Babysitter called the police on parents after they 'never came home'

Babysitting is often seen as a straightforward job, typically lasting just a few hours - but for one woman, what was supposed to be a simple babysitting stint turned into an ordeal that seemed endless. Recounting her experience on Reddit about the time she looked after two kids while their parents attended a wedding, one woman revealed that she was responsible for a 13-week-old baby boy and his 2 year old sister - but things didn't quite go to plan.

The parents were expected to return from the wedding, which was scheduled from 5 pm to 11pm. The children were well-behaved, and by 7:30 pm, they were both asleep, reports the Irish Star.

At 10:15 pm, the parents texted the babysitter, asking if she could stay until midnight as they were still at the wedding. She kindly agreed, telling them to enjoy themselves.

However, when 12:15 am came around, there was no sign of the parents. "I sent a text asking if they're close and didn't get a response," recalled the woman. "I can be pretty anxious, so my mind started thinking they got into an accident or something bad happened. I didn't hear from them after 5 minutes and then decided to call, but got no answer."

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By 1am she still had no news from them and growing increasingly anxious, she began scouring social media for any reports of car accidents. An hour later at 2am, with the parents still absent and having called them around 15 times without a response, she contemplated contacting the police.

"I wanted to call the police at that point but also didn't want the kids woken up and taken out of the house at 2 a.m. I was hoping that the parents would walk in, and although I'd be angry, at least they're fine, but again, that didn't happen," admitted the babysitter.

Finally, at 5am, she made the decision to call the police and report the parents as missing, adding: "The police showed up at 5:22 a.m. and took a statement from me. I was asked for the parents' numbers, and the police asked if I could stay with the kids until they could figure out what exactly they're going to do."

As neighbours began to gather around, the parents finally arrived home at 5:48 a. m, almost six hours later than originally agreed, only to be greeted by the police. The mother rushed out first, fearing something had happened to her children.

The parents then explained that their phones had died and they didn't know how to get home from the venue. Clearly unimpressed by the explanation, the woman recalled: "I was fuming! I called them irresponsible and the worst parents I've ever worked for. I demanded she pay me on the spot, and I left."

"I received a lengthy message about how this is my job and I'm a huge jerk for disrespecting them and calling the police. She felt like I could've left them with the neighbours or called the emergency contacts, not the police."

Following her story, Reddit users were firmly on the babysitter's side, with several criticising the parents' weak excuse for having failed to contact her and stayed out so late. One commenter said: "Who in 2024 would let their phone die, especially as a parent of two very small children and when they know they need their phone to get directions to home."

"Both of their phones died and they spent six hours trying to find their way home? I seriously doubt that. They are wildly irresponsible and disrespectful. You shouldn't babysit for them again."