u/BookDragonsJewels01

I’m just here to complain. I do NOT want to babysit today but I need the income boost until I find another stable and consistent job. I’m not enthusiastic about putting up with a child being physical and getting hurt. I’m not certified or experienced enough to give the child the help she needs. Her parents don’t know what to do for her. She throws a fit, breaks something, and her parents DoorDash another toy to replace it. Those kids have way too many toys and crafts to begin with. Discipline is somehow nonexistent and somehow I’m expected to figure it out and help shoulder the burden. I only babysit for this family once a week but I’m burnt out and anxious about what’s going to happen because it’s NEVER a fun experience and I always get hit or scratched. I’ve got seven years of experience as a nanny but I’ve never come up against a dynamic like this. When I applied for the job, I was told the kids were special needs but not told enough. Originally, it was two kids I was supposed to entertain, but slowly I’ve been helping out with the other two youngest because I felt bad for the mom, but now she expects me to help with them. I know I should ask for extra pay, but I can’t bring myself to do so. I hate confrontation more than anything and I’m not good with boundaries.
Sorry for the novel y’all. I posted about this last week but I had to get it off my chest. 😩

I’m a nursing student and nanny in East Texas, and I applied for a family helper position that pays $21–27/hr. The schedule would usually be around 9:30 AM–4:00 PM, 4 days a week, with one parent working from home. It sounds pretty manageable overall, and the family seems nice from the description.
The thing I’m unsure about is this part:
Needed for the entire month of June
No care needed in July
Needed again for two weeks in August
So basically there would be a full month with no work in July.
For those of you who nanny professionally or work in childcare, would this only really be worth taking if the family guaranteed pay for July too? Or is it normal to just find temporary work elsewhere during gaps like this?
I’m trying to think long-term and realistically because I need stable income for bills, gas, school, etc. I also know it can be hard to line up another short-term family for just one month and then leave again in August.
Would you:
Ask about guaranteed hours/pay for July?
Treat this as more of a temporary/summer position?
Or avoid taking it unless there’s some kind of retainer/guaranteed income?
I’d appreciate honest advice from experienced nannies/family assistants.

Hey y’all! A bit of a vent but also advice is welcome! 🫶
I have a Saturday babysitting gig that I dread going to and moan and groan about having to show up to it one or two days before. I was originally supposed to care for two of the kids( both are ADHD/Autistic) but while they nap I help out with the two youngest because it’s the nice thing to do and I feel bad for the mom because she rarely gets a break.
The issue is, one of the special needs kiddos has a problem with hitting, kicking, biting, screaming, and scratching. At first, it didn’t bother me when it began happening a couple of months ago, when the kiddo was comfortable enough to really act out around me. But it happens over and over and last time I got scratched so much my arms bled. The mom was so embarrassed and apologetic, she even offered to let me go home early but I wanted to stick it out.
I’m just SO over it. I dread going in because it drains me physically and emotionally and I’m just counting the hours until I go home.
Don’t get me wrong, I love special needs kids and have worked and been friends with all types but I’ve never had an issue with physical bad behavior.
I haven’t told the mom that there’s another reason for the hitting being unbearable because it’s rather hard to talk about but it literally triggers my flight or freeze response and I just freeze up and get really tense.
I’m hoping to land a good job next week and I have an interview for said job. If I get it, I’m kicking around the idea of just telling her I won’t have time between college and a full-time job. This Saturday gig was supposed to just help me through until I found something else, anyway.
I feel like a terrible person because I feel obligated to stick it out and just put up with it to give their mom a break and she’s the one who puts up with the bad behavior 24/7/365. I feel selfish for wanting to back out because I’m not willing to put up with hitting and so forth. 🫣

This is an advice/rant post so please y’all bear with me!
I have 8 years of experience as a nanny/babysitter. I’m in college and the financial struggle is killing me. I don’t want to leave the nannying profession until I reach Level Two as a student nurse but it looks like I might have to.
My rates reflect my experience as a nanny as well as the responsibilities that nanny parents want. I charge $22-$25 per hour, depending on the number of kids and responsibilities. But I’m afraid it’s too much for people here in East Texas as people keep rejecting me due to my rates. I’ve been told over and over that they’re too high and I’m thinking about coming down to $15-$20 again. I don’t want to, it’d be easier to survive on my current rate but no one wants to pay it or they can’t afford it. I had a nurse practitioner reject me today because she wanted to pay the same amount she pays her daycare. 🫩
I’m going to get in touch with a few nanny agencies but I don’t have high hopes. Care.com and Sittercity are basically pointless. Any suggestions on my rates or even a different job would be appreciated. I like childcare, I prefer it over a fast food or customer service environment but I might have to suck it up and get a job along those lines.
Thanks y’all for listening to my rant!♥️