babysitter and food question

[Feralpeg]

It's been many, many years since I babysat, but they always had an open fridge policy. In fact, one particular family spoiled me something awful. If they didn't have what she felt was enough good junk food in the house for me, she would send him to Baskin Robbins to bring back a pint of my favorite ice cream. Great job!

 

[princesspiglet]

I had 3 babysitting jobs in high school for 3 different families at the same time every week. One on Saturday morning from 9:00am-12:00n and that family NEVER offered me any food or drink. I made sure I ate before I got there and they didn't want their kids snacking either. The second family was Saturday nights from 6:00pm-12 midnight and they had an open fridge policy. I made the kids dinner and ate with them and then we always had ice cream sundaes around 9pm. The 3rd family was on Wednesday evenings from 7-10pm. By the time I got there the kids were fed, bathed and ready for bed. All I basically did was read them stories, put them to bed and then listen for them. That family never outright said I couldn't eat anything, but they never offered anything either. I usually brought snacks with me to munch on if needed.

I am now a mother of a 7 year old and we have not had a babysitter outside of family members, but I have an open-fridge policy for anyone who enters the house. I have neighborhood kids coming into my garage and grabbing juice boxes out of the kid fridge on their way home from school! If I ever do hire a non-family member babysitter I will definitly keep the open-door fridge policy going.