Most babysitters come from within families or circles of friends, and more than half of them—about 51%—do the job without any pay. Caring for children is a serious responsibility, and since reliable sitters aren’t always easy to find, it’s no surprise that parents often turn to those they trust most.
One of our readers, Anne, found herself in a tricky situation when her sister asked her to babysit at the last minute. She shared her story with us, and we decided to offer some advice.
Message from Julia
Hello,
My name is Julia, I’m 28 years old, and I work a flexible job that allows me to do most of my tasks from home. Last weekend, I had planned to catch up on some work so I could enjoy a lighter schedule during the week.
On Friday, I got a call from my sister, Melissa. We don’t see each other as often as we used to, but she asked if I could babysit her three young kids over the weekend because she and her husband wanted to take a spontaneous trip. I told her I already had work planned, but Melissa offered to pay me for the babysitting.
So, I agreed—on the condition that she pay me $25 per hour. That’s actually much lower than what I earn at my regular job, but I thought it was fair since I’d be giving up my time and income. Melissa, however, was immediately offended. She told me that babysitters usually earn much less and reminded me that I’m family.
I tried to explain that I wasn’t free—I’d be sacrificing work hours to watch her children. But instead of understanding, she called me selfish, hung up, and later her husband messaged me saying they had to cancel their trip because of me.
Now I’m left feeling guilty and upset. I don’t want this argument to damage my relationship with Melissa, but I also feel like my time and effort should be respected.
What should I do to make peace with my sister while still standing up for myself?
Sincerely,
Julia
