My kids play me like a fiddle....

Silver Member Joined: Mar 04 2008 Posts: 694

I love my kids to death and sometimes I find my head is spinning because they are so clever that they work me over like a drum. For instance, last night I asked my twelve yr old dd and her 10 yr old brother to watch the two younger ones, the baby who was asleep and the 6 year old who was all tucked ito her bed, so I could go out with my girlfriends for an hour and a half. I thought there was no opposition to the plan, so I got into my boots called my friends to say yes to the plan.
They in turn, called their sitters and put the elaborate machine into motion. Well suffice it to say, I never left the house. When my friends arrived to get into my car so we could go out together, my kids blocked the door, and wept tearfully that I should not leave them alone, (suddenly), even though the night before was PTA and I was gone for two hours with no incident. They ran outside onto the lawn and cried tearfully until I came back into the house and sent my friends off by themselves.
Later my daughter wrote me a love note to appologize and my son hugged me and exclaimed his untiring devotion to my being, but I was not amused. What would you do? Would you have left the house and the babysitters in tears? Sigh!

I am a bit confused about who your children called.
HOWEVER, I personally feel that 10 and 12 is too young to babysit. Maybe for 15 minutes or so...while walking the dog or running something over to a friend, but even with the other two asleep 12 is a bit on the young side.

It is a hard age though, sort of between the age that needs a sitter and the age that can sit, so I sympathize.

That said, I think that if you are secure with them as babysitters and this is not a frequent request, then you should have left (but again it really is hard to do. Leaving crying kids is difficult!) I also think that normally you need to give them a day or two warning, and confirm it is okay, not exactly like you would do with a hired sitter, but I think it is important to make a request and be certain the kids don't have a test or other plans themselves.
_________________
But then again, I'm a dragon.
"The best way to keep a prisoner from escaping is to make sure he never knows he�s in prison."
� Fyodor Dostoevsky (via cosmic-rebirth)

Gold Member Joined: May 09 2007 Posts: 1360

I think the friends called their own respective babysitters. OP's kids were just obstructionist and cried about her leaving.

Gold Member Joined: May 09 2007 Posts: 1360

Also, check the law where you are. A lot of places a child has to be 13 before s/he can be left with other kids (usually 8 to be left alone).

Silver Member Joined: Mar 04 2008 Posts: 694

Posted: Thu, Dec 23 2010, 12:30 pm Post subject:

It's hard to leave crying kids. Hey, maybe their apology letters and hugs will stay in their minds, and they won't do it again next time? Smile

Gold Member Joined: Jul 31 2009 Posts: 1239

I don't know what I would have done. That's a hard one, for sure.
Is is possible that something happened the night before that shook them up a little bit,
that maybe they didn't tell you about?

I know when we were younger, my oldest brother was home with us when my parent's went out.
One time, siblings being siblings, we got into an arguement whilst they were out and for a week or two we
did not want to be all left together at home alone. But we also didn't want anyone to get in trouble for the
fight..lol.

Maybe it was something like that? Or even a loud scary noise or something, but they aren't telling you about it.
Was the note and expressions of undying love and devotion because they felt guilty when they saw you stayed home? Like I said, I have no idea what I would have done but good luck. Your kids sound sweet.

Silver Member Joined: Mar 04 2008 Posts: 694

Yes something terrible happened on monday evening, which I am sure many of you have become aware of. Unfortunately this tragedy happened on the corner of the road I live on and it was to a woman who had gone out to get a manicure and never came home. So since my kids were aware of this incident and how shook up we all were having known this woman very well, they could have internilized my sad ffelings and felt uncomfortable being left. I dont know. My daughter cant really explain why she prevented my leaving, Sad

Gold Member Joined: Jul 11 2008 Posts: 1897