Babysitting and the parents have just called me drunk…

Yes you do. You had an agreed time they’d be home. You absolutely could’ve said “sorry but you said you’d be home for 10.30/11, I’ve got an early start tomorrow I need to get myself home.” Stand up for yourself.

Bonkers suggestion. If you actually think that was a good idea you need help.

OP I’ve been in your shoes before. It’s simply not as easy as everyone likes to claim to be so assertive and insist they just return home. I used to find all sorts of reasons to try and avoid babysitting for certain relatives because of this. Then luckily had my own kids and now I just never get asked. Glad you got home eventually.

Very dramatic thread.

Couple stayed out a little later when they had a babysitter, and rang and checked first., is what it boiled down to.

Op - it sounds like you were too busy to babysit this weekend, I think thaf is the point in which you should have said no. You said it yourself - you wouldn't have minded except you had other stuff on.

Never ever babysit for them again- if they complain cite this as the reason.

With care OP, you absolutely have authority here. You actually have the only authority here as the person watching their kids. I am guessing there’s some sort of expectation of extended family here and it’s hard to break out of it, but you need to figure out how to create and maintain boundaries for yourself or this nonsense will continue.

At a literal bare minimum, never babysit for them again.

I would go to sleep in their bed

Be realistic. If that's the case, then more parents should be tee-total. But they're not.

Now personally, as someone who doesn't drink, I'd support that. But imagine across the UK just how many parents there are right now who have been out drinking or got drunk in front of the TV after their kids were in bed. By morning, they will mostly have sobered up and just experiencing the inevitable pain of an early wake up call with kids and a hangover. That's called "consequences".

OP, stop babysitting for free and if 11pm is a hard cut off time, you probably shouldn't be babysitting anyway, even if you are being paid.

it sounds a bit crap but you agreed 11ish, they called and asked to stay for one more and you said ‘oh okay’ and they were back about midnight.

I don’t think they were unreasonable tbh.

If more generally though you have a hard cut off of 11, or you want to be paid, you need to make that clear.

OP I’m glad you’re home and safe. This thread is an interesting read for me - on the ad hoc nights we pay babysitters, we often have v late nights, agreed in advance and paid in full per hour! Am non British and have always found closing times early here, plus I love to dance and share a drink or two with my husband. It’s fun. (And no they are not at risk, we could respond in an emergency. It’s possible to drink without being uncontrollably drunk. not that it’s the focus of our evening).
My experience differs from the ring 111 crowd here - and to be fair I recognise that your family, and unpaid, and they were an hour later home than expected. Which is unfair! (But also happens fairly frequently in social situations? Esp when travel is involved).
Our regular sitters say they value the longer babysitting hours and would prefer to work less frequently for longer. Snacks, warmth and a blanket for the sofa.
When I was a teenager I used to work an overnight once a month for two different families, 4pm to 11am the next day (ad hoc weekend nanny type role). I loved it. It allowed me £ for uni and during uni. I studied and slept and got the kids out in the am to parks etc. Still in touch with one of the families now (20+ years later).
While I understand you may never want to offer to babysit for your family again. You do need to communicate. It’s very possible they won’t have any understanding of you being upset with them.

You call them back and say, everything is ok with the kids however I am not able to stay any longer so you need to come home now?

Like an actual adult?

Thats on you though
Why did you agree to babysit? Why did you not make it clear that you were only available until a certain time?

I certainly wouldn't be asking you to babysit if your priority is your own sleep rather than the safety of children - especially ones you are related to and presumably actually love!!! Jeez.

Don't be so ridiculous of course you have and should have said something.

Well I hope you told them that they have entirely fucked up any chance of you babysitting again in the future.

It doesn't matter in the slightest what any other parents do @Imanexcellentdrivercharliebabbit! It is totally unacceptable for any adult who is in sole charge of a child, to be under the influence of alcohol, or any other drugs - illicit or legal - if the substance has made them unable to function as well as they would when not under the influence of a mind altering substance.

As the parents of one or more children, this couple should never both drink or take drugs at the same time as the other parent. The only time a single parent, or guardian, should ever even contemplate being over the legal limit of any such mind altering matter, is when their child is away from home, and staying with a trusted, loved, and capable adult, or, when the parents are going to be away overnight, and the babysitter is well known and trusted by both the parent/s and the child/ren.

I am finding it rather hard to believe that you, 'Imanexcellentdriver....', came out with such a childish response to the OP's thread. It reminds me of the well known "But mummy, all the other children were allowed to watch that age 12 film" or "every other child in my class have those £150 sneakers, so I will be bullied if I don't have them too!" .....

Glad you're home OP. What sort of state were they in?
I am wishing for the worst of all hangovers and their kids having really noisy repetitive toys.

Really? Would an amazing person leave the kids with drunk parents because she doesn't want to change her own plans and Netflix is boring, despite there being the option of staying over to take care of the kids? Plus I assume she is being paid.

I'm trying to work out if you are the cousin of the young children or the cousin of the drunk parents. I'm guessing you are young compared to the parents, considering you don't feel you have any authority?

Well glad to hear it didn't go on until 3am as you feared.

They originally said 11pm-ish and they were home by midnight, which is not ideal but could have been a lot worse. I would chalk this down to experience, but definitely tell them you expect to be paid for any babysitting in future, in 30 minute blocks to encourage them to be home on time.

ive tried to read all of the posts. Ask for payment, at least £10per hour you’ve been there, plus extra for the unexpected time.
They may be family, but this is completely unreasonable. £50 minimum.

Goodness you need to charge.
They when they come home late they have to pay more. Get some leverage for goodness sake!

Exactly. Don't be a martyr ffs

I think you could have said that you needed to get home because you will have to get up early for a busy day tomorrow.

I suppose that doesn't guarantee them taking too much notice of you but it's what I would have done. Then I would ensure that I would never babysit for them again and would be tempted to tell them why.

I'd be sat with my coat on and leave the moment they walk in the door.
No polite small talk, just I need to go, I'm late thanks to you