How can I get people to stop thinking of me as a babysitter??

Question

I have no kids of my own YET but I love spending time with kids, and have a job that involves working with at-risk kids. Every time I start being friends with an adult, it turns into their wanting me to babysit for them. The conversations go like this: Them- "I really want to go see this one movie, and I was wondering if you're free Saturday night?" Me-(excited about seeing a movie) "Sure!" Them- "Great, cause me and Melony and Jane are going to go see it, and I was hoping you could watch Timmy for me." Me-"Uh...okay, I guess." I mean, I adore their kids, but I want to do adult things too, sometimes, with other adults! WTF???

Answer 1

You could suggest doing something really enjoyable and invite them to come. They will have to find a baby sitter for their kids that won't be you! Then you can have fun with them and mention how nice it is to do something together WITHOUT the kids. Hope they get the hint. Do it a few times to see if they get the message. If not then tell them outright you feel they ask you to babysit too much and you miss all the fun. Hopefully they'll realize they are guilty and stop asking you! If they have found another baby sitter on those times when you do go out then maybe she could take the weight off your shoulders!
I think you probably need to assess if you think they are using you (be honest!) and DITCH them if they are. They will only make you feel ashamed of yourself in the long run for putting up with it. How can they come round all the time drop their kids off and never ask you out?

Answer 2

Gosh, how rude! I am a single mother to a two year old son and I have only had my best friend baby sit once when my scheduled sitter (i pay for) fell through and I had to work.

I think you are meeting the wrong people. I don't have any single or married parent friends that ask people to baby sit that much. I would say either meet new people. Or, just say during conversation with someone, "oh, I hate it when people ask me to babysit." and hopefully they'll get the hint and stop asking you.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Tell them stagiht up that you were hoping that they were interested in inviting you too. Then tell them that you wouldn't mind babysitting but next time you would like to go along. It gives them two choices. Either they will say, "oh well you can come along I'll just find someone else." or "Ok, next I will invite you."

Answer 4

When they say that they want to go see the movie, tell them that that's the one that you wanted to see too.And before they could ask you to watch the kids, tell them that youare planning to go to the movies on Saturday to see it.

Answer 5

Let your NO! mean NO!! Quality time is precious...Sometimes an exorbitant rate will defer their asking

Answer 6

Charge them $25.00 an hour and see how fast they forget that idea!!!!!

Answer 7

Wanna "babysit" me?(-;