Why do people think SAHMs will babysit (daycares, teenagers, teaching)
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I've had this issue. I actually had a neighbor when my kids were little send out an email to a group of stay at home moms to sign up for a day of the week to watch her child in the summertime. No one responded.
I've always been a WAHM (work-at-home Mom) and a couple of other moms have done this to me way back when my kids were young. I have no problem with my son's friend coming over and staying the afternoon occasionally once they reached a certain age, but one mom then wanted to leave her baby there too. Um... nope!
I actually caught one neighbor woman from upstairs in the apartment complex 'ding-dong dash'-ing but leaving her 3-4 year old daughter on my step instead of just playing a prank. I hardly knew the woman and she called, "You are so awesome to watch her while I go to this job interview!" from her car in the parking lot. I called back "What? No! I'm calling the cops" and she came running back glaring at me.
That goes a bit beyond the scope of this discusssion though.
I guess it's because maybe they assume that you don't do anything and are free? Not saying that's true but that could be what they are thinking!
That's super rude though! I would never drop kids off at someones house and just assume that they are free to watch them. Then to not even offer to pay you for your time... just so rude :/
I am a SAHM. I've had a few people ask me if they can drop their child off at my home while they work during the day. For free childcare. They seem surprised when I say no. They say that since I stay home all day, they thought it would be no problem for me to take their child. I have to explain that with 3 young kids, it's hard for me to babysit. And I don't stay home all day. I run errands, take kids to doctor/dentist/orthodontist/dance class, etc. I'm pretty busy.
I have a list of drop-in day care centers in our area, which I use myself whenever I get into a bind. I give them this info but they seem bummed about having to pay for daycare.
So I'm curious why people assume that SAHMs will provide free childcare? I know a "few" who babysit for extra money, but don't know any who babysit for free. Also, I stopped babysitting when I was in college.
Never experienced that and did the SAHM deal throughout my kid's childhood. That's so tacky! My kid was an only child, yet we were busy most days. Sometimes it was fun to have another kid along, kept my kid entertained, but I don't recall anyone ever assuming I could take their kid because I had nothing better to do.
Ok...so it happens a fair amount of times to you and your friends that strangers approach you for free daycare.
Sounds more like someone wants to stir up SAH vs working moms. Yawn. So old. Hopefully we're beyond that.
Oh gosh, I missed "while they work". SAH vs Working Moms. Mommy Wars. So Old. One day the OP, and other moms, will wake up and their kid(s) will be in their 20s and this whole debate will be so far behind them they won't believe they ever flipped out over such things. Trust me.
I am a SAHM. I've had a few people ask me if they can drop their child off at my home while they work during the day. For free childcare. They seem surprised when I say no. They say that since I stay home all day, they thought it would be no problem for me to take their child. I have to explain that with 3 young kids, it's hard for me to babysit. And I don't stay home all day. I run errands, take kids to doctor/dentist/orthodontist/dance class, etc. I'm pretty busy.
I have a list of drop-in day care centers in our area, which I use myself whenever I get into a bind. I give them this info but they seem bummed about having to pay for daycare.
So I'm curious why people assume that SAHMs will provide free childcare? I know a "few" who babysit for extra money, but don't know any who babysit for free. Also, I stopped babysitting when I was in college.
Because they undervalue the work you do. I work from home most days and people automatically assume since I'm home I can just drop everything to help out - either with babysitting, taking someone grocery shopping, etc.
I agree with you on not babysitting if you don't have the time or energy to do so.
I don't think its surprising in the least. I've had the same thing happen to me because I happen to work from home. People don't think or don't care how their requests put out others.
I will help out anybody in an emergency, once. Shortly after we moved here, I was warned that the woman next door would try to take advantage of me. The first time she asked me to watch her toddler I said yes. The second time, I said no. The same with the 3rd time. She stopped asking.
But that was one woman, over 30 + years. It's certainly never been endemic anywhere I've lived.
I’ve never heard of this happening honestly. My neighbors and I will take turns taking days off with the kids for school breaks and holidays so we can avoid childcare costs and there are stay at home moms in the group but we keep their kids too so they just wind up getting a day off. What you’re describing is insanely rude and I wouldn’t do it.
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