[-*meh*-]

This weekend my ex and i are both going to a music festival. Whilst it is his weekend he doesn't really have anyone to look after the kids so i organised it with my sister, 15yr old nephew and almost 13yr old niece.

Children will be there from 9am on saturday til 9am on sunday, i said to him that i am going to be giving both the teens $50 each, plus provide a bag of snacks/munchies for the day. Ex was surprised at the amount and basically thinks that i am giving them to much. Personally i think its a bargain deal for me and kinda think i should probably give them more (potentially give dinner money to depending what my sister has organised).

My sister or her partner will be home for most, if not all, of the time but the majority of the entertaining will be done by the teens and whilst they are their cousins i feel like i should compensate them for a day they are giving up spending with mates by staying home.

So in this situation how much is really appropriate?

[FrogIsAFrogIsAFr...]

I reckon that's fair - it *is* a 24 hour shift, after all

Enjoy the festival!

[Hootabelles]

Add in some pizza money maybe. Sounds fun for all of you. Enjoy

[Rubyduck]

I also think $50 each is fair due to the length of time and I would probably include a dinner allowance (provided nothing was organised by your sister) I'm just wondering why your paying and not your ex?? It's his weekend his job to sort out babysitting, your already doing him a favour by having your family look after the kids why are you also paying for it?????

[Lil Chickens]

^^^ This is what I was thinking!

Oh, and I think it is fair too.

[unicycle]

Very fair. This will be very tiring for the teens. My young teen gets $10 an hour, but really only does it as a favour to the parents she sits for as she doesn't buy/want much and is full - on busy with homework.

[envs]

I think it's cheap! 25 years ago a friend and I got $30 each and dinner for 4 hours' worth of babysitting 2 kids.....it might be different because you're family tho

[mintjoolips]

I don't understand why it's your problem it's his weekend His responsibility, god forbid he actually for go a music festival to spend time looking after his own children. Of course he thinks its too much he doesn't want to organize it or pay for it himself lazy prick or compensate you the money.

Think you have been played the fool here!

[MicM]

Cheap, I pay my cousin's kids (teenagers) $50 for a night to look after my kids. The cousins would do it free because they love the kids but I don't feel I can ask them to babysit & not pay them.

If they offer to take the kids out or want to come over & see us then that's different, no payment.

[YodaTheWrinkledO...]

Add in some pizza money maybe. Sounds fun for all of you. Enjoy

this. Pizza/thai/fish&chip money - enough to cover dinner.

And your ex should be paying half. After all, it was supposed to be his weekend with the kids and you've organised care - the LEAST he should do is pay half. Preferably all of it.