[votivesoul]

I watched a couple of kids many years ago, as a favor to my mom's coworker. The older child was completely out of control. He shot a marble at me with a slingshot, and hit me in the ear. It just grazed me and didn't cause much pain, but he shot it hard enough, that had it been a couple of inches over, I would have lost my eye.

I severely disciplined him, without using corporal punishment, of course. When his mom got home and I told her what had happened, and what I did about it, she just played it off like it wasn't that big of a deal, and that I had been too hard on him.

Mind you she was a bit drunk. Needless to say I never watched those kids again.

You can't be a parent to someone else's kids, when the parents who parent them are doing their jobs. But you can take a stand for yourself and what is right. Do the right thing, and if this person decides you aren't the right person to watch her kids, then so be it.

Someone else will appreciate your efforts.