The kids are old enough to know better, pay for the damages.

I get the feeling here that the Mum has a cheap deal with young babysitter and was happy for her to Study while watching the kids. At 6 and 8 her children should have a little more respect. It wasn’t accidently knocked over, the child ran off with it. She should definitely pay for the laptop.

Babysitter should of known better not to leave the laptop in reach of small kids. Regardless if they are are 6 & 8. Kids can have impulse behaviour (my 9yo does due to he has ASD).
However, the right thing to do is the Mother should of paid for the repairs. Cause her child broke something that they don’t own. Doesn’t matter in her own home or not, its the principle part. Yes, the repairs is an additional cost to the single mum but her child did brake it.

Okay maybe not the best idea to leave the laptop when kids can reach but understand why she did, A 6 year old is old enough to know not to touch and run with electronics. Regardless of weither they own it or not.. So I think the mum should pay to have it repaired.

The mums excuses are poor at best!
Her children are old enough to know better!
One can argue that the laptop shouldn’t have been left within reach, but whose to say the six year old wouldn’t have climbed up to get it? And what if the older child was hurt and the babysitter had to help, should she have to find a safe place for the laptop first in case the six year old decided to grab it and run off?
The mum needs to apologise for her attitude, needs to pay for the repairs and needs to teach her children respect for other people and their property, Yes even if it was your own laptop, it is still your property and not theirs and they shouldn’t run with it or mistreat it.

I personally would pay. I understand she shouldn’t have left it there but still at least offer to pay half. Your child broke it she wouldn’t even have been in your home to have it broken if she wasn’t babysitting so I believe at the minimum half should be paid. But I would pay the full amount

Both are wrong so maybe you could share the payment to fix the laptop’s screen!

I do think those kids are old enough to know what things are toys and what are not but I’d also expect a 17yo to take better care of her things too and maybe not leave a laptop open and within reach of the kids. I’d offer to put something towards a repair or replace.

If your kids were in a store, picked up and item, ran around and broke it. Would you blame the store for having items in reach?
I would be so embarrassed my kids did that, I would offer to pay. Yes, she should not have left in reach of children, but also the children are old enough to know better. If it was a toddler, different story

That’s a tough one. I don’t let my kids beat my laptop and make sure it’s packed away if I move away from it. Not sure what I’d do or say.

Not sure with this one. If it were me I’d offer to pay as I always tell my kids not to touch things that aren’t theirs but at the same time how can you really study if you’re supposed to be looking after kids?

Its hard, id somewhat feel responsible if my kids caused the damage. I think its a tough situation

I’m also on the fence with this, yes the babysitter shouldn’t have left it where the kids could get to it but on the other hand the mother should atleast offer to pay half the repairs

I’m on the fence with this…as she shouldn’t have left it in reach of the kids…but also the kids broke it.

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  • • Motherhoodmama replied
    • 17 Oct 2022 , 8:31 pm

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  Yep completely on the fence too. It would be a kind thing to pay, but it shouldn’t be an expectation as she didn’t need to bring her laptop for a babysitting job.