Ungrateful mom criticises friend for leaving toys out after babysitting for free on date night: "She should be nothing but thankful"

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  • 01

    Is babysitting this way ok seem have upset my friend

    "She made several annoyed comments about how messy it was.
  • 02
    I watched my friends daughter for free because she had a date to go to.
  • 03
    When I babysit, I usually do what I do with my daughter. I let the kid play with whichever toys they want (only toys, I redirect it they're getting into other things) and clean up at the end. I play with them too
  • 04
    My friend came early, when I had just started to clean up after her toddler (she's almost 3), and she made several annoyed comments about how messy it was. There were toys throughout the apartment, but there wasn't anything else.
  • 05
    I have no professional experience babysitting. I just help friends sometimes. I didn't realize this might be an issue? I got her toddler to eat well and had a lot of play time, so I didn't start cleaning up until close to the time she was going to be there
  • 06
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  • 07
    I feel bad now, but I'm wondering if I shouldn't allow them to play with all the toys usually? NGL, that's just what I do with my toddler. I don't really see the sense in cleaning up toys until nap time, lunch time, or until it's time to redirect them to other things.
  • 08
    Another factor is that I feel weird bossing around someone else's child. I have no problem telling them no if it's a safety issue or if they're getting into other stuff, but it feels weird with toys for some reason, since they're not my kid?
  • 09
    Ceeceemay1020 You arent doing anything wrong. If your friend has issue with your FREE babysitting then she can go. elsewhere.
  • 10
    itsjayess21 Agree here. Your friend should be nothing but thankful. Weird behavior on your friend's part.
  • 11
    Junimo116 OP's friend sounds like the type of parent who drives her support system away and then complains about her lack of village lol
  • 12
    americanpeony If you're babysitting for free, your friends should have zero complaints about this. This is not even negotiable, it's so wrong of your friend.
  • 13
    Limp-Paint-7244 Right? If the person leaves all the dishes from making dinner out and all the mess, I am fine. They are providing free babysitting. They have to do nothing so be grateful that OP provided a safe environment and her daughter had a good time.
  • 14
    Mrs Richard Smoker Honestly I don't even get mad when our well-paid babysitters leave toy clutter around. Picking up is a bonus.
  • 15
    Money-Possibility606 You didn't do anything wrong. Your friend has quite the audacity to complain about a mess when you watched her child for free. You were in the process of cleaning up and had every intention of cleaning the rest when she walked in. There is nothing to complain about.
  • 16
    Some parents prefer to just have one toy out at a time and panic when there's too much mess. Others just let the kids play with whatever and clean it all up at once at the end of the day. Both ways are fine, neither is right or wrong. It's just different.
  • 17
    I always leaned towards your way... and honestly I think it's better for creativity, because then toys can be mixed and matched and it allows for more imaginative play.
  • 18
    It also helps the kid to be allowed to have fun and do something different from what they usually do with mom - it helps distract them from any separation anxiety they might have.
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  • 20
    I would have been so happy that you not only watched my kid for free, but PLAYED with them - not just sat there and watched TV or handed the kid an ipad. You did good and your friend s ks.
  • 21
    MommalovesJay Yes the toys at our house is free for all. But I have a few friends who prefer one toy out at a time.
  • 22
    No_Strawberry1700 All this. And even if you weren't in the middle of cleaning it up and had no intention to, it's YOUR HOUSE lol. If you don't want to clean it right away or until the next day or never, it shouldn't matter to her.
  • 23
    andreea_carla_b I'm a toys everywhere type of mom, but my husband prefers to have a designated space for play (he does not like a messy space).
  • 24
    Usually, we have all the toys in my son's bedroom, and he can take whichever toy he wants to play with. He brings them to the living room because that's where we hang out most of the day. Then we tidy up in the evening.
  • 25
    He doesn't like to play in his room because he likes to have company, even if it's just chilling in the same room
  • 26
    amex_kali I would not babysit for this friend again.
  • 27
    K4-SI1P-K3 It sounds like you are a great and involved babysitter. Your friend was in the wrong for complaining like that.
  • 28
    OnlyHere2Help2 I would pay you to do what you are doing. I actually hate that my house is cleaner after my mom watches my son.
  • 29
    Writing Things_2Day - First off if she's coming home early, that's on her. You did this FOR FREE... It's not like you weren't going to pick up afterwards.
  • 30
    As far as feeling weird about bossing around someone else's child, well... you're the adult (parental figure) while mom is gone. If the child was hurt, you would comfort them. This isn't really any different. I'm assuming since she's a friend, you know how she parents her child, so asking them to pick up isn't a weird thing to do.
  • 31
    You don't have to order them, since you're a mom, you know that tone affects moods. Make it a game with the child, sing a song, make it fun.
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  • 33
    If she's annoyed, just let her know you don't have to do this for her in the future. I'm sure she'll change her tune real quick.
  • 34
    It sounds more like maybe her date didn't go great and she's in a bad mood and taking it out on you. Also not a nice thing for her to do.
  • 35
    Moonlightpeasant23 OP Thank you for the advice about making clean up a game. My baby is 16 months and I'm showing her how to clean up, she gets pretty excited to hear "good job" haha, but I didn't know how to approach this at all with older kids.
  • 36
    areyouf gwme Babysitters are free to do as they see fit as long as child is fed, kept safe and entertained in my world. Free babysitters don't even really have to entertain him.

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