Baby sitting

[canyou]

It you agree to baby sit a toddler in someone's home for them for 4 nights so they can go abroad for a shopping trip would it be unreasonable to expect
1] Enough food/milk for evening meal and breakfast
2] Food for Lunch
3]More then 3 nappies
4]A bed made up to sleep in
5]To not have sky set to record their fav programs meaning I cannot watch anything else
6] Be Warn that the child wakes up at night and expects to be brought down stairs to play at 2 am and only goes back to bed at 5 am and the other children get up at 6.30 am
Thought I was speechless obviously not [hblush]
And as this is family the only thing received will be 'great, is she ok ?thanks]

Do not do it again. However I would be inclined to do it my way and the toddler wouldn't be downstairs at 2am! I would also cancel the recordings and watch what I wanted and keep a record of spending to claim back.

Unbelievable.

Not sure I would deal with this by letter. I would speak to them in private,ie not in front of the kids, when they return, but have all the receipts in an envelope.

It is less inflammatory, if they can see that you are being calm and reasonable.

Hope it goes OK.

dear god

yes i expect and get all meals and drinks during the time i am there

obviously expect enough nappys/wipes etc but can understand that maybe ran out/didnt reliese was low

would buy and expect money back PDQ

tv - it happens, babysat the other night at work and db likes wed night tv and had programmed sky+ 8-11 for 2 recordings - was not amused but shit happens - mb said sorry&that wed wasnt a good night to bs - i agreed [hgrin]

i fiddled about on mn and watched things on lappy via ch 4 demand and i player etc

what i dont understand is if your dn has such a strict routine (so cant sleep anywhere but home) then why the hell does she get up and they allow her up [hhmm] - let her scream, she would soon learn after a few nights (but not your problem to solve)

Can't believe the selfishness.

I did a few hours babysitting for a friend recently, there was a bottle of wine in the fridge and a box of chocolates to make the evening go quicker- and I didn't even need to watch the DS as he was already in bed!

If you had done four nights for me, I would have treated you like the childcare goddess you are.

They are clearly a bit wrapped up in themselves to say the least.

A question: have the parents not contacted you via text or phone since they've been away? Haven't they contacted you to ask how their house, dog and child are?

IMO, it's a bit odd if they've swanned off and have forgotten to ring.

Trylikingclarity They left a msg on face book because we missed the ph call on sat and then they text last night to ask were they being missed and to record the x factor, My sis is not great at ringing tbh as no news is good news and I could not be bothered to say anything over the ph and def not on facebook or by text. DP is feeding them lunch and then we are off to the park to feed the ducks

My mother, who adores my two year old and who is adored in return, sometimes does an evening for us. I would never ask her for an overnight precisely because DD doesn't sleep through yet.

I always leave her a meal to heat up and/or some cheese and nibbles, make sure we have tonic water so she can have a G&T after DD is in bed, and make sure that DDs pajamas and overnight nappy are laid out, teddies are in her cot, etc.

four days. With two toddlers, a dog, and nothing in the house. And your sister has just rung to tell you to record the X factor.

Gosh.

Oh my God [hshock]. I am a veteran of niece and nephew babysitting but I would be hopping if I was left with that situation.

canyou - I suspect they have played you right from the beginning. I don't believe they had their flights changed on them (2 days extra on a weekend trip at no notice? How many people could even take extra time off work like that?). They extended their trip (or had always planned on being away for longer) and didn't tell you because they didn't think you'd do it if you had time to think about it. Do not agree to help them again - in any way.

Canyou, this is your sister? My sis is a bit of freeloader too, so I 100% feel your pain.

They asked you via FB if they were being missed? Yeah, I bet they are really missed; I'm sure you're counting down the minutes till they get their asses back!

Oh canyou, you NEED to reply to the Are we missed...

Hi Sis! You are being missed: £5.69 for the pack of nappies, £25 for food for your children .,...

and list all the expenses you have laid out thus far.. Ending with a "Hope you remember to get me a BLOODY good present for putting me out like this...."

Well maybe don't actually post that, but imagine doing it....

It's a bit late now since your sibling will be back tomorrow but can't you put DN to sleep in a travel cot downstairs and just shut all the doors when you go to sleep. The crying at two am is less likely to disturb you or the neighbours that way.

Yes deleate their tv and watch what you want. Ring them/text them and say you have no food and nappies - and can't afford to pay up.. Put the problem back in their hands .

So they are back today then???

[fly on wall emoticon]

YANBU!

I take it this is the last time you will be babysitting for them?

However, if you'd like to come to our house to babysit sometime....we will treat you like royalty!

Some people just realise how lucky they are to have people available to help them out like this, it's really terrible to take advantage of you like this

just don't realise how

Ye gods!

Some people absolutely take the piss, don´t they?

We´ve recently been away & had to have the guinea pigs, rabbit & dwarf hamsters looked after & we sent food, treats & bedding!

OP - are they back yet? What did they say? Did you get a massive present apology?

Hi they are home since 9 pm. DD got a duty free tube of smarties [she is 18 months]
They said yeah she does wake at night we are not sure why
I did not bother even talking about how I felt as I was to tired and wanted to get my dd home
So no choccies [or do the smarties count?], no wine
I guess I will appreciate the time my dd and dn had together as they do not spend a lot of time together yet
Ok off to bed night all and thanks for listening to me bitch moan and complain

spotted this a bit late but I'd have been ringing up the parents at 2am (or maybe 2.30am, so could have shown I was trying to get child back to sleep!) to ask them how to get child back to sleep :o)

hope you manage to get them to realise how dreadful they ahve been and to refund the costs.

can't believe they didn't bring you even a duty free bottle back with them

They'll ask again, canyou, and then you can have the pleasure of telling them exactly why you will not be agreeing.

Fuck me, that is the biggest advantage/piss take I have ever seen!

Bastards. Selfish rotten bastards. That's all I can say .

That is absolutely awful.

How could you leave a child knowing that they don´t sleep through?

Without mentioning it & giving the person the chance to say no!

My goodness.

I looked after a friends two whilst she was in hospital having her third.

She´d left a meal plan & the necessary food, money so I could take them shopping for something for the baby, wine for me, & she organised flowers for me!

They were on a shopping trip & brought you nothing back at all?

And just Smarties for your daughter-their niece!

That is just so thoughtless it´s beyond words really.

No5 is the most annoying I find. The other things can be solved with money. Sky+ however is a pain in the arse, as once two progs are set to record it often won't let you watch anything else and will bring up a unhelpful error message if you try which if you select either option it gives, cancels a recording. Has Sky fixed that issue yet? Clicking Back should not cancel a recording - but it does when I've had it happen whilst babysitting.