I think the differing opinions here hinge on whether it’s ok to ask for one favor and then assume another favor without asking. From OP’s perspective, the parents asked for a 2 hour extension, which OP agreed to. And then they assumed an additional one hour extension was fine without asking. It’s as if a coworker asked you to cover them until 6 pm so that they could go to a party, and you said yes. And then they showed up at 7 pm. It’s not exactly the same of course, but if you don’t mind this scenario, that is very generous, and I will be asking you in the future! But now you know that not everyone feels that way.

Anonymous wrote:I either happily do this for my kids’ friends. How old are the kids?

+1. I can't imagine being angry about this. I'm careful with picking my kids up when I say I will, but they would be happy to have an extra hour of friends over and I'd be happy to provide it.

I am sorry. I have never let anyone babysit my kids ever. Its only ever been myself and DH. But, I have provided free babysitting and food to a lot of kids in my neighborhood because I preferred that my kids remained in my house than go to the house of other people. The women who were happy to leave their kids at my house and disappear for hours were not the ones who were too responsible anyways.

But, I also don't think putting on a movie for kids who are quietly watching it is babysitting?

The bright side is now they will owe you some babysitting!

People, it wasn’t an hour of the party. It was an extra hour after the two-hour extension they asked for. I can’t believe some of you think this is remotely OK.

I have never once—not once—been even 10 minutes late to pick up my kids from daycare, school, a play date, a birthday party, an overnight visit with grandma, etc. There is no excuse. Rude beyond.

OP and her husband were put on the spot, graciously agreed to do some free babysitting AND THEN were used for an extra hour by user parents who weren’t in the OR saving a life or at the funeral home making arrangements for grandma’s funeral, they were at a party.

Drop those users, OP.

It would annoy me for sure. Showing up at 10 pm when the kids are younger and have an earlier bedtime is disruptive.

How old are the kids? That would affect my response to the situation.

Either way, it is a tad frustrating, but you should be mad at yourself for not having set a boundary if it would have been an hour past your kids' bedtime even if they had been on time, and sticking to that bedtime is important to you.

it was only an hour extra than you agreed to. Just say no if you are going to be a biotch about it.

This would not have bothered me. The kids would have been in the basement watching a movie and I would have been upstairs chatting with my husband. I guess people have different things they fleet annoyed about. It would have bothered me if the kids were destructive and damaged/broke things. But, sitting and watching a movie would not even register as an inconvenience. It’s Saturday night and the last week of school before break. I would be happy that my friends got to enjoy a night out together.

It was one hour. They asked, you said yes, they were late. Let it go. If it happens again that would be more telling.

You were tired from the holiday kid party. Don’t overreact.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One parent asked if their 2 kids could stay later after the party so they could attend a holiday event solo. We said sure, we’ll put a movie on for them and our kids. Parent said they would pick up at 9. Kids have just been picked up at 10pm. They’ve been here since 5pm and we’ve entertained, fed them dinner, and cleaned up after them for 4 hours of free childcare now.
It just sucks how some people are such takers and users of anyones goodwill. Now my own kids aren’t going to bed until 2 hours past their normal bedtime just so another parent could go party on our watch.

As expected, bc you "hosted a holiday party for your kids friends tonight". Tell us the printed hours of the party you hosted and maybe we'll be a bit more sympathetic?

+1. OP— did your party end at 5 pm? Because if so, what your friends did was outrageous.

+2. Also, OP never said the other parents didn’t text. OP, did they text and ask if they could be an hour late? I think it’s still a bit rude, but better that just not showing up for an hour. If someone was an hour late without any communication, I’d worry they got in a car accident or something and that worry would make me angrier than the extra hour.

Also how old are the kids? 5 year olds ? 9 year olds?
It would be pretty ballsy to ask that day but for a close friend asking for a favor in advance, I wouldn’t mind that much.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One parent asked if their 2 kids could stay later after the party so they could attend a holiday event solo. We said sure, we’ll put a movie on for them and our kids. Parent said they would pick up at 9. Kids have just been picked up at 10pm. They’ve been here since 5pm and we’ve entertained, fed them dinner, and cleaned up after them for 4 hours of free childcare now.
It just sucks how some people are such takers and users of anyones goodwill. Now my own kids aren’t going to bed until 2 hours past their normal bedtime just so another parent could go party on our watch.

As expected, bc you "hosted a holiday party for your kids friends tonight". Tell us the printed hours of the party you hosted and maybe we'll be a bit more sympathetic?

+1. OP— did your party end at 5 pm? Because if so, what your friends did was outrageous.

Anonymous wrote:That is awful OP. I would feel completely annoyed and taken advantage of as well.
But now you'll have the "But it takes a village!" harpies come on to make you feel like you are overreacting. You are not.

You called that one right PP! I can’t believe how many people think this wasn’t a big deal.

I don’t see the big deal. It was an extra hour. They should have let you know, but I can easily see how an extra hour would slip away at a holiday party and wouldn’t think much of it if I was watching the kids. If things like this stress you put, I recommend not hosting events and agreeing to extra things. People often are not on time. I am a stickler about being on time, but have come to realize most of the world is not.