I would be really pissed off if I were you!! How low for them to blame their tardiness on you the babysitter!

You are right not to babysit for them again, that is an obvious move, however they have also tainted your reputation in the process a bit so if I were in your shoes I would have to say my two cent's worth.

If I kept it to myself, it would only fester and make me angrier with time.

Talk to them, but keep any anger in check and keep things professional. In a diplomatic tone, just let them know that you have heard that they have told a few families that you have not been prompt with their family and that both of you know that has never been the case. Kindly ask them to please refrain from mentioning this to other families in the future and that you think it is best if you do not sit for them in the future.

That should settle it.

If they ask you to work again I would say unfortunately I gave to decline. I've been told that you are telling my clients I am always late. This is my career and my name and reputation mean so much to me. I don't feel comfortable working for people who would lie about me and try to harm my reputation.


I wouldn't do this. Why engage with gossip? You don't actually know if they said that or what they said or to whom. You just know what someone else told you and you don't even know if the person telling you is trustworthy. Honestly, you are making something out of nothing. If you don't want the income from the other family, just decline the job and move on. Your reputation is built on what you do. Keep showing up on time for the jobs you take and you'll be fine.


Oh, by all means, let the lying MB off the hook. She wi continue to lie..

You're missing the point. OP doesn't know if the MB is lying or not. She only knows gossip from another parent. She'll look pretty stupid if she engages in the gossip and turns out to be wrong. She could also damage her own reputation by confronting the MB if she is wrong by being known as a crazy sitter who makes outlandish accusations. Besides, does anyone believe that the MB, IF she did say that she was late because her nanny was late, is actually trying to harm OP's reputation? That's sort of foolish, especially if she is still hiring OP for sitting gigs.

If OP is uncomfortable with this MB because she might have said she was late, all OP has to do is turn down any babysitting jobs with them. If she rises above petty gossip and does a good job, her reputation will speak for itself.

Drop them as clients for slandering your name.

Anonymous wrote:

If they ask you to work again I would say unfortunately I gave to decline. I've been told that you are telling my clients I am always late. This is my career and my name and reputation mean so much to me. I don't feel comfortable working for people who would lie about me and try to harm my reputation.

I wouldn't do this. Why engage with gossip? You don't actually know if they said that or what they said or to whom. You just know what someone else told you and you don't even know if the person telling you is trustworthy. Honestly, you are making something out of nothing. If you don't want the income from the other family, just decline the job and move on. Your reputation is built on what you do. Keep showing up on time for the jobs you take and you'll be fine.

Oh, by all means, let the lying MB off the hook. She wi continue to lie..

If they ask you to work again I would say unfortunately I gave to decline. I've been told that you are telling my clients I am always late. This is my career and my name and reputation mean so much to me. I don't feel comfortable working for people who would lie about me and try to harm my reputation.

I wouldn't do this. Why engage with gossip? You don't actually know if they said that or what they said or to whom. You just know what someone else told you and you don't even know if the person telling you is trustworthy. Honestly, you are making something out of nothing. If you don't want the income from the other family, just decline the job and move on. Your reputation is built on what you do. Keep showing up on time for the jobs you take and you'll be fine.

18:15, she is a liar and I would never have worked for her again, and, I would have told her why.

I nice babysat regularly for a single mom. She was going on lots of online dates. One of them wanted to see her again. She booked me for that night, but just before she was going to meet him, she told him she couldn't come because her babysitter canceled. She still had me come over and went out with another guy. When she was getting ready, the first guy called her and I could hear her talking to him and kept saying I couldn't come, and how is this possibly her fault? I made good money with her though, so I wasn't too worried.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they ask you to work again I would say unfortunately I gave to decline. I've been told that you are telling my clients I am always late. This is my career and my name and reputation mean so much to me. I don't feel comfortable working for people who would lie about me and try to harm my reputation.

exactly this. They'll know other parents talk and they're now branded as liars.

+ 1

I worked a slight similiar situation. I was a nanny for a family. MB left for work before DB. I always arrived 5-10 minutes earlier than my start time. A few weeks into the position MB needed to have a "discussion". She asked me to arrive on time because DB's boss was complaining to him about showing up late. DB told MB I was late and that is why he was always late. I was really pissed and showed MB everyday I got in ( I clocked hours) and told her that DB sits and plays on his phone or talks to me for at least 20-30 minutes. Half of the time I'm putting my charge down and DB would be playing video games.
That didnt go over well. MB chose to believe DB ( understandable) and I left shortly after for another position.

Anonymous wrote:If they ask you to work again I would say unfortunately I gave to decline. I've been told that you are telling my clients I am always late. This is my career and my name and reputation mean so much to me. I don't feel comfortable working for people who would lie about me and try to harm my reputation.

exactly this. They'll know other parents talk and they're now branded as liars.

If they ask you to work again I would say unfortunately I gave to decline. I've been told that you are telling my clients I am always late. This is my career and my name and reputation mean so much to me. I don't feel comfortable working for people who would lie about me and try to harm my reputation.

Wow, that's low. I would never blame the babysitter for my tardiness.

I think you should stop working for them, but since they are so well connected, I probably wouldn't say why. Just say you're already booked and eventually they'll stop asking you.

I would stop babysitting for them, clearly. I don't know that I would say anything. You can just be unavailable when they need a babysitter.

Other than that, your reputation will be fine, because the other people you babysit for can see for themselves that you are punctual and reliable.

I am a full-time nanny and I do occasional night and weekend babysitting.
I am ALWAYS at least 5 minutes early to every job I take. Punctuality and professionalism are very important to me.
I've been babysitting for a nice (or so I thought) family for about a year.
They are always running late, usually leaving the house minutes before they are meant to be somewhere.
I began babysitting occasionally for a couple who are friends with them.
Last night, the mother remarked "I'm really surprised by you because Larlo and Larla say you're always late. You've never been late for us."
They've been telling everyone that the reason they're late is because I am always late to arrive.
I'm honestly pissed! They are dragging my name and good reputation through the mud.
I am not hurting for clients and will never work for them again.
Should I tell them why? Also, they know a lot of people in the area and could have spread this around to everyone.
How do I do damage control and protect my reputation as a reliable sitter?