Question for Neglectful Mama's

claire1983 · November 2010

When you hire a teenager or anyone else for that matter, do you EXPECT that they will clean as well? I don't mean just cleaning up messes that were made while they were there either. A friend was complaining on fb that the 17 year old she hired didn't clean the sinkful of dishes that were there when she arrived. This falls into the category of above and beyond to me, what do you all think?

VanderLaan · November 2010

I think if the sitter agrees to do such cleaning and is paid for it then fine! But to just expect it? Um no.

MCC1010 · November 2010

She hired a babysitter not a cleaning person.

Happy2beMrsT · November 2010

If it were a nanny maybe I'd expect she did the dishes. But not a kid that was hired to randomly watch the kids. FWIW: I'd never leave my kids with a 17 year old....ugh.

Starfish113 · November 2010

I would hope the sitter was playing with my kids, not cleaning the house! I mean, I'm assuming the sitter was only there for a few hours.

kate930 · November 2010

I would not expect that at all. In fact, I find that expectation absurd.

cheerleader.08 · November 2010

I agree with you. I always just say to put stuff in the sink, and i will take care of it when i get home.

simplyatomic · November 2010

We never expected our Mother's Helper to clean unless she did a craft with the kids.

orienae · November 2010

Teen age babysitters? Absolutely not! She/he is paid to play with the child, make the night fun, and that's it. I'm the only one (and DH) responsible for our messes.

I actually think this is true for our nanny as well, she only cleans "baby messes" and out of the goodness of her heart does our dishes.

DaisyFull1 · November 2010

Unless cleaning was a part of our agreement, then no I would not expect it. Personally I don't even like when other people do my dishes / clean my house. They don't know where sh!t goes. Stupid people.

DaisyFull1 · November 2010

Happy2beMrsT:
If it were a nanny maybe I'd expect she did the dishes. But not a kid that was hired to randomly watch the kids. FWIW: I'd never leave my kids with a 17 year old....ugh.

dup?

DaisyFull1 · November 2010

Happy2beMrsT:
If it were a nanny maybe I'd expect she did the dishes. But not a kid that was hired to randomly watch the kids. FWIW: I'd never leave my kids with a 17 year old....ugh.

Okaaaay... ?I'll bite. Why would you not leave your kids w/ a 17 year old, FWIW??

misscharlotte04 · November 2010

VanderLaan:
I think if the sitter agrees to do such cleaning and is paid for it then fine! But to just expect it? Um no.

Exactly

Ivana_Stolichnaya · November 2010

Was she hired to be a babysitter and a maid?

kwinters87 · November 2010

As a nanny, I never cleaned unless I was paid to do so or there was an extreme circumstance (ex. a family member suddenly got very sick, I'd clean up everything to help show support for the family)

yankeebaby2 · November 2010

Happy2beMrsT:
If it were a nanny maybe I'd expect she did the dishes. But not a kid that was hired to randomly watch the kids. FWIW: I'd never leave my kids with a 17 year old....ugh.

Why not?

claire1983 · November 2010

Glad I'm not the only one! I was so annoyed by her rant.

As far as letting a 17yr old babysit, I don't see a problem with it. I babysat all the time from the time I was 14 or 15. I'm not saying all 17yr olds would be appropriate but there are some nice responsible teenagers out there that I would absolutely trust with my son.

kwinters87 · November 2010

Happy2beMrsT:
If it were a nanny maybe I'd expect she did the dishes. But not a kid that was hired to randomly watch the kids. FWIW: I'd never leave my kids with a 17 year old....ugh.

I was a part time nanny at 17. I took care of the children every evening that I didn't have a school commitment. Had I been out of HS at the time, the family would have hired me for a full time nanny.

erin1205 · November 2010

claire1983:
Glad I'm not the only one! I was so annoyed by her rant.
As far as letting a 17yr old babysit, I don't see a problem with it. I babysat all the time from the time I was 14 or 15. I'm not saying all 17yr olds would be appropriate but there are some nice responsible teenagers out there that I would absolutely trust with my son.

Completely agree. I started babysitting when I was 14, and was hired over and over again. Not to toot my own horn, but I know that kids requested me (particularly two families) over and over. When I was 18, one family I had babysat for took me to Maine for a big vacation to help watch the three kids. And later that year, I watched them for an extended weekend while their mom and dad went out of town. I was completely and totally responsible, and I just wish I could find someone that was like me!!

ABColeslaw · November 2010

Nope, if I hire someone to be with my child, then thats their job while they are there. Keep my child safe, and happy while I'm gone.

CheriLooWho · November 2010

She's a babysitter... not a maid.

Zoie2010 · November 2010

Dishes expected to be clean no. It may have been nice if the kids were alseep so the sitter wasn't paid to just hang out. Though that is part of the planning. My dishes as much as I don't enjoy washing them I perfer to clean them myself.

A 17 yr old watching kids. After I know that they will do well and my DD gets along with them most of the time toally.

If it weren't for sub supervising of me watching kids when I was less than 13 and then building up to short sitting alone I would of never been so comfortable with watching friends kids or have my own DD. By the time I was 15-17 I was babysitting for however long. And as a senior at 18 I was a nany of 3 yr old twin boys and their 5 yr old sister.

OP DISHES? naw that is my deal. I wouldn't even expect a sitter to clean any dishes they may use.

kimandjared · November 2010

That's just silly to even expect her to clean the dishes (unless they had talked about it beforehand). I wouldn't want her worrying about my dishes while she was supposed to be watching my child.

white318 · November 2010

No way... just clean up after herself just like I expect anyone in my house to do. Put dirty dishes in the sink and put any items you took out back in the cupboard or fridge. My messes and my childs mess are my responsibility.

unknownuser3596 · November 2010

Happy2beMrsT:
If it were a nanny maybe I'd expect she did the dishes. But not a kid that was hired to randomly watch the kids. FWIW: I'd never leave my kids with a 17 year old....ugh.

So I guess it would help if I add text... I was babysitting alone at age 12 so what is wrong with a 17 year old? Especially if you knew the person?

rubiafaerie25 · November 2010

Unless the sitter was hired to watch the baby *and* do some cleaning, and the cleaning chores were laid out for the sitter, then that is outrageous. Those are not her dishes, she wasn't hired to wash dishes, she was hired to watch a baby.

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