Two days in a row a friend of mine has asked me to watch her children on short notice. She dropped off three of them ages 5, 3, and 18 months. I also have one child who is 14 months. On this day she called around 5 in the evening and asked if I would watch them for a couple of hours so see could attend a going away party. She wanted to drop them off at 7:30pm and said she would be back around 10pm. I said that was fine. When she arrived she asked if she could just come and get them at 11pm instead. I said yes. Around 11:15, I heard the phone ring but I had left it in my sons room and didn't want to go in and wake him. I figured it was her with a reason why she was not on time. It is now 2:58am and she is not here. What do you think about this...
2007-06-15 14:02:12 · 24 answers · asked by I know EVERYTHING! 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Yeah, it's 3:53 now and still no word. I'm really ticked..and I am off to bed. If she rings the bell now she is just going to have to stand out there until the sun comes up! lol.
2007-06-15 14:56:31 · update #1
I think that is incredibly rude and she used you. There is not much you can do about it at this point as it is over, but at the same time I would not want to watch her children again because you just don't know how much of an obligation it would be.
2007-06-15 14:10:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it shows a lack of concern for your own needs.
Helping out a friend once in a while is ok, but for her to come two days in a row and then compound this by being several hours late without an adequate explanation would cause me to question if she's taking advantage of your good nature.
She should be made to understand that you have kids of your own to care for. That you don't mind the occasional role as babysitter - SO LONG AS SHE RECIPROCATES.
Emergencies and unforeseen events occur in all of our lives, so she may well have a perfectly valid excuse. Make sure that she knows your routine and that of your family has been upset in order to accommodate her and while you're not her mother, you are unhappy at her apparent abuse!
If you think it appropriate, tell her that if she tried this with a standard babysitter she'd be looking at a hefty bill for the extra time
I hope this helps
2007-06-15 21:16:03 · answer #2 · answered by cornflake#1 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Oh my goodness. She's taking advantage of you. The next time she asks you to watch her brats, tell her no. If she asks why, just say you're doing something or something like that. And if you aren't getting paid for this, then she's a bad friend. I'd give my friend at least something for watching my kids on short notice.
Or, call her at the last minute, ask her to watch your kid, and if she says no, then tell her no more babysitting from you. And, even if she says yes, don't watch her kids again. She's taking advantage of a good person. She outta be ashamed.
2007-06-15 23:00:19 · answer #3 · answered by singerofthepiano 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I personally think she used you, what she did was wrong there are no two ways about it and if I were you
I would not take care of them again, if she is your friend then you should have no problem telling her you don't appreciate her leaving the kids for that long period of time unless she made original arraignments to do so.
Don't let people use your good heartedness because they will every time, when I moved to where my family lives they all have kids...I told them up front I don't babysit unless it is an emergency and I meas if someone is dieing or bleeding.
2007-06-15 21:13:21 · answer #4 · answered by itsme 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This is very rude. It sounds like she's found a convenient babysitter, not a friend as she's certainly not acting like a friend to you! I drop "friends" like this., and I'm a much happier person without people like that in my life. Next time she asks, tell her you're busy, even if you're not. Keep telling her that until she gets the hint. Or maybe tell her point blank you won't be used like this.
Sorry you're going through this. Good luck!
2007-06-15 21:53:14 · answer #5 · answered by karen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ofcourse it's totally rude... She should be ashamed of herself, just leaving her kids with you and not coming home on time... She's lucky to have a friend like you, although I can imagine that you may not be liking her as a friend. I just can't imagine doing that to someone, anyone-much less a friend... I would definetly confront her about this with an explanation on why she didn't pick her children up at the designated time... That's ridiculous. The children are lucky they were with you, who knows what she is capable of.....
2007-06-15 21:13:58 · answer #6 · answered by pebblespro 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That is extremely rude. I've been in that situation before. I had a "friend" drop her son off at my house in the afternoon for a couple of hours. She showed up the following afternoon. It wasn't the child's fault but I resolved never to watch him again.
2007-06-15 21:12:54 · answer #7 · answered by wolfwoods01girl 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It's not only rude, but she is taking advantage of you and neglecting her children. Does she think it's ok to take her children home to bed at 3 am in the morning?
2007-06-15 22:43:52 · answer #8 · answered by Jlk 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
you are a VERY tolerant frient. This woman has taken advantage of you big time. The next time she asks you to watch her children, remind her that you don't want to pull another all-nighter and tell her NO!
2007-06-15 23:29:39 · answer #9 · answered by Mel 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not just rude, it is called ABANDONMENT.
I sat for a little child once. Parents didn't come for her until the next morning.
Distance yourself from this woman. Sounds like she will end up in trouble for her negligence.
No more - got it?
2007-06-15 21:38:36 · answer #10 · answered by Pacifica 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋