{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdiftk.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Freducing-rates-aYl8T8_o","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"When your parenthood is used to reduce your rate","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/5244e8dc-6968-4b85-8237-b52d9ddbebf9/460ce14e-d5a7-4841-a074-510b95dda8e0/diftk-podcast-artwork-gold.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"<iframe src=\"https://player.simplecast.com/0b7a792d-3baa-4e9d-b7d8-e3369a7bd5bf\" height=\"200\" width=\"100%\" title=\"When your parenthood is used to reduce your rate\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"></iframe>","height":200,"description":"“Hello freelance friends!\n\nI'd like your opinion on an email I’ve received from one of my longest and most favourite clients…\n\nAfter months of no work and no contact, she asked me last month if I have any availability in the next few weeks. I said ‘yes’ and also told her that my rates had gone up since we last spoke.\n\nHere is her reply:\n\n\"So I'd love to be able to put some work your way but the hourly rate is a bit high — is there any flexibility? I know you don't really do full days because of your daughter. Let me know.\"\n\nThis irritates me no end as it implies I should charge less because wI have childcare duties. (I also know she worked part-time and didn’t earn much when her kids were younger.)\n\nHow do you handle situations like these?\n\nI'll also add that another long-standing client just asked me for a lot of work over the next couple of months, so while I could fit her in, I don't have an awful lot of availability.\n\nWould love your thoughts.\n\nThanks, Lotus”"}