mothers helper job questions

In most case, people usually hire a young girl to be a mothers helper, are looking for cheap labor. I don’t think, even if they are well to do, they would pay $750 a week. I am sure, even their housekeepers don’t make that amount in a week, and if they do, let me know cuz I wish I could make that amount in a week. Seriously, they could just hire a someone, who will do the cleaning and babysitting for at least half that price, and still be a live-in. I think your father should be realistic in what he should be expecting a young girl as a mothers helper should be earning. In most cases it is peanuts. The families that hire mothers helper look at this way, that the girls should be happy they get to go away for the summer.

I remember I was a mothers helper, way back when, I could not believe what I got paid, it was nothing to write home about, and after hours if someone else needed me, they paid $1.00 an hour. I have no idea what today’s going rate for a mothers helper is today though. I think maybe ask your friends to see what they got paid.

Nowadays teenagers in camp hardly get paid, for the job they do, unless they luck out and get youth corp.

Basically it is cheap labor, and in some camps, the CIT’s have to pay for the “priviledge” to work in a camp. Never could understand why someone would want to pay to be a CIT. I just think it is taking advantage of kids.

For a family with a disabled child, they are usually aware that they cannot simply hire a baby sitter or cleaning help and receive personalized care for their child. Since you are well acquainted with their family, they will probably be relieved to have you offer your services and know that their child will be well taken care of during the vacation season. I think you should ask them what they are willing to pay and if they ask you for a figure, you should name the figure your father suggested and see what reaction you get. Since you are talking about sleeping with them and being a 24-hour live-in helper, you should get well paid for what you are doing, but keep in mind that they will be providing you with food during that time, so that may lower what you receive. Don’t forget to schedule yourself some time off, so you can go to the pool or anything else that you might want do during the days and determine beforehand what will happen during the nights. Sometimes people would assume that if they put you in the same room with the child/ren, you will handle whatever comes up during the nights. Enjoy your summer!

To the opening poster: You may think you are a bad negotiator, but I will readily give you a pass, as you are a 16-year-old kid. If price has not been discussed, your prospective employer would be foolish, if not worse, to think you have agreed to work for them, and they have no excuses for their mistake. Get some reliable market information (your father might be right, I don’t know), and be reasonable, but nobody should work below market, and, halachically, no Jew should pay below market.

That’s what I thought, unless this 16 year old has a degree I thougth it was outrageous that her father thinks she should be paid $750.00. The father has no idea, what a mothers helper get paid. Sorry they do not get paid in that bracket, ever, even if the family well-to-do.

Maybe an adult professional with years of experience and 100 degrees in the subject and is physical therapist. Guess she needed an awakening, in the matters of the pay of teenagers, particularly summer jobs. I am sure if the original poster won’t accept the amount offered, they will find another girl who will gladly take that $200 weekly amount and make a few hundred dollars for the summer.