AITA for calling the police on my client?

Picture this: It’s Saturday night, the clock’s ticking past nine, and you’re stuck in someone else’s house, hair half-curled, dreams of a night out fading faster than a cheap dye job. That’s where our 28-year-old babysitter found herself—trapped in a suburban limbo, waiting for a mom who treats punctuality like an optional side quest. The kids are adorable, the pay’s decent, but the mom’s chronic tardiness has turned this gig into a test of patience—and this time, it snapped.

What started as a simple babysitting job spiraled into a midnight showdown, complete with unanswered texts, a police call, and a DCF investigation. Our babysitter’s frustration boiled over, but now she’s wondering if she went too far. Was she petty, or was this mom’s negligence the real villain? Let’s dive into this chaotic tale and see what’s what.

‘ AITA for calling the police on my client?’

This story is a neon sign flashing “boundary issues” in a relationship that’s supposed to be straightforward. Babysitting isn’t just about keeping kids alive—it’s a trust pact. When that mom promised to be home by 9 PM and vanished until 3 AM, she didn’t just break a promise; she left her sitter and kids in the lurch.

Let’s break it down. The babysitter gave warnings, tried calling, and even texted her ultimatum—ignored, every time. The mom’s silence wasn’t just rude; it was reckless. Dr. Janet Taylor, a psychiatrist quoted in Parents magazine, once said, “Consistency builds trust, and trust is the foundation of any caregiving relationship” (source). Here, the mom’s inconsistency shattered that trust, leaving the sitter with no choice but to act.

Zoom out, and this taps into a bigger issue: parental responsibility. A 2022 study from the National Institute of Child Health found that neglect—yes, even temporary—can trigger intervention when it risks a child’s safety (source). The mom’s pattern of disappearing suggests more than a one-off oops. The sitter’s call to the cops wasn’t petty—it was a last resort to ensure the kids weren’t left alone.

So, what’s the fix? Clear communication upfront—set firm times and emergency contacts. If the mom can’t hack it, the sitter should walk away, no guilt required. Readers, what do you think—where’s the line between patience and enabling?

Here’s the feedback from the Reddit community:

The Reddit crew didn’t hold back—here’s a roundup of their spiciest takes in a nutshell: