A babysitter accepts a gig to earn some quick cash, but when she reaches out to the mom to collect the payment they had discussed ahead of time, things get ugly.
So many of us started our professional careers as young babysitters, so we know it’s not always fun and games. Watching, playing and caring for one kid can be exhausting. When you add more of the little monsters into the mix, the exhaustion grows exponentially. Even if you really love the kids, it’s still a job.
Our story begins after the babysitter, who I will call Jan, has watched two kids. It starts as an innocent text conversation with the kids’ mom, who I will call Karen. How fitting. Names and numbers have been blocked out to protect privacy. Jan’s sister shared the screenshots on reddit.
First of all, Jan is already handling this way nicer than I would have. Was it actually “great” to watch the kids? I doubt it.
Excuse me while I clean the water I spit out all over my computer screen. WHAT?!
“Free ice cream and a day of fun.”
First of all, ice cream is $5 max. I don’t know what state of delusion Karen lives in, but I highly doubt Jan had a day of fun following two kids around not being able to do what she wanted with the day. Are you really that sorry for the misinterpretation, Karen? Are you?
Yas! Jan with the receipts! Karen seem completely normal in these previous texts. She was probably planning her scheme for free labor.
I wish I made $16 an hour when I babysat.
Who deletes texts that often? I am not the most organized when it comes to my phone, but come on.
Jan is trying to stand her ground when Karen comes back with a counteroffer. At this point we don’t know how long Jan watched the kids. If it was only for an hour or two $20 makes sense. But why does Karen have to be such a brat about it? Jan is not acting stuck up for demanding the payment KAREN AGREED UPON!
I’m really riled up now. I should probably take a moment to calm down.
8 HOURS?! 8 hours and Karen wants to pay poor Jan $20 for the entire day. That’s $2.50 an hour.
Yall, I cannot take it anymore. I am about to lose my FREAKING mind of Jan’s behalf. There is so much to unpack here.
Poor college-aged (probably) Jan is compromising at $100 for the whole day watching two kids. And judging from their mother’s behavior, I highly doubt they are little angles. The apples don’t fall far from the tree.
Karen is being an absolute, well, Karen, because I’m not allowed to curse on here. ‘
The c-word, Karen? Is that really necessary? You are exploiting sweet lil Jan.
And then she just blocks Jan. Part of me is trying to remain positive and I really hope Karen came to her senses and paid Jan that amount she deserves and the amount they had agreed upon in the first place. But the realistic side of my knows that is not true. Hopefully Karen will be served her karmic justice at some point.
Have you ever dealt with a Karen worse than this one? Tell us in the comments!
