Why yes.... we are indeed free babysitters.

[Bex]

It's policy at work that only kids 14 and over can be dropped off at my facility. Personally I think they shouldn't be allowed to be dropped off at all, but who am I to make the rules, eh?

So I am sitting at my desk when in walks a kid who I would swear on a Bible was about 10, if that. He comes up to my desk and asks directions to our game room. I ask him if he has an adult with him. He shakes his head no, and tells me that his dad dropped him off and will be back in a few hours. As calmly as I can I inform the little dude that rules are rules and that he has to be 14 to stay there alone. I then tell him that he needs to call his parents and tell them that they have to be there with him. He agrees and as I dial the number for him he mumbles "my mom is so gonna be ticked." -- I should have gone into hiding at that point.

About 15 minutes later the mother shows up. She is indeed, ticked. She informs me that I am a sorry person, my rules (because I own this government funded facility) are utterly stupid and that I am as well. She fumes for at least 5 minutes about this before grabbing his arm, informing me that she WILL be speaking to my boss as well as anyone else she could name off and then stormed out. Now then... Lets go into why this was such a SC.

* I am a mom... NEVER will I trust complete strangers to watch my kid... ESPECIALLY if I just drop them out of the car and drive away.
* There are 17 doors in my facility. That is 17 places that some pedo could be lurking and waiting to steal a kid. (Not to mention bathrooms and storage closets and such.)
* I was the idiot for not being "a babysitter" for her child...
* She is a tax payer and therefore the people at my center are paid by her and she demands a person to hold her kids hand for her while she goes and does who knows what...
* I am the idiot for being slightly annoyed for her dropping off her child without any indication of who he was, if he had any medical issues, when she would be back, how to contact her if he were to fall and break a leg and most importantly, who he can and cannot stroll out of my building with. *sigh*

It is bad enough that our capacity is 780 people to begin with. Now take into account that there are 2 people working there. That means that I can have up to 390 people to be looking out for. Now.... You tell me how comfy you are with leaving your 10 year old there?

[LillFilly]

Now.... You tell me how comfy you are with leaving your 10 year old there?

Why, the same ones who let their 10 year olds bike to the mall to 'play' in the gamestore, and the ones who don't pick them up by 1AM and force security to call the police

It's just lazy parenting; they don't feel like they should have to do any of the work, because somehow, they're entitled to have society raise (and provide for) their children FOR THEM!

[Kristev]

Oh my. Some people don't care about their kids at all, do they?

[Bex]

Oh my. Some people don't care about their kids at all, do they?

Apparently not. I hate to say it, but it seems like the only way people will open their eyes will be if some poor kid gets hurt there. I can't think of anything else that will make people realize that they have to be there and be alert. I just can't understand it.

[Kogarashi]

Apparently not. I hate to say it, but it seems like the only way people will open their eyes will be if some poor kid gets hurt there. I can't think of anything else that will make people realize that they have to be there and be alert. I just can't understand it.

Except that it won't work for those parents. They'll just yell and scream that you should've been watching Junior a lot better than that. The types who won't take responsibility for watching their kids in the first place generally don't want to take responsibility for when they get hurt, either. After all, it's not their fault your facility was so dangerous or your employees so inattentive. /SC mode

Why, the same ones who let their 10 year olds bike to the mall to 'play' in the gamestore, and the ones who don't pick them up by 1AM and force security to call the police

I sense a story here.

[tropicsgoddess]

Lazy parenting for sure both her and the father of the year.

[Mytical]

I feel sorry for some workers. Seems libraries, toy stores, and game places are even worse then normal. Parents seem to think it nothing to drop off a child and go elsewhere. Now I understand letting your child have some freedom, but it gets beyond ridiculous. Hire somebody, or heaven forbid, actually parent them. I understand parents needing some away time, I do..but there are other options...like the aforementioned babysitters.

[Yarnil]

but there are other options...like the aforementioned babysitters.

<sarcasm>But, but....That cost money, that they cant spend on themselfs and you know they are entitled (sp?) for more than that, so...... </sarcasm>

[eltf177]

Except that it won't work for those parents. They'll just yell and scream that you should've been watching Junior a lot better than that. The types who won't take responsibility for watching their kids in the first place generally don't want to take responsibility for when they get hurt, either. After all, it's not their fault your facility was so dangerous or your employees so inattentive. /SC mode.

And sue, don't forget the lawsuit! After all, _you_ weren't paying attention and that's why junior got hurt!

[blas]

I hate parents who routinely "dump" their kids at libraries, shopping malls, and even smaller stores, even in small towns. It's just rude and selfish, not to mention dangerous.

People around here ought to know better that just because it's smalltown farmville USA doesn't mean that bad things never happen here. They do. Wach the local news every once in a while.

I mean, I'm glad that kids are going to libraries and are actually doing something valuable with their time, but not all kids are going to go to a library and be quiet and read and behave. Most will just run amock because they have no idea how to behave because their parents don't care.

[Kanalah]

Back when I owned a toy store, I couldn't tell you how many parents we'd get who'd drop off thier kids.

"Oh hey, we're going to go shop in *expensive lighting store* or *fancy boutique*, isn't it nice that they provided a free babysitting service so we can shop?"

Forgetting the whole STORE part of the toy store thing. *sigh*

I'll need to write up some of my stories and post them sometime.

[MadMike]

I don't understand these parents that just let their kids go do whatever. I'd panic at the thought of him getting away from me for even a second. Things can happen really fast.

He's 17 now, and practically an adult, and I'm not sure at what point I started being OK with the idea of him going off by himself. It sure as hell wasn't 10, and I think even at 14, while I may have let him, I was a bit nervous about it.

[MoonCat]

I know that many of these people don't read signs, but I can't help thinking that it wouldn't hurt to have a GIANT sign posted that says "WE WILL NOT BABYSIT YOUR CHILDREN. PARENTS MUST ACCOMPANY ALL CHILDREN UNDER 17 AT ALL TIMES" or something of that nature. It might filter out at least a few of the....

Oh, who am I kidding? They'd just say, "Well, I didn't see any sign!"

[TonyDonuts]

I know that many of these people don't read signs, but I can't help thinking that it wouldn't hurt to have a GIANT sign posted that says "WE WILL NOT BABYSIT YOUR CHILDREN. PARENTS MUST ACCOMPANY ALL CHILDREN UNDER 17 AT ALL TIMES" or something of that nature. It might filter out at least a few of the....

Oh, who am I kidding? They'd just say, "Well, I didn't see any sign!"

"And anyway, I didn't think you meant ME!"

Also:

"but it seems like the only way people will open their eyes will be if some poor kid gets hurt there. I can't think of anything else that will make people realize that they have to be there and be alert. I just can't understand it. "

Somebody that would dump a kid off in public is not going to be someone to learn from the experiences of other people. All they care about is their own convenience and comfort and to sweet buggery fuck with anything and anybody else.

And that includes their own flesh and blood.

That kid's got an episode of Jerry Springer, Cops or both in his future.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Oh my. Some people don't care about their kids at all, do they?

Nobody ever said you had to to have them.