Last minute job/ is this legit?

[Anonymous]

Ok- I am a mom, teacher, & babysitter in the summer.
A parent reached out on care today- wanting a sitter tonight. I’ve never met the kids (obviously) and she’s never met me.
Kids are older 8 & 10.
I have a verified background check on file.
She’s fine with my rate so that’s not the issue. But should I be concerned that she doesn’t even need to meet me before leaving me with her kids? I can’t imagine doing that… but admittedly my kids are much younger.

Is this a problem or am I borrowing trouble?

[Anonymous]

Could be totally legit. I literally did this today: my nanny cancelled coming in this morning, so I hastily booked a vaccinated full-day nanny on UrbanSitter. DC is very young, but DH and I are both WFH the entire day, so have that sense of security.

[Anonymous]

I did this once for a truly lovely couple visiting for the week. Never met them, hired on care.com, spoke only once before I showed up.

[Anonymous]

BTDT.

[Anonymous]

I personally would never do it w/my own kids, but have done this w/other families.

Thank goodness I am a genuinely good Nanny, but I don’t think anyone should take anyone at only face value.

But to each their own.

[Anonymous]

I've had a mom reach out once saying they were desperate and had a concert a few towns over and wanted a sitter OVERNIGHT that night! For their baby!

[Anonymous]

I babysat a lot as a teen / college kid. Many times my name was passed to another family but sometimes it was someone at the local pool asked at the lifeguard stand and I said I babysit and they hired me. Most of the time the first time I met the kids or family was my first time on the job. Seemed totally normal at the time.

As a parent of young kids I can't believe it now, but back then it was what people did.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Things got bad- really fast.
First mom wanted a date night. Then she asked if I could stay until 2am. Then- she asked what my policy was if she wasn’t back by 2am. I’d never met the kids. She didn’t know me from Adam.
I told her I was no longer able to accept the job because I did not have the availability/flexibility that she was looking for. She wrote an awful review for me on care.com- so I’m trying to fight it with the messages.
But- I’m just happy I bailed. That mom is nuts!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Things got bad- really fast.
First mom wanted a date night. Then she asked if I could stay until 2am. Then- she asked what my policy was if she wasn’t back by 2am. I’d never met the kids. She didn’t know me from Adam.
I told her I was no longer able to accept the job because I did not have the availability/flexibility that she was looking for. She wrote an awful review for me on care.com- so I’m trying to fight it with the messages.
But- I’m just happy I bailed. That mom is nuts!

This is why I won't use care. People that you've never met in person can post a nasty review and tank everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Things got bad- really fast.
First mom wanted a date night. Then she asked if I could stay until 2am. Then- she asked what my policy was if she wasn’t back by 2am. I’d never met the kids. She didn’t know me from Adam.
I told her I was no longer able to accept the job because I did not have the availability/flexibility that she was looking for. She wrote an awful review for me on care.com- so I’m trying to fight it with the messages.
But- I’m just happy I bailed. That mom is nuts!

This is why I won't use care. People that you've never met in person can post a nasty review and tank everything.

Yep! And then you have to pay for your own background check as a nanny.

Care.com used to be a good tool for nannies. Now it’s trash with a lot of spam.