Babysitter Doesn't Know Common Things

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like some kind of severe processing disorder.

People with non-verbal processing disorder often get lost, have trouble with numbers etc.

People with William's Syndrome are very social, have incredible hearing, and are musically gifted, and yet they are also developmentally delayed, severely spatially challenged, often get lost, and will never be able to balance a checkbook.

There are people who can't remember what faces look like, people who can't remember names of objects etc.

Is there any way you could speak to her parents?

Or, better yet OP, just speak to her directly. It seems that everyone always wants to tiptoe around issues these days and never deal directly. Just call her and say "there's something I'd like to discuss with you" or say it next time she comes over. There may be a simple explanation. Give her the chance to prove her maturity.

[Anonymous]

:maybe the reluctance to walk to the park is a fear of not having control of The kids...fear they may run ahead of her, not look when crossing the strEet...

[Anonymous]

Life is too short, just find a new sitter!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely weird.

I think it is rare to be that non-functional. I have a child with a language disorder, and he needs often needs me to repeat a request.

It is more probably that she. does. not. care. Gives whatever is in the fridge, because she can't be bothered to remember what the children were supposed to have. Drives because she can't be bothered to walk and remember the way.

This seems the most likely explanation. I agree that if she cared at all, she could work around some of these issues. But clearly, she doesn't. I would find a new sitter.

[Anonymous]

Just want to throw this in...I am completely deaf on my left side and maintain 30% of my hearing on the right. Depending on the sounds of the words, you may not get my attention until mid sentence and at that point I use your gestures to help me. I speak normally because I didn't lose the majority of my hearing until I was 22, so I don't have that off-sounding, giveaway voice you'd expect. I also don't wear hearing aids. I will read your lips if I know to look at you. Children are incredibly hard to understand because their mouths don't move correctly and they do so much pointing. It may be worth considering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just want to throw this in...I am completely deaf on my left side and maintain 30% of my hearing on the right. Depending on the sounds of the words, you may not get my attention until mid sentence and at that point I use your gestures to help me. I speak normally because I didn't lose the majority of my hearing until I was 22, so I don't have that off-sounding, giveaway voice you'd expect. I also don't wear hearing aids. I will read your lips if I know to look at you. Children are incredibly hard to understand because their mouths don't move correctly and they do so much pointing. It may be worth considering.

Would you have accepted a babysitting job without sharing this with the parents?

[Anonymous]

I just want to note that you are basing your opinion entirely on what your children are telling you. Since they are young enough to require a babysitter, are your sure their versions of events are complete and accurate?

[Anonymous]

She's the result of helicopter parenting people...can't think without her parents around. Takes me straight back to college when I was shocked to see people who couldn't do laundry. Now, it's worse (not for all, but for many).

[Anonymous]

I can't believe the people suggesting the kids could be making it up. What repercussions would there be for honesty in that situation 'we don't like her'?? I know my kids even at 2 and 4 are honest about who they like or not.

Either way my deal is who cares if the kids are lying, not getting it right or whatever. The fact that they are off about her or not wanting her to be there would be enough for me to boot her.


Plus the OP said she effed up verbal and written. There's not really anywhere to go from there. She's a dumb-dumb at the least and I wouldn't trust her to keep it cool or proactive in an emergency.

[Anonymous]

pp here. Also, I file this under "not my problem" and wouldn't give it another thought. You didn't break her, so don't worry about fixing her. She's her parents problem.

[Anonymous]

OP, go with your gut. If she makes you uncomfortable, find a new sitter. Your intuition is important -- don't ignore it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just want to throw this in...I am completely deaf on my left side and maintain 30% of my hearing on the right. Depending on the sounds of the words, you may not get my attention until mid sentence and at that point I use your gestures to help me. I speak normally because I didn't lose the majority of my hearing until I was 22, so I don't have that off-sounding, giveaway voice you'd expect. I also don't wear hearing aids. I will read your lips if I know to look at you. Children are incredibly hard to understand because their mouths don't move correctly and they do so much pointing. It may be worth considering.

Would you have accepted a babysitting job without sharing this with the parents?

I don't tell anyone. I am able to function with limited difficulty and really dislike when people yell instead of talk because they think I can't understand.

[Anonymous]

Replace her.

Even visually impaired doesn't explain this- I AM visually impaired and work as a nanny and don't have these problems. I can walk to a park just as easily as drive it!

I think it comes down to basic knowledge/abilities. Some people are very smart but no common sense whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

Maybe she is just lazy and unfit for the job, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just want to throw this in...I am completely deaf on my left side and maintain 30% of my hearing on the right. Depending on the sounds of the words, you may not get my attention until mid sentence and at that point I use your gestures to help me. I speak normally because I didn't lose the majority of my hearing until I was 22, so I don't have that off-sounding, giveaway voice you'd expect. I also don't wear hearing aids. I will read your lips if I know to look at you. Children are incredibly hard to understand because their mouths don't move correctly and they do so much pointing. It may be worth considering.

Would you have accepted a babysitting job without sharing this with the parents?

I don't tell anyone. I am able to function with limited difficulty and really dislike when people yell instead of talk because they think I can't understand.

If you have a disability that may impair your ability to do a job and do not disclose it, you should not be upset when you are dismissed without explanation. In this case, if I had hired you to care for my children and you did not disclose that, I would consider you highly unethical. A parent needs to know that the person who is caring for their children is capable of handling any issues or emergencies that come up and if there needs to be any adaptation for them. For example, we keep ringers on our telephones set to low. What if you didn't hear the telephone when we tried to call? I can easily set the phone ringer to high to compensate, but not if I don't know. I also don't think it is fair for someone who may have difficulty understanding children's speech because they can't lip-read to not disclose this potential issue to the parents before sitting for their children. I want to know if my child is hurt and crying and not enunciating clearly that the caretaker can actually resolve the issue, including figuring out what happened by asking the child.