Can you rest while supervising a 5-year-old?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - anyway you can come up with a reason you can't be at home - study group etc. it might suck for a few weeks - but if you can get your homework done without interruption, you can start getting to sleep earlier and have more energy in the afternoon.

And this might be out of left field - but do you have very heavy or frequent periods? Or do you not eat a lot of red meat? If so - you might be anemic. I was severely anemic in high school and looking back on it - I was more exhausted than I was during pregnancy!

If the 5 yr old can occupy herself while OP sleeps, then the 5 yr old can occupy herself while OP does homework. But this isn’t really a hw issue. No way OP has that much homework that she has no other choice but to go to bed at 12-1am, due to babysitting twice per week. C’mon. Many high schools do sports every single day after school and don’t get home until after 6

She does have sports and practice goes as late as 9pm.

BS. Clearly a troll. The weirdo dysfunctional absent/neglectful family OP is describing is not picking OP up from school, driving her to babysit, driving her back home, driving her to practice after babysitting , picking up from practice, etc. And then chest pain, headaches, etc. Not believing this

Sadly there are plenty of kids who are expected to work for free to support their families at the expense of their own studies, social life, and health. You must not know very many people outside your socioeconomic status. Whether this person is a troll I can’t say (how would she have heard of DCUM?), but the scenario she describes is not particularly far fetched.

My interpretation was that she, sister, dad, and niece all live together or close to each other. She goes to dad’s house after school to watch niece then goes back to school for sports practice in the evenings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - anyway you can come up with a reason you can't be at home - study group etc. it might suck for a few weeks - but if you can get your homework done without interruption, you can start getting to sleep earlier and have more energy in the afternoon.

And this might be out of left field - but do you have very heavy or frequent periods? Or do you not eat a lot of red meat? If so - you might be anemic. I was severely anemic in high school and looking back on it - I was more exhausted than I was during pregnancy!

If the 5 yr old can occupy herself while OP sleeps, then the 5 yr old can occupy herself while OP does homework. But this isn’t really a hw issue. No way OP has that much homework that she has no other choice but to go to bed at 12-1am, due to babysitting twice per week. C’mon. Many high schools do sports every single day after school and don’t get home until after 6

She does have sports and practice goes as late as 9pm.

BS. Clearly a troll. The weirdo dysfunctional absent/neglectful family OP is describing is not picking OP up from school, driving her to babysit, driving her back home, driving her to practice after babysitting , picking up from practice, etc. And then chest pain, headaches, etc. Not believing this

Yes, my dad picks me up from school, and drives me to my sisters house. My dad doesn’t take my headaches seriously, and thinks that I should just sleep more, so I will tell my mom about it when she’s back.

[Anonymous]

Can you make the 5 year old take a nap at the same time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you make the 5 year old take a nap at the same time?

Yes. I will try that tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - anyway you can come up with a reason you can't be at home - study group etc. it might suck for a few weeks - but if you can get your homework done without interruption, you can start getting to sleep earlier and have more energy in the afternoon.

And this might be out of left field - but do you have very heavy or frequent periods? Or do you not eat a lot of red meat? If so - you might be anemic. I was severely anemic in high school and looking back on it - I was more exhausted than I was during pregnancy!

If the 5 yr old can occupy herself while OP sleeps, then the 5 yr old can occupy herself while OP does homework. But this isn’t really a hw issue. No way OP has that much homework that she has no other choice but to go to bed at 12-1am, due to babysitting twice per week. C’mon. Many high schools do sports every single day after school and don’t get home until after 6

She does have sports and practice goes as late as 9pm.

BS. Clearly a troll. The weirdo dysfunctional absent/neglectful family OP is describing is not picking OP up from school, driving her to babysit, driving her back home, driving her to practice after babysitting , picking up from practice, etc. And then chest pain, headaches, etc. Not believing this

Sadly there are plenty of kids who are expected to work for free to support their families at the expense of their own studies, social life, and health. You must not know very many people outside your socioeconomic status. Whether this person is a troll I can’t say (how would she have heard of DCUM?), but the scenario she describes is not particularly far fetched.

My interpretation was that she, sister, dad, and niece all live together or close to each other. She goes to dad’s house after school to watch niece then goes back to school for sports practice in the evenings.

She’s heard of DCUM bc she isn’t a 14 yr old. She’s some middle aged lady with lady with nothing better to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you make the 5 year old take a nap at the same time?

Yes. I will try that tomorrow.

Please don’t- if you are in fact in this situation. You cannot sleep while watching a 5 yr old. Just no. Do your homework there. It’s 6 hrs per week- that isn’t that much time. You can manage doing some homework there and some at home. Plenty of time to get to bed before midnight

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old are you?

14, but I turn 15 in a couple months.

So a 9th grader struggling with sleep and health issues, forced to babysit for a sibling 6 hours a week for free?

Yeah, absolutely none of this is okay. You need to talk to your school nurse or counselor or someone.

Is it even legal to leave a 5 yr old with a 14 yr old?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:100% NO you are being paid to watch a child. What if the child left the house or lit a piece of paper on fire.

I’m not getting paid—she’s my niece, which I should’ve mentioned. I asked other parents what they do with their 5-year-olds and was wondering if she’s old enough.

No. You're a teenager, you aren't going to just nap for 20 mins. You might oversleep, or just sleep hard while she runs amok. Don't do it.

Its not acceptable to sleep bit yoi shouldn't be watching her. The people telling you you need to go to bed earlier are ridiculous. I have teens and they have to wake up at 5 to catch the school bus. With activities that dont get you home until near 9 and still having homework I expect a teen to take and need an afternoon nap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old are you?

14, but I turn 15 in a couple months.

So a 9th grader struggling with sleep and health issues, forced to babysit for a sibling 6 hours a week for free?

Yeah, absolutely none of this is okay. You need to talk to your school nurse or counselor or someone.

Is it even legal to leave a 5 yr old with a 14 yr old?

Of course it is.

[Anonymous]

NP here. What I’m wondering is what happens on Mon Wed Fri? Does the half-sister work outside of the house, and if so, where does the 5 year old? I’m guessing daycare or aftercare? And I’m guessing that the niece *could* go on Tues Thurs, but half sister would rather get free babysitting from OP.

OP - I know blended family dynamics can be complicated, and maybe you don’t feel comfortable pushing back on your dad about this. If you’ve been truthful with the facts you posted here, and you truly need to rest right after school, and it doesn’t work for your rhythm to push through the day and go to bed earlier at night, then you should firmly tell your dad that you are not available to babysit. Your story reminds me a little of our current babysitter who has had so much familial responsibility placed on her all her life. Despite being in her early 20s and being very health-conscious, she has serious health problems that are due directly/indirectly to stress and the lifestyle choices she’s made because of it. I’m sure your sister can find care for her daughter without you. You need to take care of yourself FIRST before you can take care of anyone else. You should not be taking care of a 5 year old if you yourself need rest. I have a 5 year old and it is HARD taking care of him, but I’m his parent. I can’t imagine pressuring anyone (other than DH, haha), let alone a teenager to watch him. For free, no less!

Please put yourself FIRST. Girls and women are too often expected to carry the weight for families, and at your age, in this day and age, you should not be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need more sleep. Why are you getting so little sleep at night?

If you have too much on your plate already to the point it is interfering with sleep, then you shouldn't be babysitting

I have to wake up at 6:00, and I go to bed at 12 or 1 due to school, practices, etc.

School and practices aren’t until 12 or 1. Turn off all the screens by 9pm and watch yourself magically be able to get your butt to sleep by 11.

🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, you have a terrible work ethic

No, the “parents” are entitled and ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Maybe take her outside so instead of being indoors and getting sleepy, you would be able to be more active and sleeping wouldn’t be on your mind.

[Anonymous]

For a paid babysitter doing this as a choice - definitely no.

For this term being forced into it and not paid - sure. If the parent cares that much about the kid's safety or enrichment they can pay for a babysitter, daycare, aftercare, etc.

Feel bad for OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old are you?

14, but I turn 15 in a couple months.

Holy crap! I was picturing 17. This is not okay. Do your parents know about your headaches and chest pains? You need to see a doctor and you need more sleep. Maybe see if once a week babysitting would be a compromise. This is so shitty that she does not pay you. I am guessing she was required to babysit you when you were young and she feels like she is owed this.

My dad said headaches are normal and that I need to toughen up instead of complaining. My sister was never expected to babysit me when I was young.

Your Dad is an unfit parent.

Agree. Bordering on child abuse (of the 14 y.o.). Half-sister wants free childcare. Sounds like a very dysfunctional family.