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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Babysitting and the parents have just called me drunk…

189 replies

ffsisthisreal · 25/04/2026 23:16

45 minutes after they were meant to be home, steaming, from a club.

I can see this being a 2/3am job. I’ve got plans tomorrow and they’re family, so I do this for free.

AIBU to be raging?

OP posts:
MauriceTheMussel · 26/04/2026 00:11

How old are the kids?

ImFinePMSL · 26/04/2026 00:07

ffsisthisreal · 25/04/2026 23:55

Ffs, I meant convoluted

if anyone’s tempted by Unchosen - don’t be. It’s terribly confusing

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If you haven’t already- please watch the final episode. Absolutely mental end to the series.

Popiscle · 26/04/2026 00:04

Errahstop · 25/04/2026 23:57

You've never come home drunk?

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Actually, no. I've never been drunk.

PyongyangKipperbang · 26/04/2026 00:04

ffsisthisreal · 26/04/2026 00:00

I just went “oh, okay” because I didn’t really have the authority to say much else

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Of course you do!

You have authority over your own time. The fact that they may ignore that is neither here nor there.

So next time (although there shouldnt be, tell them to get bent if they ask again) you say "No, I need to get home" and they laugh and hang up. Then you text AND whatsapp them both saying "I need you home by 11:30 at the latest given that we agreed 11pm" so when they cant remember the next day, there is proof right there of what you said.

SirAlbusRumbledore · 26/04/2026 00:02

ffsisthisreal · 26/04/2026 00:00

I just went “oh, okay” because I didn’t really have the authority to say much else

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Well then you only have yourself to blame.

Imanexcellentdrivercharliebabbit · 26/04/2026 00:02

ReadingSoManyThreads · 25/04/2026 23:41

Terrible advice, OP could get in serious trouble leaving children alone.

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Yes definitely don’t do that crikey !

Ewock · 26/04/2026 00:01

ffsisthisreal · 26/04/2026 00:00

I just went “oh, okay” because I didn’t really have the authority to say much else

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They are totally taking the piss, but you are very permissive about it. I'd have said no we agreed xx time and you need to come back.
No idea why you didn't

greatvisuals · 26/04/2026 00:01

ffsisthisreal · 26/04/2026 00:00

I just went “oh, okay” because I didn’t really have the authority to say much else

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If you're old enough to look after young children, you are old enough to assert yourself.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 26/04/2026 00:01

I once babysat for a couple who didn't come back till 4 am.

This was years before mobile phones existed (I think it was 1974) and their central heating turned itself off at 11.30, so I was freezing. It was also before videos and DVDs were a thing, so I couldn't watch anything.

I was furious with them, but they were quite blasé when they finally rocked up. It was a paid job and they gave me an extra fiver, so I got £15 for doing nine hours of babysitting.

Bastards.

Happyjoe · 26/04/2026 00:01

I do hate people who take the pee out of people's good nature. End of babysitting in future! Hope not much longer OP and it doesn't ruin your plans for tomorrow.
Reminds me, I used to babysit dads work colleagues 2 children who happened to live a street away. I was about 14. Turned up one night to 11 children, all under 7 and was left with the lot of them. The night was utter hell, I had no control at all, they ran rings around me. Never babysat again for them or anyone.

Original poster
ffsisthisreal · 26/04/2026 00:00

minipie · 25/04/2026 23:59

You’re their babysitter, you can absolutely tell them to stick to the agreed time to be home!

If you tell them to get home and they ignore you then they are arseholes, but that’s not what happened. It’s a bit muddier when they’ve said they’re staying out and you’ve said fine.

I wouldn’t be babysitting for free for anyone mind you so you are a saint for doing it at all. Definitely wouldn’t be doing it ever again.

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I just went “oh, okay” because I didn’t really have the authority to say much else

OP posts:
Original poster
ffsisthisreal · 25/04/2026 23:59

I can’t lie I do feel better about not getting the kids to bed on time now…

OP posts:
minipie · 25/04/2026 23:59

ffsisthisreal · 25/04/2026 23:56

Yes because who am I to tell two grown adults what to do? If I said no they’d laugh, hang up the phone and stay out anyway because they know I won’t leave the kids alone.

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You’re their babysitter, you can absolutely tell them to stick to the agreed time to be home!

If you tell them to get home and they ignore you then they are arseholes, but that’s not what happened. It’s a bit muddier when they’ve said they’re staying out and you’ve said fine.

I wouldn’t be babysitting for free for anyone mind you so you are a saint for doing it at all. Definitely wouldn’t be doing it ever again.

greatvisuals · 25/04/2026 23:58

Just don't babysit for them again. They sound crap. Not even paying you!

Original poster
ffsisthisreal · 25/04/2026 23:57

CalmTheFuckDownMargaret · 25/04/2026 23:56

Never babysit for these selfish CFs again. But definitely do set some loud early morning alarms if you can find any.

Should’ve taught the kids how to make Alexa fart…

OP posts:
PillsBox · 25/04/2026 23:57

ffsisthisreal · 25/04/2026 23:56

Yes because who am I to tell two grown adults what to do? If I said no they’d laugh, hang up the phone and stay out anyway because they know I won’t leave the kids alone.

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Oh stop it, really 🙄

Original poster
ffsisthisreal · 25/04/2026 23:57

Eggybreadwithnuts · 25/04/2026 23:54

You need to stay over...the children are at risk

If I genuinely thought they were I would, but I’m not going to sleep on a sofa just to help their hangover in the morning

OP posts:
Errahstop · 25/04/2026 23:57

Popiscle · 25/04/2026 23:18

If the parents are drunk, can you safely hand over the children to them? I wouldn't babysit for them again.

You've never come home drunk?

CalmTheFuckDownMargaret · 25/04/2026 23:56

Never babysit for these selfish CFs again. But definitely do set some loud early morning alarms if you can find any.

Soccerislife · 25/04/2026 23:56

I wouldn’t be babysitting for free in the first place but I wouldn’t babysit for them again. They’ve lost their free babysitter, idiots.

Original poster
ffsisthisreal · 25/04/2026 23:56

PillsBox · 25/04/2026 23:55

You said they told you they were staying for another drink and you didn’t tell them no.

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Yes because who am I to tell two grown adults what to do? If I said no they’d laugh, hang up the phone and stay out anyway because they know I won’t leave the kids alone.

OP posts:
Topseyt123 · 25/04/2026 23:56

If they aren't answering their calls then try calling the club you believe they are at and getting the message through that they need to come back NOW because you as their babysitter need to go home urgently.

Then ensure that you never babysit for them again. They are cheeky fuckers and are taking advantage of you badly.

minipie · 25/04/2026 23:56

ffsisthisreal · 25/04/2026 23:55

No, they called to ask if the kids were alright

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Yes but then they said ok we’ll stay out for another drink. That was your opportunity to remind them that they’d said they would be home by 11. I know they didn’t ask if another drink was ok exactly but you could have said it wasn’t ok?

PillsBox · 25/04/2026 23:55

ffsisthisreal · 25/04/2026 23:54

They didn’t ask about staying out, they just asked if the kids were alright.

they’ve been known to have late nights before (but not with me!)

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You said they told you they were staying for another drink and you didn’t tell them no.

Original poster
ffsisthisreal · 25/04/2026 23:55

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 25/04/2026 23:54

What's a convicted Netflix show?
Grin

Ffs, I meant convoluted

if anyone’s tempted by Unchosen - don’t be. It’s terribly confusing

OP posts:
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