My parents make me watch my younger siblings A LOT and one of them is uncontrolable, what do I do?

Question

I have to watch my younger siblings A LOT and one is 6 and one is a little over 1 year. The 6 year old is uncontrolable and I tell my parents this and they don't do anything about it! He just gets worse and worse! He doesn't listen to me at all! I've tried being patient, I've tried talking to him calmly, I've tried EVERY trick in the book and NOTHING works!! I don't know what to do! It frustrates me so much that sometimes I end up crying! I don't know how to make my parents understand or my younger sibling! Please, help me!

I'm a 14 year old girl. I've been babysitting since I was about 10 or 11.

I do show authority, no, I cannot spank him, I use a firm, low voice when speaking to him when he doesn't listen. I've tried giving punishments, but that does't work. I've tried asking my parents to punish him, then they do, but then they take those punishments away. When I was little I was raised right and I listened to them. Why are they so leniant with my younger siblings?

I do try to spend time with the 6 year old and do what he would like to do while the 1 year old is sleeping. When the 1 year old is awake as well, then I try to make sure we're all together or find something that the 6 year old can do. But he is so defiant and yes, I have told my parents time and time again that I am 14, not an adult, so I need some help, here's what my mom has said to me, this is word for word, "You just need to handle him." Gee, that doesn't help much now does it? They can't send them to daycare except for just one day a week because they can't afford it and one of them can't stay home, they both need to work. I feel like I've been forced to grow up too fast. I think I became an adult at 13. I grew up so fast only because I had to.

Answer 1

I am 24 years old now. I was once in the same position as you when I was your age. Taking care of younger siblings is a hard job and time consuming. It takes away your life and it is not fair. You can do what you want and eventually when they are your age, they can do anything without having to do anything for you. It is true that parents always take side of the younger siblings which is not fair. Parents can miss understand their children alot, which is a problem through childhood. Younger siblings never understand older siblings, while older siblings always understand younger siblings. That is not fair. Being the older child feels that no one can understand you when you are a kid. It is something that you can force them to do. I have tried everything, same as you and nothing works. They have to come around when they are older and realize that they are wrong and correct themselves then.
Sorry about that. Only your parents and your siblings can change themselves. You can't do much. You are only 14 and a child yourself. You need understanding and can't do much to help. It is not easy for a 14 year old to control someone. Parents can't even control kids, so no one is to blame a 14 year old for not being able to control younger siblings.

Answer 2

Yeah siblings can be hard to handle. How old are you?? Well if I were you I would tell my parents "no" next time they ask and stress to them what this is doing to u. If that doesn't work then see about staying with a close relative. (Such as grandparents or aunt and uncle) Its not fair to you to watch your siblings and them not listen to u. On top of that your parents don't do anything to prevent it. If your parents still make u watch them then take drastic measures.... now and by that I mean punish him.. spank them even. A little spanken will let him know your not joking. I have a 13 yr. old cousin who has to watch her brother and step brother and boy they are wild. She moved in with her grandmother for a while b/c her mom pretty much made her watch them all the time so she could go out. Its different now b/c we stressed it to her mom that its not right. She needs to be strict with the boys that they are to listen to the oldest in charge. Also we told my cousins my she needs to pay her to babysit. Just talk to your parents. Hope things work out.

Answer 3

You don't say how old you are, but that would be an important fact to have. I would simply tell your parents next time you're expected to watch your siblings, "no". And then again stress why. Maybe you could hide a video camera and catch some of the 6 year olds bad behavior so you can show your parents if they don't belive you. Sorry about this -- good luck to you!

Answer 4

hahaha you don't understand how much your situation is like mine, except I'm 18. I have a little brother that's 6 years old, and he is uncontrollable!! I have found some things that he likes though... get him a game boy hahaha, or satellite/cable television. He'd sit there and not talk to you (even if you want to talk to him). Power Rangers (Toon Disney at 4:00 pm, 5:00 pm, 10:00 pm and 10:30 pm), Pokemon, and those other robot shows.
Get him a game boy too with games that take concentration, like Super Mario Bros.

I don't know if this helps =\.
Oh yeah! and buy him FOOD!

Answer 5

11 or 12. i replaced into watching my little brother at that age (he replaced into 7 or 8 months old) yet in basic terms while my mum and dad have been interior the abode and easily for possibly 15 or 20 minutes at a time. via the time i replaced into 13 and he replaced into 2 i replaced into babysitting for a pair of hours right here or there... yet there's a extensive distinction between 13 and eight. and eight 365 days old should not be to blame for an 18 month old for greater beneficial than 5 minutes. it rather is one ingredient if mom says, "watch the toddler at the same time as i pass peed" it rather is yet another to pass off for half-hour.

Answer 6

I think you need to tell your parents you didnt have this child this kid is theres and it isnt your responsibility to watch him while they do other things. come on now they layed down and had him, so they should raise him. really i bet they watched you, why now do they think that you are easy access to a baby sitter, you need a life too, and if he isn't even listening to you why would they want him left with you cause if something bad happened it would be blamed on you even though they know he is out of control, i dont think it is fair to you at all, you should just say no and leave if you aint home you cant watch them..

Answer 7

I am sorry. I know this is very frustrating. Have you told your parents what you have told us.

You should not be responsible for this. If he is so out of control, he can get hurt because of his actions.

Have you tried spending time with him and doing what he wants to do. I know you are really frustrated right now, but I think he acts up to get attention. If you can give him what he needs it might help his behavior.

Good luck honey

Answer 8

i would always watch my younger sibling when we were younger it's a hard job. you should try to talk to your parents one more time about setting rules w/ the 6 year old and suggest that they write down the rules. Along with the rules set the punishment. have a sister reward challenge with him/her for example a star chart and when they fill the chart he/she can pick a movie or snack. GOOD LUCK!!!!

Answer 9

tell your parents what's hapening and ask them permission to spank him next time he doesn't do as asked. That kind of guy won't do anything like you ask him if you don't show some authority.

Answer 10

ha ha i make my son do the same thing...in order for him to get to go out on the weekend i make him baby sit my daughter that is 4...he is 14 and he hates it cause she knows she doesn't have to mind him...that could be the problem that you are having...they know that you aren't their parents and they can act how they want...