Babysitter drank beer while watching child

[AmberDaClown]

Here is a scenario I found on another board that I thought would make for an interesting Saturday discussion. To paraphrase:

I had to get out of the house just after 9AM and my FIL came to watch my son. To get to my house in time, he had to leave his house at 5AM.

When I came back at 12:30 and after he left, I noticed an empty beer can in our recycling bin. I am not sure how I feel about this. What would you think or do? Would you say anything or would it bother you?

So how would you feel in this situation?

 

[Cantw8]

I wouldn't be upset by one beer can...now if it was a 6 pack or a case, that's a different story Besides, when my kids were little I needed a few beers to deal with them

 

[rentayenta]

If that's the entire story, I wouldn't care either.

 

[freckles and boo]

Maybe he had a beer with lunch? If he isn't a drunk (and if he was why would you have him watch the child?) one beer at lunch is no big deal. When I read "babysitter" I was thinking teenager for some reason. That would be a big deal.

 

[happygirl]

Maybe he had a beer with lunch? If he isn't a drunk (and if he was why would you have him watch the child?) one beer at lunch is no big deal. When I read "babysitter" I was thinking teenager for some reason. That would be a big deal.

I was thinking a teenager as well, I don't see any problem with a grandfather having one beer

 

[AmberDaClown]

When I read "babysitter" I was thinking teenager for some reason. That would be a big deal.

Why?

 

[declansdad]

the grandfather having 1 beer.

that's a non-issue.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Why?

I thought that, too. I guess because the majority of babysitters are teenagers (I'm not talking about regular in-home day care providers, but, rather, the babysitters who come over for a few hours on Sat. night so the parents can go out).

And, no, one beer would not bother me, unless the person had a history of drinking irresponsibly, in which case he wouldn't be babysitting my kids.

Editing to add: I first assumed your "why?" was asking why she thought it was a teenager. Now, I'm thinking your question was asking why a teenage babysitter having a beer was a big deal. To answer that, I would not want any teen drinking alcohol on my time and in my home.

 

[NikiM20]

As long as it is "A" beer and it is a responsible adult, then its no biggie. I drink beer/wine/frozendrinks around my DD as does DH

 

[Bojo]

What, beer cans aren't recyclable(sp?)?

 

[AmberDaClown]

I was saying why would it be a problem if a teenager had had a beer under these same circumstances.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I was saying why would it be a problem if a teenager had had a beer under these same circumstances.

Well, for one thing, it's illegal for teens to drink alcohol.

 

[fan_of_small_world]

I was saying why would it be a problem if a teenager had had a beer under these same circumstances.

Um, we can start with the fact that it's ILLEGAL!!!!!

 

[AmberDaClown]

Well, for one thing, it's illegal for teens to drink alcohol.

Not in every state. I know for instance that in Texas a parent may serve their own minor children alcohol. I don't think age matters in this particular circumstance when you are talking about A beer.

Would it matter to you if it was not a family member, but the timing was at night and it was a paid babysitter (say someone over 21 so we can get away from the under 21 drinking angle).

*I will say from this scenario you do not know where this takes place. Why do you assume it is in this country as there are several places in the world where there is no or a much younger drinking age?

 

[Liberty Belle]

Not in every state. I know for instance that in Texas a parent may serve their own minor children alcohol. I don't think age matters in this particular circumstance when you are talking about A beer.

I'm assuming the teen who was drinking a beer was not your own child (we have given our son a glass of champagne and sips of beer, but he's never asked for more). I don't know if that's legal here in Kentucky, or not.

As long as it's just A beer and not A beer everyday or anything like that, if the person is over 14, I don't think it's that big of a deal, but I still would not want it happening on my time and in my home.

 

[twinspluscade]

Not in every state. I know for instance that in Texas a parent may serve their own minor children alcohol. I don't think age matters in this particular circumstance when you are talking about A beer.

Would it matter to you if it was not a family member, but the timing was at night and it was a paid babysitter (say someone over 21 so we can get away from the under 21 drinking angle).

*I will say from this scenario you do not know where this takes place. Why do you assume it is in this country as there are several places in the world where there is no or a much younger drinking age?

So, you'd be fine if your 14 year old babysitter pulled a cold one out of the fridge and drank it while babysitting your child?

What about when your daughter is a teen? You'd be okay with her drinking alcohol while she's responsible for someone else's child?

 

[freckles and boo]

I was saying why would it be a problem if a teenager had had a beer under these same circumstances.

It is illegal.

It creates a liability problem for my and my family. I wouldn't want the sitter's parents wondering why I sent home a kid with beer on his or her breath (or worse, intoxicated).

A single drink affects me and I am 41. Kids drink for the buzz, not for the pleasure of a good beverage. If I am paying a teenager to watch my children I want him or her attentive and sober.

It also creates a breach of trust - I would wonder what other sneaky things the sitter was doing.

 

[3jsmommy]

Not in every state. I know for instance that in Texas a parent may serve their own minor children alcohol. I don't think age matters in this particular circumstance when you are talking about A beer.

Would it matter to you if it was not a family member, but the timing was at night and it was a paid babysitter (say someone over 21 so we can get away from the under 21 drinking angle).

*I will say from this scenario you do not know where this takes place. Why do you assume it is in this country as there are several places in the world where there is no or a much younger drinking age?

Then I guess if I lived in Texas & I had teenage babysitter who brought their parent along to serve them 1 beer your reasoning would make sense..otherwise I think its pretty obvious why someone would have a problem with it!

 

[AmberDaClown]

So, you'd be fine if your 14 year old babysitter pulled a cold one out of the fridge and drank it while babysitting your child?

What about when your daughter is a teen? You'd be okay with her drinking alcohol while she's responsible for someone else's child?

Do you have a problem with the scenario as stated of the FIL drinking A beer while babysitting?

 

[Liberty Belle]

Not in every state. I know for instance that in Texas a parent may serve their own minor children alcohol. I don't think age matters in this particular circumstance when you are talking about A beer.

Would it matter to you if it was not a family member, but the timing was at night and it was a paid babysitter (say someone over 21 so we can get away from the under 21 drinking angle).

*I will say from this scenario you do not know where this takes place. Why do you assume it is in this country as there are several places in the world where there is no or a much younger drinking age?

If the person was over 21, and it was just one beer and I knew they didn't have a problem with alcohol, then, no, it wouldn't bother me. I would wonder if maybe it was more than one beer, which definitely would have bothered me.

*My first assumption was that it was in this country, because I naturally assume that since I live in this country and this board is in this country. Not that I'd think it couldn't be in another country, it's just a first, natural assumption. Also, you used the term babysitter, which I think is more commonly used in this country. But, again, that is just a first, natural impression. I would not be certain it was in this country or rule out other possibilities.