Mount Pleasant Magazine May/June 2019

61 www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.BestOfMP.com | www.ReadMPM.com feature if they know anyone (i.e., “Mount Pleasant Mom to Mom”). Similarly, sitters often post on these groups looking for gigs. • Care.com, Sittercitty.com and apps like Sitter: Don’t be afraid to utilize these sites and apps; their success truly depends on the interview questions you ask and making sure you and your sitter are on the same page, so expectations are met. And, of course, always run a background check. Which leads me to … setting expectations: • Rate: Believe me, your sitter already, or should, have a rate in mind for what her time is worth. Ask her what her rate “range” is ($10-$12 an hour, $15-$18 an hour, etc.) and see if that range is a rate you’re willing to pay. • Hours: Will the hours be locked in, and the sitter paid a flat rate. … Or will she be paid overtime for every tick of the clock you’re late? These are things everyone wants to know and will save both the sitter and parents a dose of anxiety. • Driving: If the sitter is driving a substantial amount, consider upping the pay to the higher end of her desired rate, and vice versa if the commute is relatively easy. Travel time and gas are factors sitters consider when calculating their rates. • Number of children: It is not uncommon for sitters to add a dollar to their rate for each additional child (many agencies do this); please bear in mind — if your sitter does this — the additional work and extra little hands, feet and mouths that will be in the house. • Discipline / rules / schedules: I often found it helpful to share a “notes” document in my phone when nannying with the mother to show who gets picked up from where, what’s for dinner, what the girl needed to wear to dance, etc. We were able to communicate through that note, and it was a journal of sorts for that week. • Credit cards / reimbursement: Often, more-so with a nanny situation, you may ask your children’s caretaker to buy them snacks, school uniforms or stop and get the groceries. Emergencies do happen, and, sometimes, the nanny or sitter might personally cover charges, but developing a system in the beginning where the nanny or sitter is not using her personal funds will save that caretaker the awkwardness of “asking” you for money owed or you the confusion of figuring out what was bought that week on various cards. 642 Coleman Boulevard • Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843.856.9277 www.babybloomershome.com Timeless and Traditional 15 15 RELIEVE STIFFNESS & SORENESS FEEL LIGHTER & YOUNGER INCREASE & MAINTAIN RANGE OF MOTION ENHANCE PHYSICAL & ATHLETIC SKILLS Stop in for a FREE 30 Minute Stretch What have you got to lose except tension, stress and lack of mobility? www.StretchZone.com Two Locations 320 West Coleman Blvd. Mt. Pleasant, S.C. 843-388-3331 3381 South Morgan Point #505 Mt. Pleasant, S.C. 843-388-3059 Stretch Zone has revolutionized the fitness industry and completely reinvented the concept of “ the stretch .” 15 15 I & SORENE S I & Y UNGER I I I RANGE OF MOTION SI AL & ATHLETIC SKI LS St i f r 30 inute Stretch What have you got to lose except tension, stress and lack of mobility? www.StretchZone.com Two Locations 320 West oleman Blvd. Mt. Pleasant, S.C. 843-388-3331 3381 Sou h Morgan Point # 05 Mt. Pleasant, S.C. 843-388-3059 Stretch Zone has revolutionized the fitness industry and completely reinvented the concept of “ the stretch .”