Emergencies are difficult to prepare for, but when you have kids, there has to be a plan for when you need to go somewhere for an hour or two.

But Reddit user Painsomnia shared a story with the platform’s ‘Entitled Parents‘ community that showed not every parent thinks ahead. At least, not in a responsible way.

One morning, her friend woke up to a loud banging on the door. It was a frantic neighbor demanding last-minute babysitting for her 5-year-old daughter—and she wasn’t willing to take no for an answer.

Unforeseen circumstances are part of life, and when you’re a parent, you need to be prepared to make last-minute decisions

Image credits: EyeEm / freepik (not the actual photo)

But you rely on other people, make sure they are willing and able to help

Image credits: The Yuri Arcurs Collection / freepik (not the actual photo)

Image credits: bialasiewicz / freepik (not the actual photo)

Image credits: painsomnia

Vicki Broadbent of Honest Mum says there are several avenues parents should consider in such situations

Image credits: Dreamy Fox Photography

We contacted our parenting expert Vicki Broadbent and she told Bored Panda, “Last-minute options for childcare can include paying for a babysitter, childminder, and additional hours with a nursery if they can all accommodate your childcare needs at short notice.”

Broadbent, who is a writer, director, broadcaster, and founder of the acclaimed family blog Honest Mum, has three kids, and said, “Friends and family are the obvious choice as long as you don’t expect others to drop everything for you, especially as it’s unlikely you are paying them and ensure it’s for something important, such as work or a crisis, rather than a beauty appointment.”

“There might come a time when you require urgent childcare such as a necessary visit to a doctor or hospital so should reserve asking for last-minute help in those circumstances ideally, in my opinion,” Vicki, author of The Working Mom: Your Guide to Surviving and Thriving at Work and at Home, added.

“Of course, you might have an existing childcare arrangement with family and friends, and a more formal agreement but that still doesn’t mean they will always be available for last-minute care.”

Parents can also compensate people if the request is putting them in an uncomfortable spot. “I personally think it’s always best to see if those caring for your children require expenses or a fee,” Broadbent said.

Parents who rely on unpaid childcare often seek it so that they could work, not go to beauty procedures

Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

In many places, parents do struggle to find the arrangements they sometimes need. For example, in its annual survey, the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) warns that mounting debt, poor mental health, and expensive and unavailable childcare are placing children’s futures at risk, with 87% of people with babies, toddlers, and children under 5 years saying that they are worried about their kids’ chances at life.

The data also reveals that:

• 38% of respondents dread the holidays because of the financial strain they put on the family;
• 25% have had to borrow money/go into debt to make ends meet/pay for the essentials;
• 66% said the cost-of-living crisis had negatively impacted their family;
• 63% report struggling with their mental health while being a parent;
• 62% say childcare is one of the biggest challenges facing parents.

In the United States, more than a third of working parents who rely on unpaid childcare (35%) say this allows them to have increased flexibility in their work schedules, the Harris Poll found.

But it’s often relatives who step up. 4 in 5 working parents who rely on grandmas for childcare say the care they provide allows them to pursue their career goals.

When asked what impact lacking access to unpaid childcare would have on their work situations, parents mention needing special accommodations at work (33%), not being able to manage their current workload (28%), or that their quality of work would suffer (27%).

Additionally, 1 in 5 working parents who rely on unpaid childcare (20%) say they would have to quit their jobs without this support, a proportion of the same size say their career growth would be stunted (20%), and about two-thirds (67%) say there have been times they could have lost their job without the help of their child’s grandmother.

However, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which it would be acceptable to force your child on an unwilling neighbor you barely know.

As the story went viral, its author joined the discussion in the comments

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