Can You Help Me with This?

Updated on January 12, 2010
T.D. asks from Savannah, GA
9 answers

Hi, my name is T. and I recently moved to Savannah Oct. 2. Well right off the bat I knew I couldn't go back to work just now. I have 3 wonderful children, 4, 2, and 7 months. I wanted to do a little home childcare for people who needed it, I would be able to stay home with my kids and they would have playmates and I would be doing something for someone who needed it, and I was listing posts on Craigslist offering my services. I ran across across this post that said they needed childcare the very next day for 5 hours for 2 children, 3 and 22 months, for $20.00. Knowing that was way cheap I took the job anyway, I love kids and any extra money will help in this economy. This woman showed up at my door at 10 am to drop her kids off, said hi these are my kids heres their breakfast, lunch and snacks then left. She then showed back up at 3 pm to pick them up. While they were here they were really good considering their ages and my having a 4 year old I understood the behavioral challenges I might face. The little boy played pretty well but then he started to back-talk and show his 3 year old side. I had no problem with this knowing how a 3-4 year old is. I just calmly told him "We don't speak to people like that here" and he did it every now and then the rest of the time but I was calm with him. I put him in Time-out in the corner for 3 mins only when he hit my son in the face. I also changed the 22 month old 1x and washed her clothes when they got dirty during lunch. When their mom came to get them I was in the process of changing the baby again putting her cloths back on so my daughters clothes would stay here. She came in, didn't change the diaper but put the onsie in the diaper bag (that I didn't know was there) on her and then got ready to leave. When she was out side her son was climbing on my gate to my back yard and she had to pull him down. Well 6 days after that I contacted her to ask her if she would be a reference and she said "sure if you want me to tell them how you left a hand print bruise on my sons arm" where I knew I had not touched him. She then ruined my name on Craigslist saying that I had done that. Now here it is a month later and she is still posting posts asking for babysitters for the days she has class and she doesn't know any of these people she is leaving her kids with. My question is will CPS see leaving your kids in the hands of strangers over and over again neglectful? I don't want to see something happen to those kids and she doesn't seem to understand that, while there are a LOT of GOOD people out there, she is dealing with people on the internet that she doesn't know and there are a LOT of BAD people out there.

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So What Happened?

It happened, I feel, so long ago that I won't bother with the slandering of my name. I will just sit back and hope and pray nothing happens to those kids. In other news, Im going through the base my husband is stationed on to get my FCC certification and to do that I will get my State registration, small buisness license and 100,000.00 liablity insurance. I thank you for all of your responses.

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A.L.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi Tiffani,
Wow--I guess you got to see the downside of social networking sites pretty quick. A couple thoughts: I don't think you can call CPS for a parent continuing to do exactly what you asked her to do with you (leave her children in the care of a person whom she doesn't know personally). After all, you didn't know each other when she dropped off her kids with you that morning. However you can inform her that she is slandering you and must stop spreading the stories about you. If you do want to do childcare as a business, I agree with the others who suggested you get State Certification. It would really help with business (I have used in-home daycare with my kids, and someone being listed on the state's website was important). Good luck with everything! A.

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J.S.

answers from Atlanta on

I would skip craigs list for for babysitting. Go to a church or battered womans shelter and try to help people that you can get to know first. Craigs list is dangerous. You could also sit for woman whose husbands are overseas . One night out for a military spouse is awesome!
Take care, J.

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J.D.

answers from Atlanta on

Yes, do report her to Craigslist, as she is slandering you --talking trash without evidence, and yes, you can also look into taking her to small claims court for such nonsense.

Second, Craigslist is good if you are State Certified. When you are a Child Care Provider licensed with Bright From The Start, you are State Regulated as all other State Licenced Child Care Centers are -- and better because for smaller children, this intimate setting lends to better growth and development.

Do continue, but try for State Certification -- then you can also widen your avenues and get one or two full-time quality children to care for and augment your and their children's lives with the social interactions. I've had State Certified providers for both children until 4 years, and they are flourishing:)

Go to www.qualitychildcareforchildren.org for more info -- I do believe they also have a grant program to assist with training class tuitions.

GOOD LUCK:)

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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

I am absolutely in shock that anyone would leave their kids with somebody they found on craigslist! Honestly, I don't think there's anything you can do, which is a shame, because most mother dogs have more sense than that!

It's nothing like dropping your kids at a daycare! Daycare centers are regulated and audited, and if you do some homework to find a licensed one, the people working there are supposed to be trained. You also can easily locate the daycare again if you have a complaint and file that complaint with a number of entities like the Better Business Bureau, DFACS, etc. Some pedophile nut job could leave and go anywhere, anytime after doing something awful to a child left in his/her own home. That's not to say bad things don't happen at daycare centers, but it's a far cry from dropping the kids with some stranger you found on craigslist of all places.

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E.G.

answers from Atlanta on

Uhm...... yeah. Okay, here's what I think: Tell this horrid creature that unless she publishes a full and complete retraction of her comment about you, that you will take her Peacthree Georgia Behind to court and sue her for slandering you. Of course, feel free to smile while you say it.

The claim she has posted on Craigs List is an inflammatory, damaging claim that, if it is not true (and I am fully assuming it is not) will do you financial damage in trying to secure further clientele for childcare. This is the prime issue with slander/libel, which she has blithely committed. At the very least, this broad does not sound too terribly bright. What is she studying for anyhow? Her sixth-grade diploma? What a cow.

I wish you all the best.

E.

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J.K.

answers from Norfolk on

I can see how it is neglectful, but if you think if it in another since, people do it all the time with daycares. People just go by and drop their kids off in the hands of strangers. And then again I would never do something like that. I can't understand how the woman you speak of, or any human for that matter, could do that.

I guess, if you see something wrong with it, try talking to a higher athority. Maybe they could point you in the right direction with the right answer, and even help those children out. :)

I hope nothing bad ever happens to those young children.

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S.G.

answers from Savannah on

I'd report her to craigslist that she is slandering you. I'd also make a call to child protective services and tell them about her as well. I've got 2 kids of my own and I've got friends that I wouldn't even ask to watch them because they don't have experience with children let alone some total stranger I found on craigslist without having a sit down talk with them before handing my kids over!!!

Good luck
S.

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C.A.

answers from Atlanta on

Um WOW! Of course people don't surprise me anymore~First of all you can call child services and they will investigate it however just know that more than likely nothing will be done about it if they don't see any "neglect" there. Honestly she IS indeed leaving her kids in a "supervised" setting. However, as a mother in my opinion meeting people on craigslist and dropping your kids off with them is insane but seems to me all she cares about is the supervision part to get her by so to say. Child services cannot do anything to her so long as there is no proof that anything is going on or that she is neglecting them. They might just get lucky with this one but then again-may not.
Secondly about her bashing your name on craigslist is a form of harrasement in my opinion and also I can't think of the "legal" term for it right now but basically rubbing your name in the mud so no one else will ever do business with you or have any dealings with you-and that IS against the law. Especially when she has no proof. IF she believes you touched her son - then she should have contacted the authorities-she has no proof at this point just her word that you did. Unfortunately too that is all it takes to ruin you is someone elses word. I think I would post and say something to the effect that if she feels that her son was hurt by you then how come she never contacted the authorities to investigate? I think I would also tell her you have been keeping records of all her nasty postings about you and that you are prepared to seek a lawsuit against her if she does not stop. If she continues don't fight back because then she could easily say you threatned her and did the same-go to the police station and file a report after you have asked her to stop. This is exactly why I stay away from these in-home care situations on both sides. You never know who you are getting to watch your kids-unless they are approved by the state-which most are not and the other side to that you never know when you are going to get some insane person saying you molested their child or touched them inappropriately and YOU have no protection against that unless you have another adult to tesify that it never happened and even then sometimes that isn't enough....good luck with this one and be careful that craigslist is filled with a bunch of scammers and beggers. You have to screen these people just as much as they screen you (which sounds to me like this mom NEVER even did which is shady in my opinion) but whatever. Good luck and be careful...I think your heart was in the right place but unfortunately as always someone took advantage of your kindness. Believe me I know-been there and done that way too many times in other situations. Just remembered the word its called "slander" and it is against the law but you have to have the proof that she did it and that id did cause you to lose a customer or something to that effect.

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M.M.

answers from Atlanta on

1/12/10

Greetings T.,
it is a shame how that mother said that you bruise her childs arm.WHAT IF I COULD SHOW YOU HOW YOU CAN STAY AT HOME WITH YOUR CHILDREN AND MAKE MONEY!. I am a Melaleuca Rep and i would like to make an appointment with you to show you how you can have financial wellness. call me ###-###-#### or email me ____@____.com you soon!
Peace,
M. Muhammad

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