Anonymous wrote:I'm offended on behalf of them that you are offended!

+1

OP is very unreasonable to be offended.

Anonymous wrote:Yikes op. Did you hire any 13 year olds as babysitters when your child was 5? There’s nothing to be offended by. 13 is on the young side for babysitting. I had a 13 yo neighbor babysit my kids, but that only worked because we lived next door to her in a two-family house and her mother was literally on the other side of the wall!

Yeah I'm not hiring a 13yo no way. Don't care who's offended. You don't have a "right" to have your DD babysit this 5yo.

You really have nothing to be offended about. It’s like someone tells you they want a Honda pilot and you get offended cause you have a Tesla to offer (please don’t get offended by the comparison). They just have different needs. It’s not personal against you or your dd. A 14 year old could be more mature than another 17 year old. But this is what they envision: they want someone who’s older.

So not sure what are you even getting over with. They have not offended you or your dd or the neighbor in any shape or form.

Get over it, OP. You need to calm down.

Definitely get over yourself.

13 is young. Dont be "that mom". Get over yourself.

THERE IS NO GREATER HARM THAN BEING OFFENDED IN THE UNITED STATES.

omg what is wrong with you that you think this way and waste everyone's tine here posting about it? either grow up or get help

I would feel like they have the right to prefer someone older. I wasn't offended when my neighbor said she'd prefer someone older than 13 year old DS to petsit her cat. I think he'd be fine, but she's giving out the keys to her house, and counting on him to get emergency vet care if the need arises.

This is a strange reaction on your part. All other things being equal, I would prefer a sitter who is able to drive my kids if needed, which necessarily means an older high schooler.

You absolutely, 100%, need to get over yourself.

Also, OP, I have to break it to you, but your daughter likely will not be #1 in her class, the star of every sport she plays, the lead in the school play, the valedictorian, and will be rejected by at least one college to which she applies. Start preparing yourself now.

I haven't read through the responses but the only way I'd be offended is if 1) the hiring family knows your kid and 2) goes with anotehr 8ther grader (which implies it was personal).

I'd be flattered by your older neighbor thinking your kid is mature enough to be in the "big leagues" despite age

Honestly the only two people I know (in my own circle) who used young teen sitters 1.) have fairly docile daughters and 2.) are the most un-anxious chill people I know.

So, yeah. Most people do not want sitters this young. Totally reasonable, and normal, to want sitters who can drive or are 18+.

The only way I’d hire a 13 year old neighbor babysitter would be if she had a levelheaded mom at the ready to spring into action if the kid got in over their head. You’ve just disqualified yourself on that count.

Get over it.

It is 100000% within the rights of a parent to want a high schooler or an adult babysitter. Personally, I wasn't comfortable with high school kids until my kids were closer to 10.

Why would this offend you?