The word “watching” applied to stepchildren

[Blackcatsalwaysrock]

This is prompted by another thread but not, I hope ,TAAT. I get unreasonably irritated by people using the word “watching”in the above situation. To me “watching” carries just its literal meaning so watching children simply means sitting and looking at them, as you would if they were in a play. It doesn’t mean the active involvement “looking after” or “caring for” has over and above the essential dont walk into that fire Kimmy emergency shout. So in my definition “watching” really doesn’t seem onerous. Am I the only one to get (totally unreasonable probably) infuriated by this?!

I agree with this but this is only by a specific group of posters who seem to love posting things on the step parenting boards to belittle step parents.

The same posters who say "you are not their step mum, you are their dad's gf" to partners for 15 years who have known the children from infancy and " you knew what you were getting into" to women without children who have been thrust into the role of substitute parents overnight.

I don't feel like it is weaponised in most contexts.

@NewNameNigel - I agree in respect of posters, but this also happens in real life, and there are numerous posts to attest to it.

Just a couple of examples that I see on here all the time from stepmother posters - Dad expects SM to 'just watch' the kids while he goes to work/gym/golf etc, as it can't be that much labour involved to 'just watch' them can it? Mum asking why can't SM 'watch' the kids while she gets to go do whatever she wants to do?

Which areas of the country use 'watching' instead of 'looking after'?

I'm in Ayrshire and would say "watch" for interactive babysitting/childcare. "Keep an eye on" would be the "for a couple of minutes" version.

I am also in Scotland (NE) and I would echo Hirples interpretations.