Anonymous
Post 01/17/2026 08:42     Subject: What would you expect from a sitter in this instance?
Anonymous wrote:I don’t think I’d call you to tell you this, but yes I would expect a babysit to try and engage. Ask the kids if they want a snack, need help with homework, want to play a board game. She probably got paid at least $20/hr. She could have made an effort. But it isn’t a big deal. Just tell your daughter the feedback and move on


NP here. This is what I would expect for a normal babysitter. I may ask sitter to play board games with kids or make them a snack.

This was a last minute request for a half day. I would just want my kids alive and tv prob would be ok.

It sounds like the purpose of the sitter was to prevent tweens from fighting. I have a friend whose 12yo and 10yo fight constantly so they don’t leave them home alone. We would not have gotten a sitter for our tweens at that same age. They could just stay home alone and be fine for an afternoon.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 22:55     Subject: What would you expect from a sitter in this instance?
Anonymous wrote:I'd say "Oh gosh, Jessica, I don't know much about what happened but from what Olivia shared, I thought you said that the kids didn't get along and her job was to keep things on the straight and narrow. I think she said to expect that they'd be in their rooms, so she seemed happy that that was what happened since it ensured they were safe and not bothering each other. Can you reach out to Olivia directly to talk about it if you have concerns?"

Then I'd give my daughter ammunition to shut this lady down with "I thought I did what you asked, based on what you told me, and it sounds like make this isn't a fit. Best of luck next time!"


Ugh this is way too wordy.

The neighbor is a loon. Hopefully she paid well.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 22:45     Subject: What would you expect from a sitter in this instance?
Anonymous wrote:Our neighbors needed a last minute sitter for two hours on a district-wide half-day, and our 15.5yo was asked and agreed. The kids in question are tweens and needed a sitter because they don’t get along, but teen was told they would likely hide up in their rooms.

Teen went, said they got along, didn’t really bother her, and of story. Or so we thought. Neighbor contacted me to tell me that our teen didn’t talk or do anything with the kids while she was there. I was sort of caught off guard in that moment, wondering, what did you expect from her? I didn’t know how to respond so I didn’t answer just let her talk, but now I’m wondering, do parents expect activity coordinators nowadays? When I was a teen and babysat, the kids played and I supervised, marveled at whatever they showed me, offered snacks, cleaned up behind them, and went home. Just curious!


Did she pay your daughter? She was there to ensure they were safe not to entertain them. Plus they likely didn't want her to entertain them. Your neighbor is a jerk
.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 20:36     Subject: What would you expect from a sitter in this instance?
That mom is way off base and I’d tell my teen to decline any future babysitting jobs.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 20:36     Subject: What would you expect from a sitter in this instance?
Ignore and tell your DD never to help them out again.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 20:34     Subject: What would you expect from a sitter in this instance?
I'd say "Oh gosh, Jessica, I don't know much about what happened but from what Olivia shared, I thought you said that the kids didn't get along and her job was to keep things on the straight and narrow. I think she said to expect that they'd be in their rooms, so she seemed happy that that was what happened since it ensured they were safe and not bothering each other. Can you reach out to Olivia directly to talk about it if you have concerns?"

Then I'd give my daughter ammunition to shut this lady down with "I thought I did what you asked, based on what you told me, and it sounds like make this isn't a fit. Best of luck next time!"
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 20:32     Subject: Re:What would you expect from a sitter in this instance?
Anonymous wrote:Tweens don’t need babysitters, her & her kids just be insufferable. And she expected your 15yo whose a baby herself to entertain her tweens like they’re 2?


+1. Cheap mom wanted a partial refund because the kids behaved themselves.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 20:31     Subject: Re:What would you expect from a sitter in this instance?
Tweens don’t need babysitters, her & her kids just be insufferable. And she expected your 15yo whose a baby herself to entertain her tweens like they’re 2?
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 20:30     Subject: What would you expect from a sitter in this instance?
Anonymous wrote:I don’t think I’d call you to tell you this, but yes I would expect a babysit to try and engage. Ask the kids if they want a snack, need help with homework, want to play a board game. She probably got paid at least $20/hr. She could have made an effort. But it isn’t a big deal. Just tell your daughter the feedback and move on


Last minute, two hours to cover a early dismissal, for two preteen kids that usually need a referee to keep them from fighting and mother complains because everything went smoothly? She should be praising your daughter and hoping she’ll say yes again in a pinch. The nerve of some people!
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 20:28     Subject: What would you expect from a sitter in this instance?
If i asked a sitter to keep my warring kids alive and I came home and she’d never even seen them (but they were still alive as requested), I’d consider that a job well done. If she wanted your teen to give macrame classes and cook a gourmet meal and then perform arias for the kids, that’s what she should have asked for.

Definitely on the never babysit again list.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 19:41     Subject: What would you expect from a sitter in this instance?
I don’t think I’d call you to tell you this, but yes I would expect a babysit to try and engage. Ask the kids if they want a snack, need help with homework, want to play a board game. She probably got paid at least $20/hr. She could have made an effort. But it isn’t a big deal. Just tell your daughter the feedback and move on
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 18:02     Subject: What would you expect from a sitter in this instance?
I would expect the sitter makes sure the kids get fed - snack or meals depending on the time, that they take out dirty lunchboxes (kids can clean them out), that they ask the kids if they want to play a boardgame and play if the kids want. Help with homework if the sitter wants to. That is it.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 17:54     Subject: What would you expect from a sitter in this instance?
Anonymous wrote:This is why I stopped sitting as a high school student.


When I was a high schooler, I refused to babysit for kids over the age of 10 or 11. They just pushed boundaries and it didn't work at all.
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 17:50     Subject: What would you expect from a sitter in this instance?
I’m sorry op

Your kid did nothing wrong

Ignore the neighbor and don’t let your kid babysit there again
Anonymous
Post 01/16/2026 17:36     Subject: What would you expect from a sitter in this instance?
This is why I stopped sitting as a high school student.