To think that 15 is too old for a babysitter?

[LadyGodiva4]

My sister has asked me to babysit my 15 year old (who has no disability/learning difficulties) this weekend. It's not terribly convenient for me, but I will do it as I generally think it's nice to be helpful to family where possible, but what rubs me up the wrong way is that I don't think a 15 year really needs supervision.

They heavily supervise all her homework which I find bizarre, as I think she really is old enough to be getting on with it herself. When we were her age we were making our money babysitting. AIBU to think it's a bit annoying to ask for a favour like that, when it's not really necessary, and would you let your 15 year old stay in for the evening (not overnight, just till say 11pm)?

Just say no next time.

that's just weird - but then we left our 15 & 17-year-old at home for a week alone (Grandma & Granddad) where close by.

But i don't think any 15 year old needs babysitting

This. They realise their child will probably want to leave home in 3 years right?

We leave 14yo ds in the evening he would have a friend round and watch football or game (and eat). Overnight, he has to stay with his Gran.

MN hates people who have 1 child unless you have one (me).

She might not NEED a babysitter but she might feel uncomfortable being in the house on her own. And that is fine, there is no need for people to have an issue with that.
Another option is she stays at home and has you on call if there is any issues or needs support. just to ease her into being on her own

We used to pay a 15 year old to babysit for us!

Perhaps different if the girl doesn't want to be left along all evening.

Maybe get a 15y old to babysit her. That might get the message across.

I’m guessing she either doesn’t trust her or she is overbearing.

My 1 child was left alone at age 15, at 16 she had a whole weekend on her own (my parents lived a 3 minute walk away. Funnily enough she was the one that her housemates went to at Uni when they couldn't operate household appliances but didn't want to ring their parents. Not everyone babies their "only" (hate that term btw),child.

I was staying alone overnight at 14 (not regularly, but it happened). Definitely did not need babysitting at 15.

Good grief the 15 year old me would be horrified if my parents had brought in a babysitter to "babysit" me!!
I was actually out on the tiles myself age 15 😉

That’s mad! We have 15 year sitters watch our kids!

Really, left mine til 2 in the morning by 15&13 (13 year old the more sensible one!)

No wonder kids at university struggle, they aren't given a chance to learn coping skills

Dd moved out at 17.
She'd have laughed if I suggested a babysitter when she was 15, in fact she was generally out later than me!

I disagree it is your place to talk to your sister,remind her what freedom she had aged 12 +.
I'd personally refuse to babysit a 15yr old unless there were mitigating circumstances, which in this case there aren't. You poor niece is going to struggle with real life.

My parents went on holiday for SIX WEEKS when I was 15. I had a lovely summer, unbothered by their absence. It’s probably not what I will do to my own kids, but I thrived!

My friends 16 year old is going to the Netherlands with a group of similar age kids to camp and travel around for two weeks.

I've had their elder daughter babysit for my son until 11pm when she was 15.

Your sister is either nuts or there some sort of back story going on here.

I liked spending time with my DPs when I was a teenager probably too much, I did have my own friends and socialised a lot with them but I loved eg going to the seaside (we had a flat there) with DPs until I was 20 or so.

I was left alone as a teenager (with or without DB and I also babysat from 14 for local kids.

If you don’t want to or can’t do it then either she stays in by herself, gets a friend round for company, parents don’t go out or they get a sitter eg from a babysitting app to mind their DD. You shouldn’t have to give up your valuable time because your niece doesn’t want to be left alone.

Not all teens are the same! I travelled to meet a friend in Ireland at 21/22 but not sure I’d have gone on holiday with friends at 16 (none of them had any money to go abroad anyway!).

I tend to agree but there are other factors to consider e.g. if parents were going to be in a cinema with phones off or some distance away so they wouldn't be able to get back for hours if there was an emergency.

Is she year 11/sitting exams?

I'd happily pay somebody to supervise DD revising!

DH and I have been taking it in turns to be away for the past week. On one night DH was out until 11:30/12 and I was at the theatre (admittedly both are a 10 minute walk away).

I'm pretty certain that I was babysitting for my neighbour at that age.

Odd

I’m a very protective parent but 15 is plenty old enough to be at home alone for an evening.

But the niece would have the OP's number so could call her if needed.

Agree. Rather odd. Round here 15 tends to be the starting age for working as a paid babysitter (usually for occasions where parents are not far way, or where parents of babysitter are friends and happy to act as a back up). If she doesn't like being on her own then they should invite a friend round for the evening. They can do homework together.

Slightly younger can be a bit tricky. But 15 is daft unless there is something else going on that you're not telling us.