Howmuch do you pay for your helper?

[Dayhome Mamma]

Hey Cocoon,
I actually have two assistants. One for the morning and one for the afternoon. Morning one is 5 days a week and I pay her $11/hr right now as she just started 2 months ago. Afternoon one only comes in tues, wed, and thurs and I pay her $12.50 but I am going to give her a raise come September as she's been with us now for a year. I found them through kijiji by posting a detailed ad on how their day would look like exactly and what i wanted my assistants to do. then held many interviews on one scheduled days to meet with all the potential ones i thought might work.
I agree Momof4, that you can't expect your assistants to be responsible for the kids in your dayhome. I totally feel that I am 100% responsible for the kids and their well being no matter who is helping me out, and I make sure that I am able to still handle everything on my own as there are always times that someone sick or unable to come etc....I also feel that I am still the main provider running the show in regards to schedule, food activities, etc and though the thought did cross my mind of how weird it might be to have someone working with me in my own house, I can truly say that I have never felt that either have ever been in my way. In fact, they have been the opposite and have truly been my life enhancers and I appreciate them sooooo much! . Myy whole reason behind hiring them was to enrich my own quality of life as well as the children's but not to replace me. I view my assistants more as an addition to the program, where they bring a renewed energy to the children and I and do things with them that I may have not thought of. I give them the freedom to plan or choose to do their own activities, but still provide a schedule and structure that I find works best. And I don't spend all my money. I would say about 25-30% goes to invest in them, and I would probably be ok with it going up to 40 because that's how much I believe it is worth it. (I also forgot to mention that the one is a nursing student and the 2nd one is studying to be a kindergarten teacher so I don't take any highschool students) I feel my life is 100% better for it and it makes my job more enjoyable and much more stress free which is priceless. But yes, you cannot pass on the responsibility. And no matter how educated and experienced someone is in childcare, I find that mothers know how to handle everything best.