When I was in my 20s and 30s I baby-sat professionally through agencies. It was fun work and I met a lot of good families. I also met a number of eccentric families. I’m sure that’s to be expected. One family in particular has always stood out in my memory. It was the only time I sat for this family with three boys. After the dad opened the door to me and I introduced myself he insisted that the boys hug me. We had just met and I hadn’t even walked inside. The dad proceeded to tell me that if the boys got out of line I was to use his belts to tie them up and put them in the closet. Good thing I have a sense of humor.
A woman in Texas had the same idea and no sense of humor. She had been leaving her four children, three boys and a girl, home alone. One of the children was a 22-month-old girl whom she was tying to a playpen using satin ribbon looped through her clothes and then a jump rope. Police found the children after neighbors complained about the smell. When officers initially talked to the children the 10-year-old boy who answered the boy told them their mother said to leave the toddler tied up to keep her from wandering at night. The story later changed to the boys tied her up playing.
I can’t imagine tying up a child at all. I would never dream of joking about doing it as a means of punishment with the baby-sitter. The difference is I know my client was joking. He really thought he was amusing but was showing serious poor taste. The Texas mom was another instance of neglect. We see it all too often. I’m glad the neighbors stepped in so the children could get help.