Babysitting and the parents have just called me drunk…

[ffsisthisreal]

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?

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

Yes definitely don’t do that crikey !

Well then you only have yourself to blame.

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.

Actually, no. I've never been drunk.

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

How old are the kids?

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

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.

Exactly. Don't be a martyr ffs

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

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.

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.

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?

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 finally home 🙃

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.

Disappointingly sober! Maybe they sounded worse on the phone 😒