A teenage babysitter refused to babysit a neighbor's child again after the child caused damage to his Nintendo Switch and exhibited unruly behavior, citing the need to protect his own property and well-being. The neighbor was upset, calling him ungrateful, but many online supported the teen's decision, emphasizing the importance of boundaries and responsibility in babysitting situations.
A grandmother struggles with her 11-year-old granddaughter's difficult behavior during babysitting, which she attributes to differences in parenting styles and the child's manipulation. The advice suggests that the grandmother step back from babysitting duties, consider alternative caregivers, and focus on building a loving relationship through fun outings, as the challenging behavior is likely temporary and related to the child's developmental stage and family dynamics.
A woman is upset after her sister-in-law allegedly hid her child's pinkeye infection, leading to her family catching the illness. She questions whether her concerns are justified and considers refusing future babysitting, while her husband suggests she might be overreacting. The article discusses the importance of transparency about illness in family caregiving and the potential consequences of refusing to babysit.
A couple hosting a New Year's Eve family party feels taken advantage of as some parents drop off their children and leave, turning the event into a free babysitting service. They enjoy the party and want their kids to have fun but seek a polite way to ensure parents stay with their children. Miss Manners suggests creating a schedule for parents to take turns supervising the children, especially those who have previously left early.
A couple hosting a New Year's Eve family party is frustrated as some parents drop off their children and leave, turning the event into a babysitting service. To address this, Miss Manners suggests creating a schedule for parents to take turns supervising the children, especially assigning those who have previously left early to slots near midnight.
A couple hosting a New Year's Eve party is frustrated as parents of their daughter's friends have started dropping off their kids and leaving, turning the event into a free babysitting service. Miss Manners suggests creating a schedule for parents to take turns supervising the children, especially assigning those who have previously left early to slots near midnight, to ensure parental presence and responsibility.
Miss Manners advises a couple hosting a New Year's Eve family party to address parents who drop off their children and leave, effectively using the hosts as free babysitters. She suggests creating a schedule for parents to take turns supervising the children, especially assigning those who have previously left early to slots near midnight, to ensure fair participation and prevent the hosts from being taken advantage of.
A single woman with a close friendship with a couple who recently had a baby feels hurt and excluded because they won't let her babysit, possibly due to her autoimmune disorder. She suspects ableism from her friend and is unsure how to address the situation without damaging their friendship. The advice suggests having an open conversation with the friend about her feelings and past comments, while acknowledging the difficulty of the situation and the importance of preserving the friendship.
A mom banned her sister-in-law from babysitting her daughter after the sister-in-law used breastmilk to treat the girl's ear infection without permission. The mom was enraged and argued with her sister-in-law, leading to hurt feelings all around. Commenters agreed that non-parental figures should not make medical decisions for children without consent, and advised the mom to set boundaries with her sister-in-law while acknowledging her good intentions. Trusting parental intuition is important, and while breastmilk may have healing properties for the baby it's biologically designed for, consequential decisions should not be made for other people’s kids without their active consent.
A man in Tennessee has been taken into custody after allegedly throwing a 2-year-old child against a wall while babysitting. The child suffered a major traumatic brain injury and later died in the hospital. The man initially claimed the child fell into an air vent, but later admitted to getting upset with the child and throwing him into a wall. He has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
A reader seeks advice on how to set boundaries and avoid becoming the default babysitter at family events. Suggestions include clear and open communication with the sibling, hosting adults-only events, and resisting the urge to constantly supervise the children. It is important to prioritize one's own wants and needs while still maintaining a positive relationship with the little ones.
A woman in British Columbia got high to avoid babysitting her nieces and nephews during a family gathering. Her husband and brother-in-law ended up taking over babysitting duties. However, the woman faced criticism from her mother-in-law for her actions and had to remind her in-laws that her free time was not an invitation for them to use her as "free child care." People on Reddit supported the woman and criticized her husband for not helping with babysitting duties. While the woman's solution offered momentary relief, the root of the issue was her in-laws' lack of respect for her.
A woman's commitment to babysit her sister's child has caused tension in her marriage, as she did not discuss it with her husband beforehand. After seeking counseling, she cut back on the babysitting, but now wants to resume it during her own maternity leave. Her husband is upset that she did not consult him first. In another letter, a person wonders if they should give an extravagant gift to a friend whose engagement was called off. Amy advises being honest about the gift's provenance. Finally, Amy suggests that daily texts from friends during the pandemic may be a way of checking in on each other's well-being.
