Hi i am 18 almost 19 and baby sit my cousin matt 8 yrs and second cousin melanie 5yrs i only baby sit my cousin matt 2 or 3 three times a week and i get paid about 8 to 10 dollars an hour. But my little cousin melanie i see almost everyday to babysit and do not get paid anything. Her mom Juilie is my first cousin and we grew up together she is is two years older than me and latley has been partying a lot she has her associates degree but still chooses to work as a bar tender. I now she does not pay rent she lives with her bf who is not the father of her child. Child services called me yesterday to talk about her?
2006-09-19 06:56:08 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
My cousin matt is my aunts son .
2006-09-19 06:57:04 · update #1
My cousin julie also asked about having melanie live with me and my parents for a while
2006-09-19 06:59:42 · update #2
Her bf and her daughter do not get along and he smacked her once in front of me for spilling her juice by accident.
2006-09-19 07:01:34 · update #3
I delayed my 4 yr college for a year to help her out so i am in a community college as a transfer student. I have been babysitting her daughter since she was born! so i feel bad but am not sure what is going on?
2006-09-19 07:03:49 · update #4
Her bf is also a recoviring drug addict
2006-09-19 07:07:44 · update #5
In this case, it doesn't matter who is whos cousin. What matters is that the children are cared for. If child services called you., you have to talk to them. Be honest and tell them the truth. It will be hard, but it is the right thing to do. Protect the Children!!!
2006-09-19 07:04:06 · answer #1 · answered by pookiebree1616 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Child services called to ask you what? From your description it doesn't sound like the child is in immediate danger. There's nothing wrong with working as a bartender...it pays more than most jobs you can get with an associates degree. Even if they are gone all the time, as long as the child is receiving adequete care in their absence it won't count as neglect.
In anycase...stop babysitting for free. If you do feel like something is amiss in the household, let child services know. Also, I've seen much much worse situations where child services has been notified about serious abuse, living conditions, etc and rarely do the parents face any serious consequences. Usually a parenting class and they have their kids back in a week.
2006-09-19 14:02:18 · answer #2 · answered by Mara 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In any case I should go and talk to Child Services about the situation. Since they already contacted you, chances are that your cousin was reported by someone.
Secondly, I wouldn't babysit for free, that's taking advantage of your good nature.
Her job has nothing to do with whether she is a good parent or not. Something else must be going on since Child services called you ... Maybe your cousin can fill you in on that matter, because if they contacted you, they must have been in contact with your cousin as well.
2006-09-19 14:11:04 · answer #3 · answered by alternative_be 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Child services needs to know about the situation with the boyfriend. Your cousin may feel helpless to get away from him, but it would be best if she and Melanie moved in with you and your family or into low income housing. By allowing Melanie to live in an environment with someone who hits her, your cousin is also abusing her by neglecting her safety. I would tell your cousin she needs to leave this boyfriend and offer to help however you can, and make sure she knows that child services is watching her. Perhaps she can get away from him before they take Melanie away from her.
2006-09-19 14:21:50 · answer #4 · answered by S. O. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would be honest with child services. Somebody called them with a concern and it sounds like that concern might be a valid one. If there is nothing wrong with the situation your cousin is in, then there is nothing to hide. Besides if you lie and they find out then you could get into some trouble. Be honest, but don't let the conversation get too one sided. If all they ask about end up to be bad, bring up some of the good stuff too.
2006-09-19 14:05:02 · answer #5 · answered by jdecorse25 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she is using drugs, then you should report her. That is not a good enviroment for your cousin's daughter to be in. There are a lot of people that work as bartenders because they can make more money in tips than they could using their degree, and let's face it, and Associates degree is not really all that great. That is just a 2 year degree...even my step-daughter that is developmentally delayed is going to college right now for her's.
2006-09-19 13:59:52 · answer #6 · answered by Ryan's mom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to tell Child services whatever they need to know, don't hide anything from them, and as for you cousin not paying you let her know that you are not someone she can just leave her child with if she has money to party she has money to pay you to keep her kid, as coming to live with you that's a big choice you and your mother have to make, hey it might be the best that ever happened to the poor child good luck and hope everything works out.
2006-09-20 12:53:05 · answer #7 · answered by poohbear 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get on with your life, go to school and stop babysitting for your cousin. If there is a problem don't get involved, you will be in the middle always.
2006-09-19 14:14:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Someone had to have called Child Services on her for them to contact you. If she is not careful and depending on who called and for what reason she could lose her kid.
Take it from someone who is raising two kids who belong to "parents who got caught"! Foster Mom.
2006-09-19 14:37:04 · answer #9 · answered by Mom to Foster Children 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd tell your mom/dad first and get them with you to tell Julie. She isnt being neglectful to have a babysitter...so what else is the issue? She needs to talk to people...so your folks may be the best start.
2006-09-19 14:09:15 · answer #10 · answered by Scully 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋