Babysitting with earplugs!!!!!

[Celtain]

So I thought I could trust my 13 year old dd with babysitting. I went to the airport to pick up my mother. I left at 5:30pm for the airport. DD calls me at 8pm to ask if she should feed dd2 dinner!!! Give me a break!!! Arg.

So then I get home and DH tells me when he got home from work dd was sitting at the computer "watching" dd2 with friggin earplugs in her ears. I am so pissed off!!!

Just wanted to vent

[MommaCheesehead]

Ugh And that is precisely why DS#1 won't be babysitting for a long, long time:LOL

[Celtain]

Good thinking Momma!!!!! So where in Mass?

[MommaCheesehead]

Right in the middle I live just outside of Worcester.

[Red]

Ok, do you mind some advice?

DD#1 needs to start off slow. First you leave her for 1/2 hour, then an hour. Always write down everything you need or expect done. For instance:

Change diaper every 2 hours, feed dinner of.... at 5:00, put dirty dishes in sink. Do not use 'puter, watch kid like hawk. Play with sis for at least 1/2 hour, don't use phone to talk to friends. YOu can take her for a walk (Or don't leave the house!) Be specific.

Then offer a reward for a job well done. Extra tv time, money per hour, what ever works for your family. Be sure she knows it's for a job well done! NOt for just hanging out.

Thirteen yo's seem old enough, and can do a great job, but they need direction, and it needs to be in writing.

We take care of our kids so automatically, we forget that it's hard work. Your dd had no idea of what to do. (I know, how could she possibly NOT know! But they don't!)