WWYD if you cannot trust your family members with your young children, or anything else for that matter?
I am married with two young sons. My father is deceased. My mom and sister live far away from us and visit at Christmas and maybe 1-2 times during the year.
In the last few years, the following has happened during their visits:
- My sister (no kids, never married, in her 40s) borrowed our car (with our permission, no problem) rear-ended another car in a parking lot and didn’t tell us. I found out when the insurance company called me.
- My sister gave a sippy cup to my toddler that she found sitting upside-down in our laundry sink in the basement – it had bleach in it because it needed to be thoroughly cleaned. I noticed the smell when my toddler came upstairs and took it away from him. I’m not sure if he ingested any but he seemed fine.
- My sister repeatedly left the toilet in a messy state after using it (she has IBS) and after I politely asked her to stop doing so, more than once. When I confronted her again, she asked if I expected her to clean up after herself every time, like this was an unreasonable thing to ask. When I said YES, every time, she finally did so.
- I don’t trust my mom with my kids due to her age (late 70s) and declining health, but one Christmas she failed to properly close the baby gate and my 7-month-old son fell down the stairs and cut his chin. He was otherwise uninjured but he has a scar on his chin. He is now 3 years old.
WTAF?? My mom and sister still come to visit but I will not let them babysit the kids ever, or drive the car at all.
Would you still allow family members like this to come visit? Would you cut it with them entirely?