Babysitting Family assumed I would be available

[Anonymous]

So mostly a vent..

Little back story. The family I babysit for (once a week on a set night), I used to nanny for. This was about 2 yrs ago. I have a new nanny family now that I've been with for the 2 yrs.

The babysitting family is due to have #2 any day. Mom is not out on maternity, but will be soon. My one night babysitting will end, which I'm ok with. During my last night, the parents told me their birth plan. They wanted a specific day for the c section, but got another that happens to me in the middle of the week.

Now all other days I work later, well not late but after the babysitting family daycare closes. I set it up that that one preset day I get off early enough to pick up babysitting kid from daycare.

So back to my last babysitting night, birth plan blah blah. We're talking, I'm getting my shoes and items ready to go (as I worked all day, then pick up their kid and worked again). And the mom says so you can pick up little Betty and we want her to stay on her same schedule, so daycare all day while she's in the hospital, kid goes home with ME (her home), I then would have to take her to day the next day.

Really. I would have to take off early and ask to come in late (daycare and my nanny family are not close to each other). They just assumed I would take off the time! Its like days away!

I told her oh I can't take off work, especially with such short notice. They seemed shocked.
I get a text later saying well they loved having me watch their kid and they hope I can from time to time again or if I don't want to I can make up some more excuses to why I can't.

Seriously!

[Anonymous]

Fuck them. Your responsibility is to your full time employers not the people who laid you off to stick their kid in daycare, AND who will no longer be using you as a babysitter.

[Anonymous]

"I get a text later saying well they loved having me watch their kid and they hope I can from time to time again or if I don't want to I can make up some more excuses to why I can't. "

What?? If she ever wanted you to babysit again she just screwed herself. She seems extremely bitter.

[Anonymous]

The fuck???

[Anonymous]

F**k that noise. I would have told her to blow me.

[Anonymous]

You know what "assume" does, don't you, OP? Definitely made an ass out of them.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

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

I am so sick of cutting rude pregnant women some slack. The hormone excuse is old hat and nobody gives a damn.

[Anonymous]

Being pregnant is not a free pass to say or do anything you like, nor is it an excuse to treat people anyway you like. Also the hormones of pregnancy may make you feel crazy emotions, but it doesn't make you suddenly unaware of what appropriate behavior is. This woman crossed a line, and I would probably call her on it, IF I was even willing to consider dealing with her again.

[Anonymous]

If you don't want to have anything more to do with them then reply "I wasn't making up excuses. I have a full-time job and cannot use my leave time there to babysit for you. I wish you all the best with your new baby but would prefer not to babysit for you in future."

Or - if you want to maintain contact then I'd still want to rebut the excuse thing w/ some version of "it wasn't an excuse, I have a full-time job, but I would be happy to babysit for you on occasion if my schedule permits.

[Anonymous]

Yeah that's obnoxious. "I am very sorry that I'm not available. Unfortunately, I strongly value my commitments to all my charges, and don't take breaking that commitment lightly. I've enjoyed babysitting for you too and hope our relationship can continue."

[Anonymous]

i had a family ask me to hang around because I was there call to person for child number 1 when they went into labor. I found out later they had another sitter there because she was cheaper and still wanted me to wait around during the week just in case.


stupid people.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

They should have asked you with a couple months of warning - they knew it was coming. I can't imagine having those details still up in the air so close to your due date.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for reassuring me I'm not crazy - it was with them that dropped the ball. Waiting to explain their plan, assuming all would be well.

One post said could I drop the kid off early to daycare or bring my nanny charges and her to drop her off at daycare. I have to be to work early and dropping her at daycare and trying to make it to work wouldn't work out. The distance is far. And I have two charges I nanny for, three carseats will not fit in the back seat of my car (all three car seats are too wide).

I feel bad, but they will have to think of something else.