Reply to Something I don't understand about criticism of big families

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[quote=Anonymous]I have older and younger children, and ever six months or so, I ask the older ones to watch the younger ones while DH and I go out somewhere. They are not babies, so not that hard to watch. I think it gives the older kids a sense of responsibility. I tell them that they have to keep their younger siblings safe. The younger ones are old enough to tell me if their older sibs do anything mean, so they don't. And I'm always available by phone, so the older kids can call and tell me if the younger ones are giving them a hard time, which they do on occasion.

I've never heard my older kids complain about this "free babysitting". I think they feel responsible and grown up, and like that. If they had to do it every day or every week, I'm sure they'd resent it, but it's so infrequent, and I always make dinner and rent a movie for them to watch that it's a fun evening without their parents around.

Our family isn't huge, but there are definitely two age groups. I think if you take advantage of your kids, they are going to resent it. I don't think we are taking advantage, nor do I think they would like it if I hired a babysitter to watch the younger kids -- I think it would seem weird to the older ones, who are perfectly capable of watching the younger ones, and are capable of staying home by themselves.

I'm sorry for kids who were pushed by their immature parents into childcare at an early age. That is totally wrong, but occasional babysitting seems fine, and actually beneficial, at least in my family. [/quote]

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