Babysitter Claims To Be Teaching A 12-Year-Old Responsibilities By Picking Up Her Dogs' Poop, Gets Thoroughly Roasted

"Picking up dog poo shouldn't be out of his responsibilities"

Maryjane

• Published in Animal Stories
• August 6, 2023

Children and teenagers are learning what it means to be responsible. They are attempting to comprehend the rules and apply them in varied contexts.

They are striving towards self-sufficiency, and they care more for their bodies. Some of them are learning about relationships, like how to manage their moods and impulses, empathize and work through disagreement, and be trustworthy and maintain promises.

Some are fulfilling school responsibilities and contributing to their household by performing housework and cooperating with norms and expectations. You can choose to be purposeful and deliberate in how you teach your child or teen to act appropriately as a parent or someone in a parenting capacity. 

The OP is babysitting two kids, an 8-month-old and a 12-year-old. The OP is trying to teach the kid responsibility, so she's been getting him to help with simple chores.

This includes getting him to let the dogs out and pick up the poop. OP got a call from the parents saying that she had been leaving dog poop in their yard.

They can tell it belongs to the OP's dogs because it's bigger. OP tried to explain that he's been teaching their kid to clean up, and he must have made the mistake, but they didn't care to listen. 

Keep scrolling to read the entire story in the OP's own words.

Here's the story's headline

The OP's trying to teach the kid responsibility, so she's been getting him to help with simple chores

OP tried explaining and the parents sided with him, saying it's her dog and she should clean after them

OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the a-hole:

I made a kid pick up his and my dog's poop. I wanted to teach him responsibility. His parents said I was lazy and this makes me feel like I'm an asshole. AIta?

This redditor believes the OP should pick up her dogs' poop herself

The kid is being responsible for his own dog and the OP should take care of hers

This redditor is surprised the OP was not fired

The kid has only got one dog and not three

The OP doesn't get to decide what to teach their kids and how to do it

The OP should be cleaning after her own dogs just like she expects the kid to

This Redditor is blown that the OP even thinks she's not an AH

This Redditor would like to know what the OP was thinking

It's not the OP's job to teach the kid how to be responsible

The OP teaching the kid responsibility over his own personal stuff is fine, but teaching him to take over other people's responsibility isn't. Redditors agreed that the OP should be cleaning up after her own dogs, just like she expects the kid to.

As you can already tell, the OP was declared the AH in the story, and you can drop your own verdict in the comments section below.

Maryjane