My daughter is 11 and has a ton of friends. The thing is , the friends moms always ask me to babysit, or ask if their kids can come over while they go out, or the kids will ask if they can come over because their moms are going out ,etc.
Im not really friends with these moms, they are just acquantances because our kids hang around together. I never ask if they can babysit my child, so thats why I don't understand why they ask me to babysit theirs all the time. Just seems a little forward to me.
2007-11-29 08:54:46 · 9 answers · asked by mullinon 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
BTW-they don't offer to pay me for watching their kids.
2007-11-29 08:55:42 · update #1
Also, if you said "no" to babysitting. How would you say it without hurting their feelings ?
2007-11-29 08:56:49 · update #2
I do know them, I just don't hang out with them.
2007-11-29 09:05:34 · update #3
OMG Stag??? That is just a wild story ?!
2007-11-29 09:32:04 · update #4
I would say no, every time, without exception. Once you let this happen, it will happen continuously and get worse and worse over time. The reason they ask you to babysit is because you always say yes and never say no...why worry about what some stupid selfish self centered women think? Protect your own interests and time and JUST SAY NO!!!! If the are offended and you lose their maginficent company, oh well, nothing to lose in the first place...they will continue to take advantage of you until YOU say NO and stop them.
2007-11-29 09:05:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
My answer would have to depend on if I had something else to do, how long the moms wanted their kids to stay, etc. If I did decide to have them over, I'd set time limits on how long they would be there and ask mom to kick in a little dinner money if she was asking on a regular basis. If you can't or just don't feel like it, give them the number of a babysitter you trust. Either way, I definitely wouldn't feel guilty about it, especially if there's no reciprocity going on. When I was eleven, I'd been watching myself for 3 years, already, but I was a pretty responsible kid and it was a very different time. That may not even be possible in this day and age.
2007-11-29 17:47:00 · answer #2 · answered by bainaashanti 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would depend on the situation. If I were asked last minute (unless it was an emergency of some type) I would say no, I have plans, or I have a ton of things to get done around the house, etc. If they had the audacity to have their KIDS ask if they could come over so they could go OUT, I would say ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! How rude is it to put someone on the spot that way. (I would also tell them how rude I thought that was).
If the whole thing was asked ahead of time, of an evening that I didn't have a whole lot going on, I'd say sure. I like my kids having their friends around, so long as it doesn't mean me dropping everything.
2007-11-30 00:29:18 · answer #3 · answered by missbeans 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Letting a child come over and play with yours is acceptable only if the time frame coincides with your schedule and you don't need to supervise the child. If you have someplace to go or some thing to do, then obviously, no. And it's not a situation to be taken for granted or abused.
Bottom line, it's YOUR call. If you don't feel comfortable, then say no, (s)he can't come to my house, but they may play in the back yard and when it's time to go home, then it's time to go home.
When I was a kid, I babysat in Rhode Island(for money, or so I thought). A set of twins from Tortola. Their mom left the state to see a concert and never came back. I was a 13 year old mom caring for twin 6 year olds for free! It took all summer for the state to turn the kids over to the welfare system, and have them deported.
2 years later, my Mom and Dad were walking on the beach in Tortola, and guess what? They saw the mom, and yes, she got her kids back. I got robbed of a year of childhood. I still don't have kids, and I'm 38. Scarred me for life.
2007-11-29 17:25:03 · answer #4 · answered by staggerlee337 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can always say you are unable to babysit, but by now they are probably going to you because you've consistently said yes (?) in which case you need to reestablish the boundaries with these other parents. Recommend your babysitter instead or offer to have the girls all go to babysitting courses together (since in another year they should be able to babysit other people's children) so that they can learn the safety tools necessary for a child to be home alone.
2007-11-29 17:02:53 · answer #5 · answered by jayjay 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
You should say no, my daughter needs to work on her homework. Or no, I have plans. Or just say "I'm sorry I don't feel comfortable babysitting, but I have a great babysitter I could recommend to you."
2007-11-29 17:04:36 · answer #6 · answered by samurai_fairy 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I would say no I only watch my cousins and that's it. I feel that people need to watch their own kids or pay someone to do it for them.
2007-11-29 18:19:47 · answer #7 · answered by Jai 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would say no but you could let the kids play with each other with the mom over to get to know them better. you could just say, sorry but i am busy.
2007-11-29 16:59:47 · answer #8 · answered by Stephanie T 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Say " no"...... You are being taken advantage of and it will only get worse. Stand up for yourself!.......
2007-11-29 19:03:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋