and I am also a little angry with my friend for taking advantage of my kindness which was supposed to be a couple times kind of thing. These children, as much as I love them, are NOT my responsibility and I am sick of not answering my phone when my dear friend calls just because I am afraid she will ask me to babysit. How can I tell her in a tactful and kind way that I do not want to watch her kids anymore and that she needs to find another babysitter?? I am her FRIEND, not her babysitter.
2007-03-09 03:55:48 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Friends
There was a lot more to this message, but yahoo! didn't post it...my friend got married to this really strange scary guy she only knew for a MONTH and he doesn't have a job and he will always leave the house like 10 minutes before she needs to go to work. So she calls me to babysit. She calls me when she needs to go to work, not for her "social life". Ever since she got into a fight with her babysitter she has been asking me to babysit a lot. I need a kind way to tell her that I feel like I'm her babysitter now instead of her friend, and as much as I love her kids they are not my responsibility and she really needs to find a new babysitter.
2007-03-09 04:09:26 · update #1
I had a "FRIEND" like that as well...... unfortunately, there is no way that you will be able to stay friends and tell her no more babysitting! She has found someone to use and when she can't use you, she will be pissed! trust me....I have been in your situation before.....I loved her little boy, and he was my boys' best friend..... When I told her that I just didn't have the time to have 1 more kid to run after, we never spoke again....and we had been really close friends....or so I thought.....she is just using you hon......
2007-03-09 04:09:56 · answer #1 · answered by erin_foss8191@sbcglobal.net 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, since it seemed from the beginning that you were supposed to be temporary. So therefore, seeing you've been doing so for a long time, and too often; tell her to get another babysitter or take them to a day care, or even a after school program if they're eligible!
You have every right to say no. When she calls, you don't have to drop what you're doing, just say you're busy and that's that; find a new babysitter or have her ask her husband (though, when she leaves, he'll probably leave too and the kids alone. . . not good). The best way to get through is probably to be blunt about how you feel; babysitting all the time is bad, once and a while good.
2007-03-10 14:55:32 · answer #2 · answered by Amy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anyone who abuses your trust in any manner is NOT your friend.
I would imagine that you are not being paid to watch her precious children for her - so this is absolutely her pressure valve for her social life.
I would sit down with her when her children are NOT there, and tell her, "You know, recently it seems like you have been really busy and haven't had much time with your kids. Is there something going on in your life?"
She needs to find out if her local church offers assistance with child care and also if she is eligible for preschool programs in the area, some of which start at age 3.
Also, if there is a father in the picture, why isn't he watching the kids? He brought them into this world, too.
If tact doesn't work, simply make yourself too busy to do the free child care for her. She will get the hint sooner or later. and she will find some other way to get child care.
2007-03-09 12:04:28 · answer #3 · answered by stonechic 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Take up a hobby, do some volunteer work, get a part time job.....anything that will consume you during the time she needs you...and apologetically tell her how pressing it is that she find someone else....If you tell her outright that you are tired of watching her kids you may hurt her feelings....if she's paying you up the price if she is persistant...she probably just feels she can trust you to take good care of her children and that in itself is a compliment , be careful how you repay it....if she is not paying you then she is truly taking advantage of you and friends don't do that to each other......let both barrels fly
2007-03-09 12:13:50 · answer #4 · answered by backwoodscountrywoman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should say "______, I am getting a little tired of watching your kids.Do you think you could find another babysitter?I could watch them once in awhile, but not everyday.Is that okay with you?"
2007-03-09 12:01:23 · answer #5 · answered by eVeRyBoDy SiNg 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
i think you shoul tell her that you arent her babysitter and if you think it's to hard tell her you can't that you have to go do something important
2007-03-09 13:14:40 · answer #6 · answered by babyphat 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋