Parents lament the unreliability of Gen Z babysitters after mom reveals she's been ghosted by 3 separate options: 'Is this a Gen Z thing or just typical of 20 somethings?'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Nov 16, 2024 12:00 PM EST

Parenting is hard enough as a standalone pursuit, but it only gets more difficult when you have to look into childcare for your kids. Not only can the likes of nannies and babysitters be expensive, but any parent looking to have somebody watch their children for a couple of hours is completely at their mercy. A last-minute cancellation leaves you with no choice but to leave your plans behind.

Unfortunately, many moms and dads face this dilemma from time to time, and if anecdotal evidence is to go by it happens with increasing frequency. When one mom bemoaned having three separate babysitters ghost her for an interview, she wondered if all of them being a part of Gen Z was to blame. Other parents chimed in with their own stressful experiences when trying to find childcare, and whether age is to blame or not, it certainly seems like a thankless task.

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    Cheezburger Image 10429145600
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    Lucy Huber ❤ @clhubes Follow I've now been ghosted THREE times by a potential Gen Z babysitter, where they simply didn't show up for their interview with no communication after confirming they'd be there. Is this a Gen Z thing or just typical of all 20 somethings? It so frustrating.
    via clhubes
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    Lucy Huber @clhubes 2d Replying to @clhubes And before people blame me, I've been clear about the age of kids, the hours, and rate beforehand but told them very little beyond that before they agree to meet. I save expectations, etc for the first meeting, so it's not like I'm scaring them off!
    via clhubes
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    Lucy Huber @clhubes 2d • Also I want to be clear I mean three DIFFERENT potential babysitters!
    via clhubes
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    Bexfast Abbey @ALittleBitShort. 2d Replying to @clhubes As a both a gen z line manager and a line manager of gen z - it's massive social anxiety at a generational level and a extreme level of conflict aversion which means they would rather ghost you than say no
    via ALittleBitShort
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    Lucy Huber @clhubes 2d • Then why even say they want the job in the first place?????
    via clhubes
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    Jenna Beacom @jfbeacom 2d Replying to @clhubes This happened to me too! This kid was 18 ish, and going to help with care for my mom's cat. I am FINE with "whoops not gonna work out sorry!" but he VANISHED. I have his mom's info but don't know her and am still figuring out whether to give her a heads up. (I hired someone else)
    via jfbeacom
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    • Shannon Sanders @ShandersWrites ⚫ 2d : Replying to @clhubes Ok so we have to be soooo careful not to do what they did to us ("all millennials are bad communicators") but communication trends have definitely shifted and I do think the idea of "confirmed" itself is among them
    via ShandersWrites
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    Lucy Huber @clhubes 2d • What seems to be a trend is they all text before and are like "I'm going to be late" or "can we do this at 4 instead of 3" etc but then STILL don't show up. Like they're soft-quitting the interview
    via clhubes
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    Resting Witchface @RRopelius. 2d Replying to @clhubes We had one babysitter (our age) who would just ghost us on the day she was supposed to be babysitting I gave her one pass because she gave a convincing excuse, but the second time it happened she was out
    via RRopelius
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    Cruella De Trill @janibanii • 2d Replying to @clhubes One told me they weren't able to babysit for me 5 mins after she was supposed to arrive. We were going to a wedding... Mind you it was her daycare teacher so I had to see her again.
    via janibanii
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    Steely Liz @Totes Liz ⚫ 2d Replying to @clhubes I don't know why they don't want their own money. I was thrilled to have my own money as a teen. I still make money babysitting my friends' kids as a 43 year old because they can't find a regular, garden-variety normal neighborhood teenager.
    via TotesLiz
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    [semi-employed bi- @allshiny Replying to @clhubes Follow They might be booking multiple interviews/ gigs and choosing which to go to at the last second
    via allshiny
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    Nina Kai @theninakai • 1d Replying to @clhubes I've had someone text at 5pm saying they're not coming at 7pm Couldn't find anyone else at an hour's notice so just missed out on very expensive theatre tickets
    via theninakai
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    CREATE INMEA Michelle Cousineau PURE HEART 0000 Follow @Michell87822131 Replying to @clhubes It is a Gen Z thing. I get on my girls when they do that. I have no idea where they got the idea that it is okay to do that to people.
    via Michell87822131
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    • Stella @shinystellachen 1d Replying to @clhubes And we wonder why the birth rates are so low. There's literally zero expectations to nurture anymore, plus they themselves can't stand each other.
    via shinystellachen
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    John Long @John LongSl 2d Replying to @clhubes I find that in most ways whenever you talk about a "20-something" in 2024 you need to have the expectations you would have had of a teenager 10 years ago. Whatever about the many causes of that or whether that's "bad", but I've come to the acceptance that's generally the reality
    via JohnLongSL
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    K❤ @_imperfectfaith .2d Replying to @clhubes I'm a nanny, and for the last year and a half my employer has tried to find a backup babysitter for days I'm unavailable. She had at least 10 young girls say they were coming and then ghost her. Ultimately she couldn't find anyone else reliable. It's really shocking!
    via _imperfectfaith
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    melon @MelonTheFelon__.2d Replying to @clhubes i was super flaky as a babysitter when I was 18-22 but I at least texted if i wasn't coming I'm so sorry
    via MelonTheFelon__
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    Tiger Lily @okahomadude 2d I would never let Gen Z babysit my kids. Nanny McPhee types only. Mary Poppins physiognomy is required.
    via okahomadude
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    kyle @Caol_MacCormaic • 1d The bright side to all of this is that very, very soon it will be easier than it's been in decades to succeed with just the tiniest amount of professionalism and consciousness
    via Caol_MacCormaic
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    darby @jokerpilled ⚫1d I babysat all the time in high school and even middle school for a bunch of different families and never once had anything close to an interview. When did this become a thing
    via jokerpilIed
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    kaity @kaitybella · 1d ok but genuinely I've seen so many gen z just like not go to work and I'm always like do you not need money??
    via kaitybella
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    wwww Princess Diazepam @princessazepam Follow Definitely a GenZ social anxiety thing, esp with the downthread details of pushing back the time and then no-showing. Honestly, don't just let them ghost. You're not going to hear from them again. Tell them it was unprofessional. They'll sh their pants.
    via princessazepam
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    Baby Of Leisure @secrettracksuit . 2d IDK, maybe get a 50 year old to babysit for you then.
    via secrettracksuit
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    Activated Sleeper @nomouthmustpost Follow I know people who frequently have to employ from what's best described as the "low-skill gen Z workforce" & the amount of ghosting that takes place puts serious strain on the business & current staff. So many just don't show up for the interview or their first day of work.
    via nomouthmustpost

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