The K. Grace Experience: Flexible, Convenient Babysitting in Chicago -- Part Four

Sara and I hope that we have given you a good feel for the client experience at K. Grace Childcare, but we recognize that a few questions may remain. Based on the feedback we've gotten from readers, we thought that we would create our very own "FAQ" (Frequently Asked Questions) post to try and tie up any loose ends.

(1) How much does K. Grace cost?

Once your application is accepted, fees are collected on a monthly basis based on hours used in that calendar month. After the first three months*, the fees are as follows:

1-25 hour placement (in a given calendar month): $55
25-100 hour placement (in a given calendar month): $100
101-140 hour placement (in a given calendar month): $125
140-400 hour placement (in a given calendar month): $200

* For the first three months that you are a client, an additional $100 per month fee applies.

Additional fees also apply for last minute placements, overnight placements, and cancellation fees. And if you don’t use any hours in a month (say, like if you take an extended vacation or your mother-in-law comes to town and becomes your live-in babysitter), then you aren’t charged anything at all for that month. So you just end up paying for the service hours that you actually use.

Is this service cheap? No, but it’s true what they say: you really do get what you pay for. K. Grace is licensed by the city and state, fully insured and bonded, and all staff are licensed employment counselors. And of course, they put every sitter through an intensive screening process. The fees that K. Grace charges its clients covers the costs of providing first-rate childcare to Chicago families.

(2) What do the sitters think about this process?

K. Grace obviously wouldn't exist were it not for the extremely well-qualified babysitters they employ. Here is what some of the K. Grace sitters have to say about their experiences.

K. Grace's thorough interview process not only let me know that I would be
joining true professional childcare providers but also made me feel proud
because I knew my accomplishments in the childcare field were valued. The
mutual respect and high standards make K. Grace a great fit for me.
As someone who came to K. Grace for a second income, I more often find
myself making time (in my already full schedule) because of the families I
get to work with as opposed to a financial goal. The families are truly
great and each experience has been wonderful! - Susie Fogle

K Grace's interview process was the most rigorous of any other job I've had.
There is clearly great care in choosing sitters for jobs as each job I have
been assigned to through K Grace has been a perfect fit! If I were a parent
looking for a babysitter, I would not hesitate to call K Grace.
- Jami Garton

When going through the hiring process for K Grace, I was amazed at how
thorough it is. With two online applications, a group interview, an
individual interview, a background check, and quizzes, I have to admit that
I thought it was all a bit much. However, after having gone through it all,
I can't help but think, if I were a parent, I would want all my sitters to
have to go through the same process! It serves as K Grace's promise to
their families that they aren't willing to settle for anything but the best.
I would go through it all again in a heartbeat!
- Jenn Walton

I chose K Grace because it does what I feel are the hard parts--scheduling,
organizing, putting together important information, etc-- and lets me do all
the fun stuff! What more could a sitter ask for? I feel so supported by
the management; it was clear to me on the first interview (and very clear
after the third) that I was going to be part of a very, very capable team.
It was as if the staff at K Grace went to the produce section in the grocery
store and looked at EVERY SINGLE apple twice before deciding on the best twoor three. The questions I answered were carefully chosen, very conscientious, and each time I was asked back, my confidence in myself grew because I knew that K Grace thought I was special enough for a group of equally special kids.
- Leah Ellenbogen

(3) How can my family get to know the babysitters beforehand?

Let’s be honest – leaving your kid with someone that you don’t know very well can be stressful for everyone involved. K. Grace always wants to do whatever it can to make this introduction process go as smoothly as possible. When the new K. Grace website launches this spring, clients will receive emails from new sitters along with a photo so that your kids know who to expect when the door bell rings. K. Grace can also arrange “play dates” (with plenty of advance notice) so that your kids can spend some time with a new sitter before the first official babysitting date.

As with all areas of the K. Grace experience, the management encourages you to bring any questions or concerns to their attention. They want to do whatever they can to ensure a happy experience for you, your kids and your sitter.

(4) What can I expect when I work with a “team” of sitters?

For families who are accustomed to relying on only one or two regular babysitters, the idea of working with a “team of sitters” might be kind of intimidating. As I mentioned in last week’s post, K. Grace goes through great lengths to match your family with sitters that are right for you. They are taking into account all of the information in your detailed application – plus all of their knowledge about each individual sitter and making the best possible matches.

If you have a reoccurring needs (like every Tuesday afternoon), then you can pretty much expect to have the same sitter each week. If you have a one-time request, K. Grace checks with all of your previous sitters (according to how you have ranked them) before moving on to a new sitter. So as your “team” grows, the chances of having a new sitter decreases.

Plus, because K. Grace sitters follow certain protocols and procedures, you can expect a level of consistent quality from each and every sitter. As a client, I can tell you that my experience with K. Grace has encouraged me to think about my childcare needs on a more long-term basis. For example, K. Grace encourages clients to request their placements for a given month at one time whenever possible. This kind of advance notice allows for a great chance that the same sitter will be available to cover more of your family’s requests.

(5) How is this service different from just finding good babysitters on my own?

I have found that K. Grace not only saves me time finding sitters and then booking them for particular dates, but I’ve also realized that I could never do the type of thorough screening that they do on my own. I don’t have the time or resources for background checks, interviews and training sessions with every single potential sitter. I can’t really imagine myself asking each sitter for proof of their CPR certification. K. Grace does all of this for each and every client.

I’ve also come to really value the fact that I can always count on the K. Grace sitters (as opposed to running the risk that my own sitter might get sick or cancel). When K. Grace says that you will have sitter for a certain time and date, you can rest assured that a sitter will be there -- on time and ready to take excellent care of your kiddos.

Did we answer your question? If not, please feel free to email Kayme, the owner of K. Grace Childcare at info@kgracechildcare.com. Trust me, she will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have (she is super friendly and a parent of two herself).

Does this personalized and detail-oriented childcare service sound like something that might make be a helpful addition to your family life? Want to try it out? K. Grace is offering you the chance to win a $160 voucher towards placement services (which is fantastic -- because you will have the chance to use a few different K. Grace sitters and really get a feel for the experience over time). Note that, in order to provide the best level of service to their clients, certain geographic limitations apply and the winner is responsible for compensating the babysitter for her/his time).

There are two ways you can enter to win: (1) leave a comment on this post (be sure to include your contact information so we can reach you if you win! and (2) Become a fan of K. Grace childcare on Facebook. So 2 total entries per person. All entries must be received by midnight CST on Monday, February 28, 2011. We will contact all of the winners from all of the giveaways next week.

Disclosure: I am working with K. Grace to help spread the word about their services and I am being compensated for my time.

The Happy Couple

Eleanor and David before their second (annual, I hope) Father Daughter Dance.

The K. Grace Experience: Flexible and Convenient Childcare in Chicago -- Part 3

This post is the third installment in a series about the K. Grace Childcare experience. Need to catch up? Read Part One here and Part Two over on Self-Made Mom.

I've had good babysitters. I've had terrible babysitters. And I've had babysitters that were . . . you know . . . just fine.

In my ongoing search for childcare for my kiddos, I've learned that not all sitters are a good fit for every family. Have you ever had a friend recommend a babysitter to you and then find yourself surprised when you didn't love this sitter as much as your friend and her family do? I don't think that is an uncommon experience. The truth is that the term "good sitter" means something different to everyone.

At K. Grace Childcare, they take steps to ensure that you not only get a great sitter -- but you get a sitter that is a great fit for your family. And honestly, I am not sure how you would be able to conduct this sort of intensive, personalized screening process on your own. It really is unique to the K. Grace experience.

Before you become a client at K. Grace, you spend some time (I would say that it took me about 15 minutes total) to complete their online application form. This detailed questionnaire is designed to elicit all sorts of information -- from any special needs that your kids have to your approach to discipline at home. The form also provides plenty of opportunities for you to share as much information as you want (like whether or not television is allowed or any other special requests).

After you fill out the online form, all clients receive a call from Erin Barlow, the client services manager at K. Grace. She follows up in detail (serious detail) about how the screening process works and how certain sitters are determined to be a good match for your family. Erin explained to me that after the K. Grace sitters complete a rigorous application process, they are trained to follow a certain "baseline protocol." For example, every K. Grace sitter will remove her shoes upon entering you home and wash her hands before interacting with your children. The sitters all know to engage the children right away and keep a detailed log of their activities while you are gone (which is so helpful because you know all of the ins and outs of meals, sleeping, diaper changes and moods when you return home).

When I recently used K. Grace sitter Abby to hang out with my little guy Colin for a few hours during the day, she kept a fantastic (and also adorable) log. She noted how long Colin napped -- and also that she had heard him cough over the monitor a few times (this was helpful information given that he was developing a little cold). She also noted that he was a bit upset when he first woke up, but then adjusted and devoured his snack. Abby even mentioned that she was impressed with Colin's communication skills! See -- helpful and adorable.

K. Grace also does their best to provide you with the type of sitter introduction that you are looking for. When their new website debuts in the spring, clients will even receive a photo and personalized email from new sitters (which creates the opportunity for you to say, "Hey guys, come here so I can show you a picture of our new friend Abby!"). If a client wants to meet their prospective sitter before the first official sitting date, K. Grace will do their best to arrange such a meeting.

When we recently tried two new K. Grace sitters, we received emails from Erin Barlow with information about each sitter prior to her arrival. For example, I knew where each sitter attended school (plus her major!) and whether she was local to my neighborhood. The email also included information about the sitter's other jobs or hobbies, plus feedback from other K. Grace clients. These "recommendations" from fellow clients provided very helpful insight into each sitter's individual personality.

I found this experience to be so very different from having a new person show up at my door to watch my kids. I already knew a lot about each sitter before she arrived. Plus, I felt confident that the folks at K. Grace has put lots of thought into matching these particular babysitters to our family.

Client feedback is another crucial component in the personalized service. K. Grace requires clients to provide online feedback whenever they have a new sitter. This information helps them know what type of sitter to send to your house on your next request. When you make a placement request, K. Grace first reaches out to sitters that you have ranked a "10" in the past. They wait to hear back about availability from all of those sitters before they move down the list to sitters that you've given a lower rank.

Does this personalized and detail-oriented childcare service sound like something that might make be a helpful addition to your family life? Want to try it out? K. Grace is offering a Chicago family the chance to experience their placement process for free (a $40 value). The winner will have the opportunity to experience what it is like to be a client at K. Grace (note that, in order to provide the best level of service to their clients, certain geographic limitations apply and the winner is responsible for compensating the babysitter for her/his time).

There are two ways you can enter to win: (1) leave a comment on this post (be sure to include your contact info so we can reach you if you win!) and (2) Become a fan of K. Grace Childcare on Facebook. So 2 total entries per person. All entries must be received by midnight (CST) on Monday, February 21, 2011.

If you don't win this week, check back here on Tuesday, February 22nd for the final installment in this four-part series on finding flexible and convenient childcare in Chicago -- plus, you'll have another chance to win a free placement from K. Grace!

Disclosure: I am working with K. Grace to help spread the word about their services and I am being compensated for my time.

Family-Friendly Fondue

If there were ever a time to try fondue -- this is it. The weather is miserable. We are basically snowed in -- except for absolutely essential outings.

Bring on the melted cheese and chocolate, I say!

Fondue can be a fun and novel family activity. Plus, it is yummy. Really yummy.

Interested? Have a look at my story in Chicago Parent about family-friendly fondue options.

The K. Grace Experience: Flexible, Convenient Babysitting in Chicago -- Part One

The truth is that I don't actually get out all that much. Most days, I am quite happy to just hang out at home tending to the needs of the little people in my life. But sometimes Mommy needs to get some work done -- or have a night out with Daddy -- or get my hair highlighted. You know, the "stuff" that all moms sometimes need to do.

But I absolutely cannot focus on my work or enjoy my "personal time" unless I am confident that my kiddos are in the care of a competent and kind caregiver. And as all of you parents out there know, finding competent and kind caregivers is not always an easy thing to do.

I have some regular sitters that I can rely on and trust. However, these babysitters each have their own busy lives -- full of other commitments. It is not unusual for me to reach out to three or four different potential babysitters before I find someone -- particularly during the day time hours. I have also had situations where I just haven't been able to find a sitter so I ended up canceling or rescheduling my plans.

Let's just say this -- finding consistent, reliable, quality childcare has not been an easy thing for me. And I have often wondered why this process can sometimes be so complicated and time-consuming.

Recently, my search for quality babysitting in the city led me to K. Grace Childcare. Maybe you've never heard of this company -- but I bet that you are exactly the type of family that would benefit from their services. K. Grace Childcare primarily offers part-time babysitting that fits into any family's ever-changing schedules (hey, like us!). That unique feature is why this service has been a perfect fit for my family.

K. Grace Childcare specializes in providing Chicago families with professional childcare services whenever they need it -- whether it be a one-time evening request or a reoccurring weekly time slot. Basically, when you need a top-notch babysitter, all you have to do is let K. Grace know and they will find you a sitter who is beyond qualified for the job.

So that means you don't have to email or call your entire list of available sitters to find someone for next Tuesday afternoon. As a client of K. Grace, you simply make a request for a sitter (ideally more than 48 hours in advance but they can work with less). K. Grace then selects from a "team" of sitters who they have already determined to be good matches for your family (based on both their extensive screening process and your completed application).

This sitter will show up at your house on time, take wonderful care of your kiddos, and allow you the piece of mind to get done whatever it is you need to take care of. It's pretty fantastic. This flexible service is perfect for such a range of circumstances -- everything from changing work schedules to days off of school or activities that conflict with a baby's nap schedule.

For example, on a Wednesday afternoon in late January, I volunteered to help out with my daughter's girl scout meeting so I needed someone to stay with my four-and-two year-old boys. I had booked a sitter weeks ago, but she had a change in her school schedule and had to cancel. I reached out to K. Grace and they sent a wonderful babysitter named Bailey over to our house. She kept my little guys entertained, successfully managed a somewhat complicated schedule of kiddie drop-offs and pick-ups and even dealt with a throw up incident. Most importantly, my boys loved her.

Does this service sound like something that might make your life a little bit easier? Want to try it out? K. Grace is offering a Chicago family the chance to experience their placement process for free (a $40 value). The winner will have the opportunity to experience what it is like to be a client at K. Grace (note that, in order to provide the best level of service to their clients, certain geographic limitations apply and the winner is responsible for compensating the babysitter for her/his time).

There are two ways you can enter to win: (1) leave a comment on this post (be sure to include your contact info so we can reach you if you win!) and (2) Become a fan of K. Grace Childcare on Facebook. So 2 total entries per person. All entries must be received by midnight (CST) on Monday, February 7, 2011.

And if you don't win this week, come back on Tuesday, February 8th for the next installment in this four-part series on finding flexible and convenient childcare in Chicago.

Next Tuesday, we will be talking more about exactly how the K. Grace Childcare process works from both a provider and client standpoint -- plus, you'll have another chance to win a free placement from K. Grace!

Disclosure: I am working with K. Grace to help spread the word about their services and I am being compensated for my time.