Is it really considered overbearing to want the kid to eat his veggies? I think that's pretty normal as far as raising kids goes.

If op is that bad as a babysitter, I forsee a strict diet with every calorie counted and nutrients precisely managed starting before age 1 when she becomes a parent.

I used to babysit my nephews and I would make them eat their vegetables because that's what their parents do. They wouldn't always have to eat every single last green bean on their plate but sometimes I'd say "six more bites" and they couldn't get up until they ate those. If they'd say they were full and 10 minutes later they were hungry again they'd be out of luck too. Kids need to eat what you tell then to eat when you tell them to eat it.

I agree with 14- as a babysitter you are only there for a few hours. You are supposed to be the 'Hey! Let's have popcorn and watch a movie. I won't tell that you didn't eat your veggies if you help me clean up after the movie' sort of person. But then again, maybe the kid doesn't deserve that treatment if he throws a fit so easily....

#38 hit it right on the head. I remember the babysitters my parents hired for me oh so long ago. One of them was fun, this was in the days before VCR's or CD's, she'd say it's okay to eat what I wanted from my plate and then we'd play board game or color together and have ice cream as long as I behaved and helped with the clean up. There was another girl that was a ******* witch, I had to toe the line, eat everything on the plate and sit quietly and read or color. I hated her with a passion and would cry when my parents told me she was coming over. Look it can be stressful for a kid when mom and dad go out and leave them with someone else other than family, so why stress them out more? Don't let the kid rule the situation, but lighten up and have some fun with the kid. Life is too short, we all have to grow up and "eat a bunch of shit" along the way, sowhy not take the opportunity to give the kid a smile! JMHO

The babysitter has to abide by the parents' wishes, not the kid's. If the parents made a big stink to the babysitter about making the kid eat his veggies, then the babysitter was just doing her job. Fortunately, any time I've ever babysat the parents have ordered (or even made!) pizza for the kid and me to eat, and they usually leave some movies for us to watch. Usually easy gigs.

I have to agree with the Loserman here. Unless the babysitter is a close family friend or relative, that person is NOT the parent and shouldn't enforce the rules. That is, of course, unless the parents have left specific instructions otherwise. That said, this kid needs the shit beaten out of him. He's obviously a rotten little bastard if this is his response to adversity.

I love the people here telling others how they are "supposed" to babysit. None of us know what the parents said before they left, and it's a possibility that the parents left with instructions to have him eat his vegetables.

Children do not have the mental capacity yet to make proper decisions for themselves. When you deal with kids, you say "Do you want green beans, or carrots?" or "Do you want to wear the blue jammies or the red jammies?" You don't say "Don't you think you should eat your peas?" or "don't you think it's time for bed?" That puts way too much power in the hands of a little person who will pick all the wrong decisions because it's more "fun." Trust me, they'll likely grow up learning and understanding that they control every situation and everyone has to work around their own schedule and wants. I've seen it happen way too many times.

Laying your hand on any kid is messed up. On a kid that isn't yours... if that was my kid you'd be in jail.

I'm sure they'll give a raise to the babysitter who let their kid destroy their clothes...