Vsem hello!
As, you can tell, I post very rarely on this forum, although I do check it often. The reason being, is do to always forgeting my password.
This post actually, not only caught my attention, but caused me to click on "forgot your password button"! Those that personally have met me, after Irelocated to GA, know I'm not one of those loud and rude people, but, I really need to vent on this particular post!
Not to be excrutiatingly rude to Verochka, is a concern that I have when as I write this, but I have tp agree with most of the replies that other members have posted in regards to this particular ad!
I have a degree in completely something other than early childhood education, although I did consider it as a major way back when..., but due to my love and amazement towards children of early childhood age - I have ended up working in this field, by choice, years after I completed my actual degree. Prior to and since my relocation to GA about 6 months ago, (Wow, time does fly!!!), I researched the market for early chilhood teachers and paraprofessionals (which is, basically similar to a TA). I have to say that even a TA position in most cases, even in the very lowest range I found it as I went through interviews, pays more then $7.00 per hour. I realize that there would be a higher child to teacher ratio, but often it's not by much if the school is of mid - higher end of the business, plus there are state guidelines to govern that, if they are always followed as intended by law is a whole other topic. In any case, I have even found that a few early chilhood schools, or as they are reffered to these days by their owner "early childhood learning centers" pay $10 -$12, even for the TA position. Sadly, the industry, although highly demanded during the current "baby boom all over again"/"baby everything" day's, really isn't appreciated for all that the employees put in, and what parents end paying the franchise for it's name and reputation from over time. I'm not sure how much the owners walk off w/ of "clean profit", after all monthly/yearly expenses to run the center, but usually it's more then the teachers for sure, as in any business.
I totally feel that childcare professionals, who are often reffered to as "simply babysitters" by their peers or older generations, whom are/were highly educated in more prestigious fields, are really not valued as much as they should be, and their salary goes on to prove it, and so does, this very same thing of belitteling everything that entails the responsibility and all other aspect this job comes along with! I'm not a parent yet, unfortunately, but I have spoken to and am friends of many old, new and parent's to be :-). I would be especially concerned, if I were in a situation of a parent looking for childcare of a child whom I deeply care about, love and don't want to be mistreated! If parents expect for their money to go the way they are promissed that it would, at the time of their 1st tour of the potential care center for their child, they need to research intensely all the possible centers and options. Personally, I'd be real scared and horrified to offer such a disrespectful amount of money for a care of my child, which I so hope to have as soon as an opportunity arrises and/or becomes appropriete in my life. You know, out there in the current day world people say "what you pay 4 is what you get", same applies not only to the goods on the market, (most often made on in China, if they are less expensive and of less quality), but also to the service industry. Even, if it's a service of taking care of a child, child being safe and a parent to be able to have 98%, internal feeling of assurance and trust that the person or a center whome they left ultimately responsible 4 their child's life, safety and learning/play experience, is able and willing to do so and not just on paper.
Often, daycares promise parents, but do nothing to motivate or create incentives for their employees, and I've seen this result in disaster personally. I would never, even if I had very little money, offer a caretaker of my child (future child), minimum or bellow minimum wage! My explanation is simple: I don't want to be one of those parents placing a hidden camera to be able to see my child while @ work, and the next thing I know..to find myself in a similar situation that would make CNN, FOX or MSNBC "breaking news" segment! They've been having more then enough of those on the news lately, and each and every single one pains me on a very personal level. It is true, that I am a sensitive person, but it is also true that I'm a very sincere and caring person, and no child or parent deserves to go through what they show on TV news these days! There are a lot of people there who can lie w/ a straight face. I've found that mostly in relation to men, however after seeing some things in this field, many "loving / child adoring" provider's that accept very low salary, are decievers and unfortunately for some reason (also, as in most other fields ou there), they always end up being hired for the job. So I'd, rather, hire somebody in whome I have a feeling of trust and peace towards, and pay some more or at least the fair rate, which is fair for the area that my family would reside @ that time, than try to save on or risk the safety of my child! Sometimes, people can get lucky and get both good price for one to one care, and safety of their child/children, but with the generation/ demographoics of people most often replying for such privatly payed position(s), that is often doing such jobs are rapidly declining in quality and ethics.
Personally, when I do these type of jobs once in a while, or those that I know that do them these days never charge less then $10 per hour, and that's even called being fair and sensitive, and trying to work with the "parents situation" rate! I usually hate to state what I charge upfront, and I'm often not comfortable when asked directly, but most often my response is what I had been most resently payed for same/similar responsibilities of what a parent is looking for. I actually heard, and by the way, way back in October of last year (2007) - a coleague in GA speaking to a parent who was asking her how much she would want and hour if she'd be available 4 the time and day this parent needed her. Even I, and many of you and not just Verochka will be shocked at the answer, that this particular girl gave. The girl quoted that she'll charge them $14, since it was only one child and I was very sorry tha the parent didn't ask me 1st, due to the fact that my rate would be fairer by $2.00 back then, and most of the time as of now. She, then, went on to say, when she saw the shock on my face, that 4 two children she charges an additional $2 dollars an hour, and she's actually had gotten that and more when there were 3 children under her care and on hourly basis. I was shocked b/c this rate was @ least a $1.50 more @ 14 per hour, then the rate in the state I moved to GA from!
Since, then the price per gallon of gas seems to be growing, as it's some kind of "rare yeast" added to the flour, in order to grow the dough in order to make bread! I think it's disrespectful to even post such an ad, hoping for a positive reply - knowing the distances that people need to drive on daily basis in order to get to their place of work and from work to get home. In all seriousity, if Verochka you feel, that this is all you can afford at this time to pay someone for the care of your 2 kids, my honest and sincere advise would be for you to stay at home with them your self! That way you'd know they are safe w/ you, what you fed them and you wouldn't use up gas to go to work and many other things, including nerves in order to find a childcare person who'd accept this much an hour. So this, will save you enough money that you otherwise had to factor into your budget to figure out what you could afford to pay the babysitter per hour. You'd also be spending quality time hours and days with your little ones! In case you haven't noticed, they do grow up really fast! One of the children who was only 5 months when I 1st started working at the job, which I couldn't leave to move here, b/c I and he were so attached to each other, is already about to turn 3 years old in 3 months, and it all seems like it was at the most a year ago that he 1st came to the daycare I worked at. I used to work w/ preschool ages children @ the same daycare, prior to being transfered to the Infant and Toddler Center(ITC) part of the daycare! So, what I trying to express to you Verochka and others in a similar situation, is that it all has it's benefits and negatives!
Also, please realize that if you are looking to get out of the house you can arrange your scheduale somehow, to do it very part time on 2 or 3 days a week. this way you and your children would have time w/ one another and you will be able to ketch a breath outside thje house! In the case, that by the cruelty of today's world you are a single mom, you can get state help for childcare expenses, aside from the tax credit. I'd rather pay some of that, than for gas that it would take to make $280 per week and spend 40 hours from my family/or whatever similar to the type "family" situation I'm in. Even, if it's @ least 40 hours and would add up 2 -> $280 plus, during some of the weeks. Just as much as you value your time, and your being able to make money for the welfare of your children and family situation, you really need to consider that for the many people who got ofended by your ad! Most people work to make money for living expenses, especially those looking for additional sources of income or hired to provide service/care type jobs that a lot of other professionals would not chose, over their career opportunities. A few others do this out of not being able to satisfy theri need to be able to positively, sincerely and effectively affect a child's life, not just to make the most money possible, that they could make off of a parent's whatever situation "urgent" or "non-urgent" may be. But, those are few and they to need pay for gas, in most cases, in this huge state of GA, as opposed to some sates that would prove to be less humagous and be more "gas user" friendly, plus for them 2 $es for food and all other consumer goods are growing w/ the same speed as for most of us - parents, or not parents as of yet.
People, I am sorry for the length of this reply and I also appologize for the grammar and spelling mistakes and/or typos, I really have no time or strength at this point to spell check it. But as I wrote, above, in the beginning this topic was a little too personal. I had ran into this @ least once before here..., so I needed to express my view/disappointment.
I wish you good luck trying to sort out the solutions for your childcare situation needs, b/c unless it will be a aperson close to 65 or 70 years of age, I unfortunately and seriously doubt that someone would say OK to care and be responsible for to children @ the rate that you stated in your original post, unless somehow you made a typo to begin w/, which caused this rate of replies, opinions and negativity.
All the best to everyone! I don't mind people sending me the PM's, so feel free to do so! I'll try to reply to most personally or on the forum :-)! I know some will feel personally feel like this message relates to them, and I'm sorry if it will anger them, but my opinion and stance on this is @ least an honest one, and hopefully it will be taken as advise and not pure confrantation.
Irina
