Single Mom Asks If She’s A Jerk For Refusing To Fix Babysitter’s Laptop After Her Kid Broke It

Babysitting may be one of the most rewarding and fun jobs for teens out there, but looking after the little ones is no walk in the park (and even that can be a challenge!) It comes with a lengthy set of rules, pressure from parents, and a long journey ahead before moms and dads entrust their bundles of joy to your capable hands. Not to mention the dedication it takes, and the know-how to keep the little rascals entertained and out of trouble.

But as one recent story on the popular AITA subreddit illustrates, it’s seemingly impossible to keep tabs on every shenanigan kids think of. A single mom reached out to the community to gain some feedback after finding herself in an argument with her 17-year-old sitter.

Everything started with a laptop, something the teen brings over to help with her studies. "Which is perfectly ok with me as long as she keeps an eye on the kids," the woman wrote. But things went sour once one of her sons snatched it, dropped it, and shattered the screen. And instead of taking responsibility, the woman chose a different course of action. Scroll down to read the story in full, as well as the verdict readers were quick to deem, and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments.

After reading the story, the majority of users immediately deemed that the mom was in the wrong in this situation, with many suggesting she should seriously rethink how she handled the situation. And it’s hardly surprising the post evoked such a reaction from the community, especially considering that babysitting is one of the most underpaid and underappreciated jobs out there.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for childcare workers in the US was $13.22 in May 2021. The 10% of workers who earned the lowest got less than $8.91, while the highest 10% of earners were paid more than $17.99 an hour. However, the pandemic forced many people in the childcare sector to reevaluate their choices and look for safer jobs with higher pay.

In a piece in The New York Times, Emma Goldberg stated that after the childcare field shrank, more than half of the families in the country reported having trouble finding childcare. The shortage of care workers led parents in desperate need of help with their kids facing a challenge, and many parents — especially mothers — had to leave their jobs to look after the children. So if this tells us one thing, it's that parents who manage to find a good, kind, and trustworthy worker should try to hold on to them at all costs.

But while many readers felt perplexed by the way the situation escalated, childcare is a topic that tends to spark different opinions between people. Or, as Dr. Sarah Mundy, clinical psychologist, author of Parenting Through Stories, and mom of three told Bored Panda in a previous interview, our ideas about babysitters will always vary. "As do our ideas about many things!"

We humans shape ideas about the world based on our own experiences and the expectations we have developed from them. Difficulties might come from different anticipations and opinions on how it’s normal to act in specific cases. "The most important thing is to have an open conversation with the babysitter before you leave about your expectations," Dr. Mundy told us.

But if you wonder if the parent is responsible for the property their children destroy, it all comes down to their age. According to reporter Ian Mendes, it’s a free pass if an incident involves a toddler. "If you leave something out — like your phone or an expensive pair of sunglasses — and a toddler destroys it, the onus should be on you as the owner for not taking better care of your things."

But when a child is a bit grown up, as the boys in the story, it’s a different scenario. Mendes wrote that when a child damages someone’s private property, the parents should be responsible for their actions — especially when they’re not as close. "They should certainly make every effort to replace the broken article to the best of their ability," he added.

We're curious to hear your opinions on the whole ordeal. What do you think about the woman’s reaction? Should 8 and 6-year-olds be wise enough to know not to touch other people's things or was it the babysitter who was wrong to leave the laptop in plain sight? Feel free to share your thoughts below in the comments.