Dear Jasmine,
My son’s friend often comes over after school to hang out. I don’t really have a problem with it but it seems that his parents are using me as a baby sitter. He comes over after school at least 3 out of the 5 days and stays until his parents come to pick him up after work, which is often times pass dinnertime. While I don’t mind it, I still feel that his parents are somewhat trying to save on getting a babysitter by using my house as a daycare while they are at work.
I usually pick up my son and his friend and they stay over and play until dinnertime, then his parents come over to pick him up in a rush and without much of a thanks. I find that very rude and I want to talk to him about it. It is not so much setting up an extra plate at the dinner table but I think that his parents are just taking advantage of the whole situation. What do you think?
Carole G.
Seattle, WA
Dear Carole,
I can certainly understand how you feel about the whole situation and I think this may be one of those sticky situations because your son is his friend and you don’t want to cause any trouble there. His parents are probably grateful for you to have their son over to play with your son but they just haven’t expressed it to you. They are probably just focused on picking up their son and getting home so they forget to extend courtesy to you. That is no excuse, of course, but it does happen.
I would say for the time being, to just let it go for now, your son is having a good time with his friend so it is not as if you need to watch them every second he is there. I wouldn’t bring something up unless it gets too extreme, like his parents leave him at your house overnight too often, etc. Let your son enjoy having his friend over, but know when to set a limit.
Always here,
Jasmine
