Soccer Field Showdown: Am I Wrong for Refusing to Babysit Someone Else’s Wild Child?
A Redditor shared a story about a soccer mom, nicknamed “Crunchy Mom,” who regularly leaves her younger child, Meri (7/8F), unsupervised during games to get a “break.” Recently, Meri ran onto the field and got hurt while the user, also a parent, was nearby.
Crunchy Mom accused the user of negligence for not stepping in, but the user refused to take responsibility, citing her own challenges of caring for her younger kids (2 years and 11 months old). Now, she’s wondering: was she wrong for refusing to watch over someone else’s child without being asked?
‘ Soccer Field Showdown: Am I Wrong for Refusing to Babysit Someone Else’s Wild Child?’
At my 13-year-old’s soccer games, there’s one mom—let’s call her “Crunchy Mom”—who often brings her younger daughter, Meri, around 7 or 8 years old. Meri isn’t on the team, and while Crunchy Mom practices “gentle parenting,” Meri runs wild, doing whatever she pleases. During games, if Crunchy Mom gets “touched out” (her term for needing a break), she just walks away, assuming the other soccer parents will keep an eye on her daughter.
I, for one, don’t feel responsible for Meri. I have two younger kids myself (a toddler and an 11-month-old), so my hands are already full. Last weekend, things came to a head. Crunchy Mom stepped away without a word, leaving Meri sitting next to me. Meri soon decided it would be fun to run onto the field mid-game. Chaos ensued, and she got knocked over by the players.
Crunchy Mom came running back, furious—at me! She scolded me for not supervising Meri, claiming I should have known she’d stepped away and taken responsibility. I calmly explained that I, too, was “touched out” by her daughter, who often climbs on people and gets into everyone’s things. I didn’t agree to babysit her, so I wasn’t going to step in.
Now I’m wondering: was I wrong for refusing to watch someone else’s child just because our older kids are on the same soccer team? Is it my responsibility, or was Crunchy Mom way out of line?
These are the responses from Reddit users:
flynena-3 − 🤣 NTA and your response was great! This was under the category of : not your problem! If she can’t handle her kid then she needs to get a babysitter for her kid or leave her kid with family. Or figure it out otherwise. But either way, again, not your problem. I don’t blame you.
If you start watching out for the kid once, the mom’s going to assume you’ll do it all the time and you’ll get stuck with it. You have your child playing plus two other young children there, that is very nervy to not only assume but expect for you to watch her as well!
Star-Fishh- − NTA. You’re absolutely not responsible for someone else’s child, especially when the mom didn’t even bother to ask if you’d watch her. Just walking away and assuming other parents will pick up the slack is incredibly entitled. You already have two young kids of your own to manage, and it’s unreasonable to expect you to take on someone else’s parenting responsibilities without your consent.
No-Names-Left-Here − I explained that I to was “all touched out” by her kid. Love that. NTA.
Illustrious-Mind-683 − NTA. If you didn’t birth it or adopt it, then it’s not your responsibility. Unless you *agree* to watch someone’s child, then they aren’t your problem. I would have told her straight up that her kid is not my responsibility. You don’t get to take unscheduled breaks from your own child. That’s not how parenthood works.
Clean_Factor9673 − NTA. Her kid is her responsibility, not yours; you’re busy with 2 little ones. She doesn’t get to absolve herself of responsibility for her child in public just because others are around. Edited a word
Aggravating_Lab_609 − Time to break out one of my favourites Not my circus not my monkeys. NTA
r_coefficient − She’s not a “gentle parent”, she’s an inept parent. NTA, but the poor kids.
[Reddit User] − NTA. The next time Crunchy Mom abandons her child and confronts you about it, threaten to call CPS.
Lunar-Eclipse0204 − NTA – Never assume someone else will watch your kid, and if you get that touched out so easily then find a paid sitter to keep and eye on her.
purplecandylollipop2 − NTA. did she expect you to follow the girl out on the field when you probably have your 2 year old and 11 mo in your arms? you were actually watching YOUR kids. you handled this situation well.
Is it fair for one parent to assume others will supervise their child, or should boundaries be respected? How would you handle this situation if it happened to you? Share your thoughts below!