Mom demands babysitter pay for ’emotional damage’ after kids eat chicken nuggets

Babysitting has always been a great option for parents who need a break or help with childcare. But finding a reliable babysitter can be tough, and even then, setting clear rules for parenting is key.

I learned this the hard way recently, after an incident with two kids left their mom furious.

I turned to Reddit’s AITA community for advice on how to handle the stressful situation.

I’m 19, and I’ve been babysitting for two years, helping out different families. When I got a new job looking after a 9-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl, I jumped at the chance. The kids were great, which made things easier for me.

To reward them for their good behavior, I offered to buy them chicken nugget Happy Meals. However, I didn’t know the kids were vegetarians, since their mom hadn’t told me. In the past, I’d always respected the dietary choices of vegetarian families I babysat for.

The mom came home early, and when she saw her kids eating chicken nuggets, she was furious. She scolded me for letting them eat meat and accused me of hurting the kids emotionally. She kicked me out without paying and later asked for $600 for “emotional damage.”

 

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Though she threatened me, I refused to pay, saying it was her responsibility to tell me about dietary restrictions. I defended my actions, saying I would’ve respected their diet if I’d known.

Looking for support, I turned to Reddit for opinions.

Most Reddit users backed me up, saying the mom should have told me about the dietary restrictions.

One person wrote, “The parent has the responsibility to tell you about dietary restrictions. Just like if the child had a peanut or tree nut allergy. Even though vegetarianism is growing worldwide nobody assumes you’re a vegetarian. The kids told you they wanted chicken nuggets, you didn’t just give it to them. The mom is the a—hole. You should tell her that if she doesn’t pay you for babysitting you will take her to court for not paying for services rendered.”

Another person added, “It was her responsibility to tell you her kids were vegetarian. She still owes you money for babysitting. I’d bet she has pulled this stunt before to get out of paying and maybe try to get some extra cash.”

They continued, “I find it weird that neither kid mentioned they didn’t eat meat and they wanted a Happy Meal.”

The general feeling on Reddit was clear: I wasn’t at fault, and the mom’s actions were out of line.

But what do you think? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!