Sitter left our house after 3 minutes.....

[MissyMarie]

So we are new in Houston and tried a sitter for the first time. She was suggested by a friend of a friend via email and is the owner of her own sitter service. She's probably in her 30s.

So she arrived and the kids (3 and 1) were excited to meet her. We just moved in and DS tried to show her the sink in the kitchen - he's excited about it and she was like "I've seen a faucet on a sink before." She looked tired and had babysat for another family all day.

Then the kids sat by the kitchen door where I had left my shoes to wear out tonight by the door and I began to show her what I had made for dinner. Then my 3 yo DS (who weighs about 35 lbs) put on my heels and walked over to show the new sitter... apparently stepped on her little toe.

She said her toenail was off - on her little toe- I looked and could not see anything wrong - certainly no blood - and DS only weighs 35 lbs. Still pointy heels can really HURT. She asked for a bandaid and I came back with supplies for the hurt little toe and I asked her if she wanted to reschedule babysitting. She said she did and left. As she left she kept telling me how money was tight for her and she couldn't afford to go to a doctor for her hurt little toenail and how money was so tight and she didn't have health insurance. She said she was going to her pharmacist who knew she couldn't afford a doctor to buy supplies for the hurt little toe and he probably would help her not spend too much money as she doesn't have much money now and she was concerned about getting an infection.

I was actually so in shock about the whole thing (she was in my house probably 3 minutes total) that I didn't realize she was wanting to be paid until after she had left. I texted her to see how the hurt toe was doing. The whole situation was so strange.

Thoughts????? Would a toe bleed if the nail came off like she said? SHould I mail her a check? WWYD???? I"m guessing I will not call her again - just too strange a situation all the way around.

[Adrienne]

That is bizarre! I wouldn't pay her a penny. Was she wearing open toed shoes?

We are in Houston too and --depending upon where you live--I could probably help you with some resources that wouldn't be so flakey.

I would document everything just in case.....

[DramaMama]

I think there would have been blood if the toenail came off. I also think the situation was bizarre, she clearly did not really want to be there, and she would have found any way to get out of it.

You don't need to go to a dr. for a hurt toenail (there's nothing that can really even be done for a broken little toe) and you did all yo needed to do by giving her supplies to bandage her toe.

[4girls4me]

I think you handled it fine. I would not have thought about paying her. First of all who goes to the doctor for a hurt toenail? Second, your child was not behaving maliciously. He was behaving appropriately for a child. I am sorry she had a boo-boo and I'm sorry your plans were cancelled.

[jow]

"I am sorry gal but put a bandaid on the danged thing and get on to business if your money is so tight!!!!" What a croc of _____. That is what I would have told her. Let Adrienne help you.

Welcome to Houston!

[AmymOH]

I'm sorry you had to cancel your night out, but this lady sounds bizarre and I don't think I'd want my children left with her in the first place! Reading your thread, when I came to the part where your ds showed her the faucet I was thinking right then that I wouldn't want this lady watching my kids! I don't care how tired you are, if you're going to go watch children you can at least fake some enthusiasm for something the child is excited over. You, know?

I think you handled it just fine and I would not have paid her a penny! She doesn't need anything from the pharmacy for her toe except for neosporin and a band aid! The Dr wouldn't do anything for it, and personally I've never heard of a toe nail coming off without there being blood...except in the case where the toe nail (or fingernail for that matter) was previously injured and is healing from the injury. In that case, the toe nail may come off a week or two into the healing process, without any blood. If this is why it came off, then it would've been from a PREVIOUS injury that had nothing to do with your poor ds. You aren't liable for anything IMHO.

I'd definately find a new sitter!!!!

[Ziggy 64]

wow, that sounds pretty strange to me. did you see the toe nail missing or find the toe nail? It just seems so strange for her to keep bringing up about drs and money being tight-- just too weird. something doesn't seem right.

sorry you had to cancel your plans. I hope Adrienne is close enough to your area and can help you. I have a friend in Katy area, if you are near there who might be able to help you out with a referral.

[bearz]

Just plain wierd. I'd be talking to the person who recommended her.

[3monkeys]

Weird. I would not pay her. Was she not wearing shoes?? I would never call her again either!

[Cali]

She needs to seriously grow up! Definitely would not be calling her again. Just a little too odd.