Well almost Good Bye. I had decided that it has come to a point where I can no longer babysit. I have to spend more time studying, since school is a top priority right now. So tonight I went babysitting, planning on telling the mother that it’s the last night. So she tells me that she will be home for sure before 11. Then It turns 11 and they are not home, finally 11:30 they come home. Normally I wouldn’t mind if they come home that time, but if you say you’re going to be back earlier, then the minutes seem to pass by slower.
Anyways, after 2 hours of babysitting, they come home and the father gives me a 20, and asks if that’s good. So I tell him I owe him 4 dollars. Then I break the news, I said, but I can’t babysit anymore. So they turn to me and their like “why not?”. I said “I have to concentrate on school work”. So then the wife is like “You can’t do this to us, you have to come once a week, we need you”. I’m thinking to myself "EXCUSE ME!”. The kids are sleeping anyways, I’m not doing anything, why do they need ME to come to watch their sleepy kids, why can’t they just get anybody? There has to be another babysitter they can start hiring.
I hadn’t wanted to say anymore than that, but since I saw they weren’t giving in, I said “But really, I’m starting to fail my classes, I need to study more”. So the father says “what are you studying” I said “accounting”. So he said “I could help you with that”. I said “But that’s not the problem, I just need the time to study”. So then he’s like “The house is quiet here, you can study all you want”. Some people just don’t get it. I know they really need their nights out, considering their partnership marriage. But why does it have to be at my expense? Why can’t they just get someone else? whey are they desperate to keep me?
So then they ask, “Is it just us that you won’t babysit by? what about the A’s B’s C’s and D’s?” I said “I’m stopping altogether, not them either”. “Their like no, you’ll have to make time, we need you once a week”. Such audacity, I can’t believe it.
I had decided earlier already that I’m going to stop babysitting altogether because of this family, she makes it impossible for me to say “no” and I just can’t take it, so I figured if I say that I’m stopping altogether then maybe she would take it better, but apparently not.
Anyways, I’m almost up to my blogversary, so I’m going to keep the blog going a bit longer, till I reach my 100th post, which will also be the same time as my birthday, and the end of this semester, so lots of good stuff coming up.
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Dont let them push you around. Just say "sorry" and leave it with that.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you study there though?
ReplyDeleteAlso, how do you have time for two blogs then. I think we should do an intervention for you. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI hate to say it, but these people sound horrible, especially her. Yeah, the sheer audacity of telling you that you can't focus on your schoolwork because of their schedules. Surely they can find another babysitter?
ReplyDeleteYou gotta push back.
ReplyDeleteI think maybe they were feeling a bit guilty that they were late that night, and when you announced you were stopping, they thought maybe it was a reaction to their inconsideration. So maybe you could have timed it a bit better, but I'm NOT saying it's your fault.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, they definitely sound like the bullying type.
MikeInMidwood: and Jacob Da Jew: Easier said than done!
ReplyDeleteMoshe: I used to study when I babysat. The thing is their not the only ones I babysit, and people ask me to babysit during the day when kids are awake and I can't study then. Plus it's different at home and by somebody else's house. Plus it's not just the studying, I think I'm getting too old for babysitting, and I didn't choose it as an occupation. Also, I purposefully didn't choose a kid oriented job so that I shouldn't get drained out, and here I am getting drained out before I even have my own kids.
lol, I knew you were going to say something like that, so I already already said that it's not because I'm blogging in my other post. Plus I'm going to be ending this one soon, so that will be just one blog.
FrumPunk: My thoughts exactly. I think I'll just have to find them a new babysitter. For them it's convenient because I'm their next door neighbor, so any minute she pleases she calls me up. If it was someone else, I don't think she would get it that good, so could be that's why she's reluctant to let me go, cause I'm easy to be taken advantage of, I guess.
OffTheDerech: good job at being don lekav zechus, but nope doubt that's it. I'm sure they didn't even realize the time. Also, I didn't really have a choice of when to break it to them.
"I think I'll just have to find them a new babysitter"
ReplyDeleteDon't empower them. That's not your job.
Moshe: right, I didn't think it was my job. But some people become impossible and you have to make exceptions. Although I can try to just ignore her phone calls, but then I would feel rude.
ReplyDeleteYou might feel you're being rude, but you have to make a point to her that she can't guilt trip you and use you.
ReplyDeleteFrom the other post, it sounds like she's used to getting what she wants. Don't be another pushover for her. Do whats best for you.
FrumPunk: yea, thanx for the advice. I will try and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteIt's actually funny, not that I hold anything against her because of this, but I remember last year when I was babysitting for her on a more routine basis, she had told me that she had saw something that she was going to buy me as a birthday present. My birthday was a week from when she said that, so the whole time I was wondering what it was. Then it came my birthday and she never gave me anything. It's almost a year later, it's not that I expect a present from people, just that she said she had me in mind and wanted to get me something, so then it caused me to wonder and feel let down when I didn't get anything.
You should tell her, "You know why I'm quitting? Remember last year, a week before my birthday? Well I do."
ReplyDeleteThen take a picture of the expression on her face and post it. ;-)
Moshe: you are just too funny!
ReplyDeleteI actually took some videos of kids I babysat by, they were singing songs, I wouldn't post the video with their face in it, because it would be against their privacy rights, but I'm thinking about just putting up the audio, cause it's really cute.
You could always do something to get yourself fired. Make a mess, go all out. Wake the kids up in the middle of the night for a game of rip the house down. If that doesn't work, you could always try snooping in their private stuff.
ReplyDeleteTry it, tell us all what happens in a post entitled, "The bad Babysitter."lol.
Childish: lol, way too funny, I'm seriously laughing! :-)
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you were studying accounting.
ReplyDeleteThey must really like you as a babysitter.
Leora: yea, and I'm almost done!
ReplyDeletethanx for seeing the good side, yea, I believe they do like me as a Babysitter.
Oh wow, Child Ish is right, now you can do all those things you couldnt do because you would get fired. Do one last job and go all out, teach the kids how to make abstract art on the walls using only the chemicals below the sink.
ReplyDeleteAnd on a serious note, I agree with Moshe. Bring it up. A week of anticipation then nothing!? Pfft.
FrumPunk: lol, but for some reason that doesn't really excite me. But it's a funny idea for a movie, like instead of "how to loose a guy in 10 days", "how to get fired from babysitting in 10 days" cool idea for a post. I'll try that out. Thanx for the idea guys.
ReplyDeleteProblem with bringing it up is, that she would seriously by me a birthday present to make up for it, and I wouldn't want her to for a bunch of reasons. 1-she would think that's why I don't like babysitting by her, and then because she buys me a present it makes up for it, which isn't the case. 2- it sounds babyish of me. 3- I don't feel she owes it to me and would feel guilty for accepting a present that I had asked for so to speak.
wowww those ppl are annoying! good for u for stopping though! i havent babysat in like 2 years--- my time is worth more than i would make.
ReplyDeleteif you are having time issues, you should probably consider giving up blogging before your parnasah
ReplyDeletei know i've said this before, but $16 for 2.5 hours is nothing. you should be charging more to begin with. and if they really want you that badly--and it does sound like they like you--make them pay a premium for it.
but if you really don't want to do it, just say no. this is not your future nor does it sound like you really rely on the $. there is not reason to stick around.
chodesh tov and shabbat shalom
"how to lose a babysitter in 10 days" LOL! that's really funny!
ReplyDeleteI agree, taking care of little kids can be draining. I can't beleive how insensitive this couple is.......
Espes: Thanx, yea, I'm thinking the same thing, time is more valuable.
ReplyDeleteLion Of Zion: I think only fathers would say such a thing. But still I'm sorta giving up one blog soon, so I'll have more time. But blogging doesn't even take that long, I typed up this post in about 10 minutes. It's the commenting that takes up time, but even then I haven't been commenting and it just made things worse. Yesterday and today I caught up with blog reading and commenting, and surprisingly it didn't take that much time, and now I feel more organized.
Right, yea, you said that before. I tried to explain in my money post about why I don't like money, but I don't think it came out right.
And yea, I don't need the money and it's not my future career, so no reason to do it.
Thanx you too have a chodesh tov and a good shabbos!
Katie: :-)
yea, I think they just don't realize how insensitive their being.
As someone who used to provide in-home services (fitness training)...i understand when you have to say "i have to stop now"...people dont' want to let go. Suddenly they are willing to show how much they want/need/appreciate.
ReplyDeleteYou need to do what is RIGHT for YOU. They may feel mad/bad/sad but this is their choice. Or they can celebrate you, keep in touch and wish you well. choice is fun eh?
Shorty: Glad to hear that someone can relate. Yea, it must be some natural instinct for people to all of a sudden want things they can no longer have.
ReplyDeleteThanx, I think I am going to do what's right for me. Most of them I will still be seeing, so won't be a problem of keeping touch, will just be a different relationship. But yea, choices can be fun.
There's a great saying in Yiddish which translates to: I love you very much,but i love myself just a "little bit" more. Nuff said.....
ReplyDeleteDavenedByDeKoisel: perfect saying for this!
ReplyDeleteHaha, I have a boss who's just like that. I bent over backwards to change my schedule until I'd finally had enough and wanted to quit. But I got the same kind of response. The "I need you" game is the worst.
ReplyDeleteBenji: Yea, they give you a guilt trip. But interesting to hear that you can relate.
ReplyDelete