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I BABYSAT 5 KIDS DURING THEIR FAMILY VACATION, BUT THEN THEIR ENTITLED PARENTS DEMANDED $1,000 FROM ME FOR MY PLANE TICKETS – THE LESSON THEY LEARNED WAS PRICELESS.A few months ago, the Millers, a family I babysit for, invited me on a vacation to a fancy cruise. They needed me to take care of their 5 children. I mentioned to them I couldn’t really afford such an expensive trip, but Mrs. Miller assured me everything would be TAKEN CARE OF. So, I accepted. While the Millers were relaxing on the deck, enjoying fancy dinners, and attending shows, I was constantly busy, supervising the children.Then came the final day of the cruise. We got back home, and the very next morning, Mrs.Miller summoned me to the dining room.Mrs. Miller: “Sarah, when are you going to reimburse us for the $1,000?”Me: “Excuse me, $1,000? For what exactly?”Mrs. Miller: “For what?! We forked out a fortune for your cruise ticket. You should be grateful enough to at least cover the cost of that.”Me: “But you told me everything was covered by you…”Mrs. Miller: “I don’t recall saying that. Just give us the money back. You have five days.”I was shocked and angry but decided to remain calm. That evening, the perfect idea struck me. So, I… ⬇️That evening, the perfect idea struck me. I spent the next few hours meticulously calculating every single hour I had worked on the cruise. From breakfast until bedtime, and even the late nights when one of the kids would wake up scared or needing something, I wrote it all down. Then, I researched the average hourly rate for a babysitter, factoring in the fact that it was a vacation, and I was caring for five children. The numbers started to add up quickly.
The next day, armed with my detailed notes and calculations, I went back to the Millers’ house. Mrs. Miller answered the door, a smug look on her face.
Mrs. Miller: “Well, Sarah? Do you have our money?”
Me: “Good morning, Mrs. Miller. Actually, I came to discuss the payment. You see, I’ve been thinking about our arrangement, and I realized something.”
I pulled out a neatly written sheet of paper.
Me: “During the cruise, I worked approximately ten hours a day, every day, for seven days. That’s seventy hours in total. Considering I was responsible for five children, ensuring their safety and entertainment throughout your vacation, and the average vacation babysitting rate is around $25 per hour per child, my services actually amount to…” I paused for effect, looking directly at her. “…$8,750.”
Mrs. Miller’s smug expression faltered, replaced by disbelief. Mr. Miller, who had joined his wife at the door, looked equally stunned.
Mr. Miller: “Eight thousand… what are you talking about?”
Me: “I’m talking about fair compensation for my work. While you were enjoying your cruise, I was actively working, ensuring your children were well-cared for and allowing you to relax. You mentioned everything was ‘taken care of’ before the trip, and I understood that to mean my expenses, including travel, were covered in exchange for my services. However, if you insist on splitting hairs and focusing on the ticket price, then I believe it’s only fair to also consider the value of my time and effort.”
I handed them the sheet of paper with my calculations. They both stared at it, their faces paling slightly.
Mrs. Miller: “But… but we didn’t ask you to calculate your hours like that! We just wanted the $1,000 for the ticket.”
Me: “And I am showing you that focusing on just the ticket price is incredibly short-sighted. My services were worth far more than that. In fact, I could argue that you should be paying me $7,750, even after deducting the cost of the ticket you are demanding.”
Silence hung in the air. Mr. Miller finally broke it, clearing his throat.
Mr. Miller: “Okay, Sarah. We… we understand your point.” He looked at his wife, who was still speechless. “Perhaps we weren’t entirely clear in our initial conversation. We appreciate you taking care of the kids on the cruise. It did allow us to relax.”
Mrs. Miller finally found her voice, albeit a much softer one. “Yes, thank you, Sarah. Forget about the $1,000. And… maybe we can discuss your usual babysitting rates for future evenings?”
Me: “That sounds fair.” I smiled genuinely for the first time since their initial demand. “Thank you.”
I left the Millers’ house feeling a sense of satisfaction. They hadn’t just saved $1,000; they had learned a valuable lesson about entitlement and the real cost of services. And I learned that sometimes, standing your ground and being smart is the best way to deal with unreasonable people. The lesson they learned was indeed priceless, and for me, it was a victory in itself.