Why did they need a babysitter in the first place? - Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991) Discussion

[–] gabby_bm 10 years ago

I wouldn't trust Kenny to watch a hamster, well alone the younger kids (justifiably so, since the younger son broke his leg falling off the roof).

Sue Ellen was in full-swing party mode with her friends- or at least that was the plan.

To top it all off, the mom wasn;t just going out to the movies. She was going to Australia for a week o two. None of the other kids was capable of doing anything in the adult world like signing paperwork, contracts, etc. An adult would be necessary should certain issues arise over that period of time.

"De gustibus non est disputandum"
#3

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[–] christimontifiore 8 years ago

 LOL @ your post about Kenny lol ICAM Gabby. So true.

I wouldn't either and lol gabby.I would never leave a wild teen who engage in any drug weed to hard core drugs,alcohol etc, alone in my home, period like that. So i think as you that an adult would have to be there to baby sit.But not a sweet little old guy or lady. I would have made sure also the "Babysitter"check in with me each day or every other day til i get home.

and at fourteen only to sixteen a baby sitter with the "Best"set of great kids is still warranted in my opinion and 17 years old IF 1 child like kenny has issues.I also want to add if she was only going to a theatre or weekend retreat/festival or something casino stay etc., then i would say ok but that would be the only way i would trust the kids home alone,for 1 day or maximum 2. Going out of the country or state,no way."

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[–] sarahweiss 8 years ago

I really want to read and agree to your response, but it is so poorly written that it makes my eyes hurt.

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[–] trayNTP 8 years ago

The answer is they didn't need a babysitter.

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[–] AngelCake56FJS 10 years ago

The mom was heading of for two months and her two eldest children proved to be irresponsible. The real question is why didn't the mom do a thorough background check on the babysitter.

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[–] OldFriendOfTheChristys 8 years ago

The real question is why didn't the mom do a thorough background check on the babysitter.

Her age would've put me off immediately. Why hire a babysitter who could be killed by a light breeze?

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[–] In_Correct 7 years ago

I mean the 2 oldest was like 15-17.They where old enough to watch over the younger ones.

But she left the nation for the summer. The kids aren't orphans. They aren't emancipated. And she didn't place the four youngest in the care of the oldest (Sue Ellen). Their mother probably didn't trust her, and Child Welfare would have complained and investigated about it. If it wasn't such an issue, then the oldest daughter wouldn't have felt the need so much to lie about her age to get a job. On the other hand, the false resume was a desperate attempt for a receptionist job. I don't remember how old Carolyn is (The rival receptionist who is the girlfriend of the guy who works at the hot dog stand) but I think that Carolyn is at least 18 and even though she'd be 18 in a few months, I don't think Fashion Designers wanted to hire receptionists under 18.

You saw how the kids were? Would you trust them? One was a stoner and another a diva who mainly cared about herself.

The mom was heading of for two months and her two eldest children proved to be irresponsible. The real question is why didn't the mom do a thorough background check on the babysitter.

The quote directly above yours answers your question, because if the kids are that reckless, ...

Her age would've put me off immediately. Why hire a babysitter who could be killed by a light breeze?

... I am guessing that nobody else wanted to be the baby sitter.

______
 = 

http://in-correct.blogspot.com/

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[–] maemaechan 9 years ago

Because 17 is still a minor and leaving that many kids would have been considered child abandonment/endangerment. Especially for so long of a period of time. If social services would have caught wind of it, the mom could have gotten into some serious legal trouble. Hence why Sue Ellen had to say she was Walter's mother. Kid gets hurt and a parent is out of the country. Sound like a house you want a kid to live in?

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[–] HorrorFanatic24 9 years ago

You saw how the kids were? Would you trust them? One was a stoner and another a diva who mainly cared about herself.

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[–] MelonQueen 8 years ago

Would you really trust Kenny to watch over the younger kids? Really now? 

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[–] Hendry_William_French 8 years ago

In theory, they'd be just fine with the two oldest ones looking out for their younger siblings but the mom was gone for the whole summer and that's maybe too long for an adult to not be around. You'd need an adult to be there as well to supervise since Sue Ellen was supposed to be attending summer classes or something and Kenny was always away stoned and not reliable.

Motown, get your Detroit jukebox jheri curl ass in this chicken sh!t chop-chop, ASAFP!

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[–] pioneergrrrl (2389) 5 years ago

Sue ellen might be 17--but we don't know how long it is before she is turning 18. This would mean under law she still could have evicted Mrs Sturak who was not a relative or formally court appointed guardian. Ditto for Kenny who would be 18.

Even if you are a slob you cannot be arrested except if there were bugs.

After all the mom had the house like that too when she left. Can't just blame it on the kids. The mom left the house in that condition.

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