Anonymous wrote:LOL. Take away her car! No access to car unless she can use car privleges to help her family. Take away her phone. No phone privleges unless she watches her family after school--that is a family communication tool, not her personal property.
I agree, I think that is fine to do from time to time. My 12 year old would have been fine watching a toddler sibling for a few hours when he was 11.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
This. Maybe she’s mulling this idea and wants to field test it anonymously to see how other parents react. A generation ago, this might have been a foregoneconclusion. Today, there’s more to consider.
A parent I know recently left her 11 year old in charge of her toddler for a couple hours so she could Christmas shop. She bragged on SM and was stunned by the backlash. Sure, in 1988, this was ok. But this isn’t 1988.
I think it's ok.
If she did it for hours and hours, every day, then it wouldn't be ok -- but it wouldn't have been ok in 1988 either, or in 1978.
Anonymous wrote:
This. Maybe she’s mulling this idea and wants to field test it anonymously to see how other parents react. A generation ago, this might have been a foregoneconclusion. Today, there’s more to consider.
A parent I know recently left her 11 year old in charge of her toddler for a couple hours so she could Christmas shop. She bragged on SM and was stunned by the backlash. Sure, in 1988, this was ok. But this isn’t 1988.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Agree that I need l need more details. What time does everyone's school start? What does she want to be doing instead?
+1
Why doesn't OP answer these questions? These details would make a big difference in how posters respond.
She probably made up the scenario out of curiosity, or is taking a poll.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP your 17 year old did not choose to have kids - you did. It's your job, not hers.
Also, this article has been making some rounds. You might find reading it helpful.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/10/when-kids-have-to-parent-their-siblings-it-affects-them-for-life/543975
Oh boo hiss. The mom isn't asking her to breastfeed.
Chores are chores and part of being a family.
Absolutely. Contribute to the household is one thing, but being a caretaker for others is something else - she didn't choose to have kids and should not be required to pick up after others. Pick up after herself? Absolutely. If you want her to take care of your kids, maybe you should pay her?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Agree that I need l need more details. What time does everyone's school start? What does she want to be doing instead?
+1
Why doesn't OP answer these questions? These details would make a big difference in how posters respond.
Anonymous wrote:Agree that I need l need more details. What time does everyone's school start? What does she want to be doing instead?
Anonymous wrote:Just read the article and I think OP is a bully. You're only picking on your daughter because she's female but you probably wouldn't place these crazy expectations on her if she was a son. Check your gender bias!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP your 17 year old did not choose to have kids - you did. It's your job, not hers.
Also, this article has been making some rounds. You might find reading it helpful.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/10/when-kids-have-to-parent-their-siblings-it-affects-them-for-life/543975
Oh boo hiss. The mom isn't asking her to breastfeed.
Chores are chores and part of being a family.
Absolutely. Contribute to the household is one thing, but being a caretaker for others is something else - she didn't choose to have kids and should not be required to pick up after others. Pick up after herself? Absolutely. If you want her to take care of your kids, maybe you should pay her?
Do your kids only wash their own dinner plate after dinner?
How is this similar? I'm thinking something like - if someone cook/prep, the others clean. It's a tradeoff.
Are the younger siblings doing something that really helps the older sister, where there's a sort of even exchange of duties? If so, what? But being the oldest does not mean you have to provide free childcare. If you want her to take care of others, pay her - but she's not a free babysitter.
And I say that as the youngest child in a large family.
Anonymous wrote:I definitely had to drive my siblings in the car my parents paid for. It definitely sucked, but that was something I had to do for the privilege of having a car. It's a different scenario here but it does change the bottom line: In a family, everyone pitches in. You people saying a 17-year-old shouldn't have to help with her siblings are nuts. Of course she should. There are lots of benefits of being the oldest, and lots of responsibilities, even if you didn't choose to be born first. That's life.