Babysitting Family assumed I would be available

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:was there really no way to make it work...like take the other kid to daycare early, or ask your MB if you could bring the kid with you then take your fill time charge with you to drop off the other kid later? if you're not the kind of many who is constantly asking for favors, andate trying to help out a pregnant mom, most reasonable people are willing to be flexible if possible. but I do agree pregnant moms reaction was inexcusable and over the top.

Why should OP have to make these sorts of arrangements to help such jerks?
I would never, ever ask my full-time employers for favors to help out a babysitting client.
It is unprofessional. I would be completely unwilling to jeopardize my good relationship with my MB/DB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:was there really no way to make it work...like take the other kid to daycare early, or ask your MB if you could bring the kid with you then take your fill time charge with you to drop off the other kid later? if you're not the kind of many who is constantly asking for favors, andate trying to help out a pregnant mom, most reasonable people are willing to be flexible if possible. but I do agree pregnant moms reaction was inexcusable and over the top.

Why should OP have to make these sorts of arrangements to help such jerks?
I would never, ever ask my full-time employers for favors to help out a babysitting client.
It is unprofessional. I would be completely unwilling to jeopardize my good relationship with my MB/DB.

then you don't have a very good relationship with them in the first place. I've asked for accommodations under special circumstances to help out other families and if we can make it work, we do. If we can't then that's OK, but there's no harm in asking. The families know if they're in a pinch I'll make an effort to help them out as well. It's called do unto others as you would have others do unto you. But then I don't work for jerks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:was there really no way to make it work...like take the other kid to daycare early, or ask your MB if you could bring the kid with you then take your fill time charge with you to drop off the other kid later? if you're not the kind of many who is constantly asking for favors, andate trying to help out a pregnant mom, most reasonable people are willing to be flexible if possible. but I do agree pregnant moms reaction was inexcusable and over the top.

Why should OP have to make these sorts of arrangements to help such jerks?
I would never, ever ask my full-time employers for favors to help out a babysitting client.
It is unprofessional. I would be completely unwilling to jeopardize my good relationship with my MB/DB.

then you don't have a very good relationship with them in the first place. I've asked for accommodations under special circumstances to help out other families and if we can make it work, we do. If we can't then that's OK, but there's no harm in asking. The families know if they're in a pinch I'll make an effort to help them out as well. It's called do unto others as you would have others do unto you. But then I don't work for jerks.

I have a fantastic relationship with my bosses. The reason I do is because my job is priority # 1.
Asking the people who employ you full-time to make concessions for another family is not professional.
Bending over backwards so someone has a babysitter is not "doing into others as you would have them do unto you," it's you being taken advantage of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:was there really no way to make it work...like take the other kid to daycare early, or ask your MB if you could bring the kid with you then take your fill time charge with you to drop off the other kid later? if you're not the kind of many who is constantly asking for favors, andate trying to help out a pregnant mom, most reasonable people are willing to be flexible if possible. but I do agree pregnant moms reaction was inexcusable and over the top.

Why should OP have to make these sorts of arrangements to help such jerks?
I would never, ever ask my full-time employers for favors to help out a babysitting client.
It is unprofessional. I would be completely unwilling to jeopardize my good relationship with my MB/DB.

then you don't have a very good relationship with them in the first place. I've asked for accommodations under special circumstances to help out other families and if we can make it work, we do. If we can't then that's OK, but there's no harm in asking. The families know if they're in a pinch I'll make an effort to help them out as well. It's called do unto others as you would have others do unto you. But then I don't work for jerks.

I might ask for this kind of favour of my bosses for a family member or close friend (who in any case would all ask me well ahead of time) but why should my bosses make such last minute adjustments for another client? In no other profession would you ask one client to make such big adjustments for another, especially not when one provides so much more business than the other.

[Anonymous]

Either they're really disorganized or you were actually their plan B after plan A bailed. No way I would wait til I was already in the due date window to start asking the babysitter if she's free to watch child #1. That's crazy.

[Anonymous]

I would just reply "I have enjoyed watching your children and understand your disappointment however my first priority is the commitment that I have to my full-time employer."

And if you want to work for them again possibly include "Please feel free to contact me with future childcare needs."

[Anonymous]

I'd love to hear an update from OP. This situation made me really cranky on your behalf, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cut her some slack! She's pregnant and crazy.

There's no excuse for bad behaviour, ever.

OP, and I say this as someone who is 38 weeks along, that was a crappy thing for them to do. If they do not have it together to figure out who is watching their 1st kid when they go into labor that is their problem to solve. It is not YOUR problem, and the texting guilt trip is over the top. If they are really that dramatic about it, they might have thought of this before creating number 2.

Sure, I'll treat the person who cares for MY CHILD like the dirt I would scrape off my shoe when I don't get my way. That will make her come around. I just don't understand that mindset. Stay strong. Your response was absolutely rational and reasonable.