to leave dd with 13 year old neighbour for 3 hours tonight?

[faintpinkline]

My MIL has just told me I'm really irresponsible and shouldn't risk it.

DD is 6 and will be in bed. Neighbour's dd is very responsible and at least one if not both of her parents will be in all evening and have told her if anything does go wrong to come and get them - semi detached house so only a few seconds away. We'll be less than 15 minutes away and on our mobiles.

But MIL has just put fear of God into me. According to her they will l both be dead and the house burnt down by the time we get back

tell mil to babysit if she doesnt like it.

yabu btw

13 sounds young but its a funny age, some 13 year olds are still very much children, some aren't. 13 yr old's parents next door? You less than 15 minutes away?

Go go go. I'm usually rather anal about such things as well!

I think that's fine. Tell mil to butt out!

Sounds fine to me. Only thing I'd say is rather than saying to go and fetch her parents if anything goes wrong, it would be better to call her parents. But otherwise I can't see a problem if you know and trust her. I leave my 13-yr-old DS in charge of his 9-yr-old sister when I go out, and she's still awake so lots of opportunities for bickering.

Why did you even tell mil what you were doing?
It'll be fine

I think that's ok. You are close and have two adults next door who know what's going on.

Hmmm I'm not sure.

I wouldn't leave my very sensible 13 year old DD1 alone to be responsible for DDs 2 and 3 (aged 8 and 5) but then if there were other adults nearby I might.

I think your MIL is overreacting somewhat!

Because she asked Gumby

Yadnbu

YANBU

My 12 year old daughter babysits for our neighbours children. I go along too, but don't do anything.
If you think she is mature enough, which obviously you do, it is not a problem.
Will her parents be at home if necessary?

Execpat you are brave. I wouldn't leave 15 yr old ds in with 8yr old dd. He has babysat for my friends dcs who are 8 and 10 and I would leave ds2 with him who is 3yrs.
The potential for fighting is too great for me to be comfortable.
I'm actually quite

I would!

My own 13 yr old dd is very sensible and I know that she would be a great little babysitter for our friends and family

our 14 yr old neighbour babysits for our other neighbour's 3 kids 5, 6 and 8.
She is very mature and disciplined with the kids

If you think she is mature enough, then I am sure she and your DD will be fine and have a fun time.

FWIW - I started babysitting at 13, I couldn't wait for the responsibility. 13yr olds can be quite grown up

At 13 I looked after a 5/6yo every week with no problems.. didnt burn the house down, it didnt mysteriously self combust, and no bogeymen came knocking at the door either.

I was more than capable of dealing with the child if he had woken up as at that age he could easily tell me what the problem was if one had ever arisen.

If your MIL doesnt like it, tell her to come and do it.

TheOneWithTheHair - they seem to be fine with each other when I'm not around, the bickering happens more when they both want my attention, and it has improved a lot in the last year or so. They both seem to want to prove that they can be responsible - long may it last...

Indeed. :) I just think they've got too much of a personality clash. :)

Thank you was having a crisis of confidence after that conversation. Our normal grandmotherly babysitter was unavailable tonight and we couldn't cancel tonight's easily. DD's really pleased she loves neighbour's DD.

Actually you've reminded me I was babysitting a 6 and 8 year old at that age and we were somewhere quite rural at least half a mile from ANY other adults

Does your MiL watch Corrie?

She is probably convinced that every day young girls put toast under the grill, take the rubbish out and let the door slam behind them, thus leaving younger children at risk of being burnt to a crisp.

LineRunner

faintpinkline - no problem at all as at least one of her parents is at home. I would stres to her though that you would much rather she got one of them or called you if there is any problem at all, rather than try to brave it out herself :)

I was babysitting at that age and my parents were not next door.

My thirteen yr old neighbour has babysat for us a couple of times, only for a couple of hours max. (when we have been unable to use GPs etc) usually for stuff like parents eve.

Very sensible girl, kids already in bed, her parents either at home or on their way home. Although we usually only ask her as a last resort.

Yanbu. I don't really get why babysitting has changed so much over the years. I babysat for a tiny baby and a 2 year old when I was 13, a couple miles from home.

Yanbu I babysat at 13

With one/both her parents "on call" on the other side of a party wall, I think this must be one of the most foolproof arrangements possible.

(Unless your MIL knows something you don't about the parents. Perhaps they're all swingers?)