I do kinda need to work, unless we want to be hand to mouth, and I've done that for far too long. Having said this, I am taking what all of you say to heart and am going to do a strict 7:30-5:30. These are the hours I have now, and they're ok.

Incidentally, I sent a copy of my contract to the mother of two...she completely balked at the idea of me charging her full time rates for 6.5 hour days, and also told me that her "old sitter" only charged her for days her kids were physically there. NEXT!!!