Oftentimes, people hear a lot of horror stories about daycare centers and babysitters. But on the flipside, those who are tasked to care for children also have their share of pet peeves, and most of the stories range from the mildly annoying to the truly upsetting.
Redbook has made a compilation of stories from real daycare providers and babysitters, and some of the tales were about over-demanding and irresponsible parents, while others spoke of high-maintenance behavior from moms and dads.
One daycare worker spoke about parents who are hoping to escape the tearful goodbyes by sneaking their child into daycare while the kid is sleeping. The worker said that while doing this makes it easier for parents, it’s not a good idea to do this to their child.
“Waking up somewhere other than where they fell asleep is upsetting for them,” said the worker.
One babysitter talked about oversharing couples, saying that she has heard details about their sex lives, affairs, secret bank accounts, and even a tax evasion scheme.
Another worker spoke about parents who would often delay her paychecks.
“I’m supposed to [be okay with late payments] because they assume I do it out of love for their children…but, um, I also do it for the paycheck,” said the babysitter.
Meanwhile, an extended-hours daycare worker said that parents who put their children on fad diets without a true medical reason are the worst.
“I’m going to follow the rules the parents give me but let me tell you nothing is more heartbreaking than watching a 3-year-old watch everyone else eat cake while she sits with an empty plate,” said the worker.
Mommyish also listed more reasons for a babysitter to hate his or her clients, and among the top pet peeves is when parents don’t respect a care provider’s time. Parents should come home at the appointed hour. If the inevitable happens and you’re going to be late, it is important to inform the babysitter via call or text message.
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on how to land a job after you graduate.
