Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Hi all,


I babysit for a few families in Dulwich and have always just walked home afterwards, even if very late at night. Lately, however, I just haven't felt safe doing this - particularly after reading so many accounts of people being mugged near East Dulwich Station etc. I babysit mainly around the station area and I live on Friern road (at the top, towards the library), which is quite a long walk. The parents usually come back well after midnight. I feel so awkward asking them to provide a taxi, especially when I've always just walked home. Also, I don't want to let fear stop me from walking around after dark but, at the same time, I don't feel safe. What's the general rule - do most babysitters expect taxis home late at night?

Could you ask them for a lift home? (Most people will be yawning and choose to give you some money for the taxi I imagine!)


Otherwise, I don't think it's at all unreasonable to ask direct for the money either tbh.

You have to put your safety first over all other considerations. I know the extra money from bbsitting is a temptation and it is nice to be able to go on nights out with friends etc - I was young once and looking for jobs too! - but, please, you must be safe. Ask them for 10 quid more.

I think you need to clear this early on. In all the years of having babysitters we have always checked how they are getting home- one of us has driven them home if necessary. I would not feel happy if you are young or an aupair and were walking home by yourself that late at night. My son now babysits and has a bike.

I used to do loads of babysitting round here 10-15 years ago and until i got my driving license was ALWAYS called a cab by the parents when they returned home....it would have been more awkward if they didn't call one. if the distance isn't that far then it shouldn't cost more than a fiver to get one home.


If you feel awkward raising the issue you could always increase your hourly rate by 50p and explain it's to cover your taxi home as you don't feel safe anymore...

When we had babysitters, if we had a car I would run them home. When we did not have a car, hubby would walk with our

young babysitter to her home in Dunstans Road from our place in Barry Road. When our daughter did babysitting, she was told to ask the parents to escort her home or drive her from Heber Road to Barry. One night both parents wer too drunk to see her home, so she rang me and then informed the parents she would not sit for them again as they were not interested in her safety.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Thank you, I will be vigilant
    • @Sue said: nobody is blaming the child, they are blaming the person who should have been watching him g) do you really think it was acceptable for that person to find the situation funny? This is the point. Adults are meant to teach their children by example. It sounds as though the adult guardian/ father in this case did not react appropriately. Had a truly sincere apology been given,  I suspect the OP would not have posted on here. It is possible the OP snapped in the heat of the moment, but they were possibly startled because they were hit from behind? If we are startled it can be instinctive to initially react with anger. I also agree that it would be highly irresponsible to let any very young child ride or walk or do anything on a busy public street without supervision- most of all to protect the child. If in this case the child was out of the adult's line of sight that is perhaps another indication that the father needs a refresh in appropriate behaviour around a child, as well as his manners.
    • Malumbu,  if none of us were there, does that mean that nobody should post anything on here unless they have witnesses from the EDF? Why would someone post something like this if it  wasn't true? This is not about whether children should or should not be cycling on the pavement. There are specific issues. a) the child was out of sight of the person supposed to be caring for him b) he appears to have been  either not looking where he was going or was out of control of the bike c) if he did see that he was about to hit someone  he apparently did not give them any kind of warning  d)  a person was unexpectedly hit from behind whilst just walking along, which in my view makes him a victim e) does the title of the thread really matter as the issue was described in the first post?  f) nobody is blaming the child, they are blaming the person who should have been watching him g) do you really think it was acceptable for that person to find the situation funny? The OP was not complaining about the 4 year old. They were complaining about an adult's lack of supervision of a 4 year old who was not capable of riding a bike and who hit someone from behind with no warning. Also, apart from reading the OP more carefully, perhaps also choose your words more carefully. Jobless? Lunatic? Charming.
    • I have to say, I too am upset about the passing of DulwichFox. He was a real local character, who unlike me, managed to stick with ED despite all of the nauseous yuppification of the last three decades. R.I.P to foxy    Louisa. 
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...