Reasonable to Ask 19YO to Cover Childcare for 5 Days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am 40 and I would not want to care for 6 children by myself for a week.

+1. My husband just left me with two (well-behaved) teens and a dog for the week while he was away on a work trip. I couldn’t wait for him to get home!

That’s sad.

[Anonymous]

Are you high?


Figure out another way. Even 1-2 kids for 2 days is asking a lot for your 19 year old.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why you didn't have a childcare plan in place BEFORE booking a trip across the globe. Just assuming the grandparents would cover without asking is bizarre to me. Not sure any of our opinions matter since you clearly have a differnt lifestyle than most of us.

[Anonymous]

Does your daughter have a friend who could come and do it together with her? Then, pay both of them.

[Anonymous]

I'd think CPS would get involved.

[Anonymous]

Hard No!

[Anonymous]

So, you are going on a spring break trip and not inviting any of your eight kids?

It makes perfect sense that someone selfish enough to have eight kids would then dump those kids and vacation alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Asking a 19 year old to be a single parent to 6 kids is a tall order.

I don't know that I would go that far.

I think you need the consent and work agreement with your 15 year old as well. That's the only other babysitter age kid you have. And does your 15 year old drive?

If anything comes up, the 19 year old will have to leave the home in the 15 year old's care. For example if the 4 year old needed to go to the ER.

You need excellent emergency backup plans.

15 year olds can't drive legally in most states w/o an adult nowadays, and I would not allow a 15 year old to transport kids.

If OP has the 15 year old help, she needs to pay BOTH the 19 and the 15 year old.

[Anonymous]

Are these all biological siblings or are they stepkids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd think CPS would get involved.

They will if anything goes remotely wrong. Kid falls and needs the ER they’re going to have social workers crawling all over the house. They will be super excited to hear about OP’s need to connect with her husband 24 hours away from her 4 y/o.

[Anonymous]

Woah no way. Then again I don’t think I would expect any one adult to work 24 hours per day for 5 days. In my opinion, it would be more reasonable for her to take this on if the kids were actually in school where she had to take them to the bus stop.

The 4 year old would give me the most pause.

[Anonymous]

If you didn’t have the 4 and 6 year olds, yes.

4 and 6 year olds for even one day with no overnight is a lot.

I only have 3 kids. I would still not leave 3 kids home alone if my kid was supervising as a young adult.

What type of trip is this that you are leaving these very young kids behind during spring break????

[Anonymous]

Ok I just saw your update.

I have 3 kids. When I only had 2 kids ages 4 and 6, we had our FT nanny PLUS my parents.

I can’t believe you would leave 6 kids with a 19 year old. That is totally insane.

I’m assuming you are around my age. I’m 47. I know people our age usually don’t have young adults and 4 year olds unless second marriage. Is this a second marriage? Our friends are starting to talk big adult only trips.

Only way I would do this if your nanny AND your 19yo could manage together. You need BOTH.

[Anonymous]

When someone dies or gets seriously injured because they are not properly supervised, while you are on holiday without your children, your 19 year old will carry that burden her entire life. Enjoy your trip!

[Anonymous]

It's WORSE that they're all on school break vs. in school. Especially the 4 and 6 because that means there is no break from them.