In Missouri, a science teacher named Katrina Ivan devised a unique approach to enhance date nights with her husband while offering an extra opportunity for her babysitter to earn more money. Katrina, a busy mother juggling work and family responsibilities, recently went viral on TikTok after sharing a practical and straightforward note she left for her babysitter. The message included optional tasks with small rewards for each completed chore, a gesture she believed could be beneficial for both her household and her sitter.
Katrina’s now-viral TikTok video, which has amassed over 1.5 million views, showcases a chore list intended for her babysitter, a responsible high school senior whom Katrina has known for four years. The list is simple but considerate, reading: “You are more than welcome to hang out and watch TV all night, but if you want to make some extra $, these jobs are up for grabs.” With this list, Katrina created a win-win situation: while the babysitter could simply watch over Katrina’s child, she could also choose to tackle a few tasks around the house and earn additional money for her time.
Katrina explained how, within minutes of leaving, she noticed through her Ring camera that her babysitter had already started cleaning the windows, embracing the opportunity enthusiastically. “She was like, ‘Heck ya!’ and got to work right away,” Katrina shared with her followers. To make things easier, Katrina had organized all necessary supplies beforehand so her babysitter wouldn’t have to search around the house. This thoughtfulness seemed to make the arrangement even more attractive for her babysitter, who immediately got to work.
When Katrina’s TikTok video went live, the responses poured in, and the reactions were mixed. Viewers were both intrigued and divided over the list, with some commending her innovative approach to outsourcing minor household chores and others raising concerns over the task prices. At the end of her video, Katrina invited her viewers to share their honest thoughts, sparking a spirited online debate.
Among the responses, some viewers praised Katrina’s approach, suggesting it gave the babysitter the freedom to help if she wished while earning extra cash. One user commented, “I think this is great. Especially your saying pick and choose if you want to do some or all or none. I would have loved the list to know how to help.” Many babysitters themselves expressed appreciation, with one noting, “THIS IS SUCH A GOOD IDEA! As a babysitter, I always would clean random things but wasn’t sure if they wanted me to, so having a list with $ is so smart!”
However, a few comments questioned the chore payment rates, suggesting that certain tasks seemed undervalued. One viewer noted, “I think $10 is too cheap for some of these tasks considering the amount of work/size of the mess.” Another commenter offered a different perspective, stating, “Hey! As a teenager who babysits, I think these prices are totally reasonable. There’s a few that might need to be a little more, but it looks good!”
Katrina, aware of these comments, later shared that the chore rates align with local standards in her rural Missouri community, where the cost of living is generally lower. She explained that the extra payments were not meant to be a primary income for the babysitter but rather small incentives for additional help if the sitter had the time and inclination. “The cost of living here is pretty cheap,” she stated, acknowledging that the compensation might appear low in other regions. She and her husband both hold two jobs to maintain their household and often feel stretched thin when it comes to keeping up with housework. Katrina expressed that this small-scale outsourcing offers a much-needed solution to tackle the housework that tends to pile up.
Over time, Katrina has noticed that her babysitter, now familiar with the routine, has begun to tackle the entire list during her babysitting shifts, helping keep the house more organized. Looking ahead, the family even has plans for a special Super Bowl weekend where the sitter will assist Katrina in sorting and packing her son’s clothes for donation, marking another thoughtful collaboration.
The conversation around Katrina’s chore list reflects a modern perspective on household support and childcare arrangements. While some find the idea beneficial for both parties, others feel that household tasks might be too demanding for a teenager working as a babysitter. Nevertheless, Katrina’s approach has certainly introduced a new way to consider balancing family, work, and household management, highlighting how families can creatively navigate their unique needs.