Do you agree with the statement: "Whats One More?" when babysitting? - Page 3

[Nicole730]

Originally Posted by J's Mombee 

I had really never thought of it this way, wow.  I might have to throw out the watch my kiddos offer, and hope that they don't sarcastically accept :lol.  I know that they wouldn't accept, and I am more than fine about that.

I do have a few relatives that initially offered to babysit until they sat with me for a few hours, then decided that they would have to wait until the babies were older.  I respect their plans to offer babysitting once the babies are older.  The funny thing is that the people that have sat with me and decided to hold off on babysitting, have also never asked me to babysit.  The only requesters are the folks that wouldn't babysit without making weird requests for me to modify something in my parenting choices, such as add rice cereal to a bottle of expressed BM, etc. (this is too much of a modification for me and I don't need a babysitter that bad).

If you were a close friend of mine and I sat with you and the kids for awhile and saw how much you were doing, I think I would ask my mom to babysit my kids and offer to watch your babies for a couple hours.  To give you a break and so I can remember that it's not a good idea to fantasize about having twins ;)  Plus, I would like the "challenge" of two babies at once -- although only for a few hours!
 

[OkiMom]

Depends on the children. When my youngest was 5 months I babysat my friends 5 and 1 1/2 year ODs (so I had a 5, 4, 2, 1 1/2 and 5 month old) and it was actually easier than just my 3 since the children played so well together. Another friend asked me to babysit her 5 and 3 year ODs and I told her no because our children don't get along. The personalities involved made one situation easy and would have made the other one really difficult.

My philosophy is if I don't want to do it I have the right to say no. Its my time and energy, its not about "whats 1 more" its if I'm in the mood/have the energy etc. And since I'm doing them a favor I expect them to understand when I tell them No.

[sarahr]

I voted it depends. Another baby is absolutely more work; a playmate for my dd (almost 5) is not because they can play largely independently.

But no matter what, if you say no, people should respect that.

[Polliwog]

I'm a foster parent (and do occasional respite care) so there's sometimes another child hanging around. It's way easier when a child is here for a longer period of time so that we can develop a routine. I have a tiny townhouse and it's hard to have playdates here. When we're at other people's houses it's wayyyyy easier to care for another child. I can't wait until we can get a bigger house.

[*bejeweled*]

[quote name="pianojazzgirl" I think it's pretty rude of someone to say "what's one more?" when you've already told them you are feeling too overwhelmed to babysit,

Exactly! Especially when you have twin infants and a 5 year old. The nerve of some people!

[Storm Bride]

I've only read the OP, and haven't answered the poll.

I'd say "it depends". What it depends on is who's saying it. If the mom doing the babysitting says, "what's one more?", then I agree with it. She's obviously okay with wrangling another child. If the mom asking for the babysitting is the one saying "what's one more?", then I disagree with it. I think she's being inconsiderate in a big way.

[phathui5]

I'm a "What's one more?-er" but we have four children already and adding a kid or three for them to play with makes my job easier.