibility.

Also the parent should take the child to the Dr as there may be decisions that only the parent can make.

If you wish to do more because you are the Aunt then that is up to you but ultimately even if you look after the child the main responsibiity is for the parents.

If you are a Nanny - then a different pay structure comes into play -
You earn more
Have days off
They have to pay your Tax etc.
You have to have qualifications for childcare
You have a job description

I think that you need to sit down with your sister and work out what you are willing to do as a childminder and what you are not happy with.

I know childminders who will collect children from school but not feed them a dinner but may be a snack and still charge the full rate and some childminders will feed their charges.

Some childminders will have toys etc for kids to play with - some childminders ask for toys to be brought for the child - both get the same rate of pay.

I think a serious discussion is needed here - both of you need to know what is expected.

blueblossom said: