Latest news with #babysitting
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Dear Abby: My daughter expects me to help with her kids — instead of their deadbeat father
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I love our 7- and 2-year-old grandchildren very much and enjoy spending time with them. The issue is, we feel we are being taken advantage of. Our daughter and her husband are still married but lead separate lives. He works out of town and comes home most weekends. Her weekends usually begin on Friday when she 'has to' have someone keep the kids until he gets home (if he comes home). She returns on Sunday night when he leaves for work. Our daughter expects us to pick up the grandkids from school and/or the babysitter on Friday and keep them every weekend. She doesn't ask; it's assumed we will do it. If we say we can't, or make other plans, all hell breaks loose. It's the end of the world because she has to change her plans. We have tried talking calmly with her about it, but then she threatens to not let us see the children at all. We're exhausted and don't know what to do. — VEXED IN VIRGINIA DEAR VEXED: Tell your entitled daughter firmly that she will have to make other arrangements for the children on two weekends a month because you and your husband are exhausted and need time to yourselves. Remind her that when she started a family, the children became her (not your) primary responsibility. You have generously given her free babysitting services for many years. Those services are expensive, as she will learn when she starts pricing them out. I seriously doubt she will react by depriving you of seeing them. It would be cutting off her nose to spite her face. DEAR ABBY: Three months ago, my husband was diagnosed with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma that had originated in his lungs and spread throughout his body. He died last month after a brutal battle with this horrifying disease. He was a former smoker and had worked in a factory that exposed him to various chemicals. During his struggle, we learned that getting a CT scan of his lungs every year would have detected his deadly cancer. His doctor never advised him to have this simple scan that could have identified it early in its development and possibly saved his life. Unfortunately, neither he nor I knew the importance of asking for the test. A CT is a straightforward, low-cost scan generally covered by most insurers when it has been 15 years or less since quitting smoking or when other exposures are present. Please share this message with your readers and encourage those with risk factors to request this essential procedure. It could make the difference between early detection and treatment or a life-and-death struggle with this lethal disease. — SORROWFUL IN INDIANA DEAR SORROWFUL: Please accept my sympathy for the loss of your husband. I lost my husband to lung cancer, and I know how silently aggressive it can be. (He, too, was diagnosed at stage 4, although he had not been exposed to the risk factors your husband was.) I am grateful that you wrote about how important a diagnostic tool a CT scan can be. Readers, please think about her important message and have a conversation about it with your doctor. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mom Cuts Ties with Free Babysitter After She Chops '8 Inches' Off Daughter's Hair Without Permission
A single mom is at odds with her neighbor, who offered to watch her 6-year-old daughter for free However, when the mom came home one night, she noticed that the neighbor had cut off nearly "8 inches" of her daughter's hair The mom was shocked that the neighbor didn't ask if it was okay and ended their babysitting agreementA woman turned to the Reddit community for advice after a shocking incident with her neighbor left her without childcare. As a single mom working evening shifts at the hospital, she shares how her neighbor's offer to babysit her 6-year-old daughter for free seemed like 'a godsend since daycare costs are insane.' For two weeks, everything went smoothly, until one night, she returned home to discover her daughter's long, curly hair had been chopped off. 'I came home and found my daughter had been given a full haircut. Like, chopped off 8 inches of her beautiful curly hair without asking me first,' she wrote in the since-deleted post. The neighbor claimed the elementary schooler had asked for the haircut and that she just 'wanted to help,' but the mom was devastated. 'I wanted to be there for that moment, you know?' she explains, her disappointment palpable. She adds that her daughter's hair 'grows super slowly and this was her first time ever getting it cut,' emphasizing just how important the milestone was to her. To make matters worse, the haircut was far from professional, only adding to the mom's frustration. When she confronted her neighbor about it, the conversation quickly turned tense. 'When I told my neighbor I was upset, she got defensive and said she was just trying to help. She said I should be grateful for free childcare instead of complaining,' the mom recounted. Feeling unheard and frustrated, she made the difficult decision to end the babysitting arrangement. 'I told her I'd find other arrangements and she called me ungrateful. Now I'm scrambling to find new childcare I can actually afford,' she admitted. Soon after, the poster's own mother weighed in, suggesting she may have overreacted. 'My mom thinks I overreacted since it's just hair and the neighbor meant well,' she shared. Still, she can't help but feel like her neighbor crossed a line. 'I am thankful and maybe overreacted a bit in that situation but I still feel like she should ask me before doing something like this,' she explained, seeking validation from the Reddit community. The post quickly garnered attention, with commenters chiming in to offer support and perspective. One user writes, 'I can kind of see both sides but she should have definitely asked you! You're the mum and that's your daughter.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The commenter suggested that even if the little girl wanted the haircut, the neighbor could have handled things differently, writing, 'I feel like she could've steered the conversation saying that we could talk with your mum and figure it out. Or we could look up some styles in the internet and we can ask your mum to take you on the weekend.' The original poster echoed the sentiment, replying, 'That's exactly what I think. There were so many ways she could have handled it better. Even a quick text would have been something. Thanks for the support!' As she navigates the fallout, the mom is left balancing gratitude for the help she received with the pain of losing a special moment with her daughter. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Parents Are Undecided About Allowing Their Nanny to Bring Her Boyfriend to Babysitting Sessions: ‘What Would You Do?'
A Mumsnet user explained that she and her husband are undecided if they should grant their nanny permission to bring her boyfriend whenever she babysits their 7-year-old twins 'Perhaps [the boyfriend] could come once [the twins] are in bed to keep her company?' the twins' mother pondered Fellow Mumsnet users had mixed opinions about this situationTwo parents of 7-year-old twins are on the fence about letting their nanny bring her boyfriend with her when she babysits the kids. The mother explained on the community forum Mumsnet that she and her husband haven't met the boyfriend so they are undecided if they should grant the nanny permission to let him tag along to babysitting sessions. 'My twins have a nanny three days a week. No issues with her at all. She is hardworking, respectful and great with the kids,' the mom wrote. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! 'Outside of her usual hours, she will be babysitting on Saturday night from 6 until 11/midnight,' she continued. 'When I parted with her this week, she was roundabout hinting if her boyfriend could join her.' After that, the mom decided to get her husband's thoughts on the matter. 'My husband isn't comfortable with it, but he says he might be overthinking,' she said. 'He can be a protective and anxious dad, which I appreciate, but can wrap them in cotton wool a bit more than I do.' The mom mentioned that the twins met the boyfriend when the nanny took them to her place — 'a farm type place that had lots of nice things to do with kids' — while their parents were on a summer vacation. 'No issues, but we haven't met him personally. However it might be a good opportunity to meet him in person if he is going to be around the twins ever, even if infrequently,' the mom wrote, before offering a potential compromise. 'Perhaps he could come once they are in bed to keep her company? My husband is more comfortable with this idea.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Seeking opinions, the mom asked Mumsnet users, 'What would you do?' One reader replied, 'I suspect that risk is tiny, especially if you think she is a really good nanny she is much less likely to be with someone awful — and your kids are old enough to share any concerns.' Meanwhile, another person disagreed with that user, commenting, 'I wouldn't find it acceptable. She's getting paid to do a job. I can't bring my husband to mine much as I would like that!' Read the original article on People
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
My 18-year-old daughter has racked up £3,000 of credit card debt. Should I pay it off or let her learn a tough lesson? VICKY REYNAL has a surprising solution
Our 18-year-old daughter just admitted she's nearly £3,000 in credit card debt. We gave her the card for emergencies only, but she's been using it more than she should – and now she's stuck, trying to pay it off with babysitting money while interest piles up at 26 per cent.
Irish Times
07-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Author Eimear McBride: ‘My pension plan is to die before I'm no longer able to earn'
Eimear McBride 's latest novel is The City Changes its Face . Are you a saver or a spender? Spender by nature, alas, but I do try ... What was the first job you received money for, and how much were you paid? Babysitting for my neighbour as a teenager. I think it was about £2.50 an hour. These were the pre-euro days, and it was cash-in-hand, of course. Naughty. Do you shop around for better value? It depends. I do for things like a mattress topper or a toasted sandwich maker. The rest of the time I usually know what I want so I either have to suck it up or do without. READ MORE What has been your most extravagant purchase and how much did it cost? A Vivienne Westwood dress for a very grand party. I don't even like parties or expensive dresses, but I couldn't get out of it. It was about £600. Never before, or since, have I spent so much on a single item of clothing, and it took ages to pay off. But the joke was on me because the party was outdoors and it tipped down the whole evening. I spent the entire time wearing a manky old anorak, and now I'll be wearing it for every occasion until it falls into rags. It is a nice dress, though. What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money? Probably the toasted sandwich maker. What barbarians humankind must have been before it was invented. Is there anything you regret spending money on? There are a few novels I'd like the cash and time back on. [ 'My view on investing: time and compounding do the real work. Patience beats cleverness' Opens in new window ] Do you haggle over prices? I'm good in a souk, but the shop assistants at Tesco are safe. Do you invest in shares and/or cryptocurrency? No to both because ... who can be bothered? Also, crypto bros ... Jesus wept. Do you have a retirement or pension plan? In a very general way, yes. It works along the lines of 'Die before I'm no longer able to earn'. I didn't say it was a good plan. What was the last thing you bought, and was it good value for money? A bottle of Bushmills for my husband at Belfast airport because I was away at a book festival and missed his birthday. I can safely say no £40 has ever been so well spent. Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase? No, but I have certainly gone into debt for one. I think I see a theme evolving here. [ 'Behavioural economists would have a field day with me' Opens in new window ] Have you ever lost money? Well, if time is money, I've definitely lost plenty of it answering questionnaires like this. Conversely, I did once find a fiver just after I'd spent my last penny. Happy days. Are you a gambler and, if so, have you ever had a big win? I'm not. When I was about 10, I lost all of my hard-saved holiday money in one glorious orgy of spending on the teddy bear machines at a games arcade in Portstewart. After that, my lesson was learned. But I did go home with a LOT of teddies. What is your best habit when it comes to money? And your worst? My best habit is enjoying it when I have it. My worst is feeling guilty about having enjoyed it once it's gone. How much money do you have on you now? There's a tenner in my purse with nothing's name on it, and for a lot of my life, that would not have been the case. All in all, I'd say I'm winning. In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea
