News flash: Child care is expensive.
As People reports, a nanny named Sophia Pagliuca, who has eight years of experience, has gone viral by sharing the texts she received from parents between 2017 and 2019, all of whom were shocked — shocked! — at the prices that she quoted them to take care of their children.
One woman wanted Sophia to take care of four children under the age of 5, suggesting, “It wouldn’t take much effort at all.” When Sophia replied that her rate was $20 per hour, the parent said that she only wanted to pay $15, arguing that the job would be “ridiculously easy.”
Then the mom explained, “All you have to do is make them breakfast, pack lunches, get them dressed, brush their teeth, make sure their bags are packed and then drive to school.”
When Sophia stood firm, the woman scolded her, saying she didn’t need to be making $20 per hour “to do a job I could very well do.” She accused Sophia of having a superiority complex and added, “Good luck but all the ladies I know won’t be accommodating this kind of behavior.”
Another parent wanted Sophia to work 60 hours per week for a weekly salary of $300. Another offered her $14/hour to look after three kids and teach them how to play piano. Yet another wanted Sophia to spend the weekend taking care of a 9-month-old baby, three dogs that needed to be walked and fed, as well as a cat, for $275 plus tip.
Sophia tells People, “If I can help other nannies realize that this treatment is unacceptable, they can more effectively advocate for themselves in the future.”