My niece has a classmate she is friends with that lives in our neighborhood. Her friends parents asked if I (19F) could babysit him (4m) along side my niece for a couple hours for 2 days. He had briefly mentioned he was going out of town to California. After he got picked up I messaged his mother telling her my niece had fun and to “enjoy California”. After this message she never replied to thank me for babysitting or reply to my initial message. Which is unlike her in our other texts from the previous day. Im afraid that this text may have made her uncomfortable as I realize she never told me where they were going or that they were going and it could be inappropriate as they may be going for personal reasons. I don’t want her to think I was snooping and asking her son personal questions. I feel as if i should apologize, but I also don’t want to be weird if I am just overthinking it. What should I do? Was my message inappropriate?
I’m afraid I may have made the parents of the child I was babysitting uncomfortable.
r/Advice
Comments
It’s probably fine. Kids talk, and all parents know that. She might not be that great at texting, even if she’s been decent in previous exchanges. Personally, I’m only good at it on my own terms. I can be very good at replying and then dont open things for days after. So, I wouldnt over think it. She might be packing and getting ready and thought she responded and accidentally didnt.
At your age I’d think the same way – as a mom with an almost 4 year old, my life is so hectic! Half the time I read a text and forget I even read it bc my 4 year old had tried to wipe their butt and poop covered foot prints are now going throng my house as “my toddler yells mommy you’ll be so happy I did it all by myself!!”
However like the other poster said – I’m great at texting when I have to, such as confirming a babysitter is going to arrive. The second my “have to” duties are met my brain is all over the place lol
Don’t sweat it! I’m sure you did a great job at babysitting and will be hearing from them again in the future! You sound like a sweet teen!
Not inappropriate at all. And i agree with the other commenters. Parents are probably busy and replying to you isn’t their priority since it doesn’t involve more babysitting. As a person who has babysat a lot over the years, I find most people would not respond to your text. Or sometimes id get a response 3 days later, lol
OP, you’re totally fine and completely overthinking this. You did nothing wrong. Your text is completely innocent. I’m sure she is just busy or something.
This trip, like most people’s trips, is probably common knowledge to most folks they know. People understand when they tell people about their trips that they run the risk of them telling other folks in turn. I’m sure it’s no big deal.
let it go. Do nothing.
> I’m afraid I may have made the parents of the child I was babysitting uncomfortable.
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Overthinking:
For the below advice, use technology to your advantage. Take your phone and set repeating alarms, with labels of what to do. Train yourself to either snooze or reschedule the reminders if you can’t take action right away, but never to ignore them. The intention is to condition yourself, to build habits, so you will start healing yourself without having to think about it.
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If you have access to a gym, then start lifting weights. If you don’t have access to a gym (or you don’t like lifting), start running. If you can’t run, then start walking. Just start small. 10 minutes three times a week is fine. You don’t have to run fast, just run and then slowly build it up over time. Exercising does several things: It releases endorphins, it takes your mind of your negative thoughts and it will improve your overall health.
Highest rated books for anxiety self help:
Be aware that anxiety can be addictive:
>I’ve seen that many people are addicted to the adrenaline rush of anxiety, known as “the fight or flight response” and don’t know how to diffuse it.
Frequent consumpton of news can increase anxiety.
Best phone apps:
Instructions on when and how to get professional help: /r/Anxiety/wiki/gettinghelp
Anxiety self help by the Australian Health Service. Worry and Rumination Workbook
Best Videos:
Free support options:
Subreddits: /r/Anxiety and /r/Anxietyhelp