[kimmyann123]

State to mom: Stop baby-sitting neighbors' kids - Yahoo! News

[chelpa]

i'm in michigan, too. never heard of such a thing. i guess they could legally put me and almost every mom in my neighborhood in jail then. we have always taken care of each others children when needed, and it saves a lot of money doing it that way. what a ridiculous law!

[dmyersquin]

The law in NC says you don't need to be licensed if it's less than 4 hrs a day. I think that's to cover the before/after school care. Sounds like they are working to change the law.

[kimmyann123]

isnt this just crazy! people have been doing this forever..

[OttoFamily]

Just another reason people are finding it harder to stay in Michigan. This is craziness to the third power!!! I lived in Michigan for almost 40 years and although I haven't heard of this probably everyone who lives there knows that it's just another way for the state to charge you money!!! Licensing fees, inspections, etc.... the state doesn't "care" about the quality of care the kids are getting! They just want the revenue! EEEKKKS, glad I'm not there anymore.

[kimmyann123]

your right!

[KellyMarie]

Originally Posted by OttoFamily

Just another reason people are finding it harder to stay in Michigan. This is craziness to the third power!!! I lived in Michigan for almost 40 years and although I haven't heard of this probably everyone who lives there knows that it's just another way for the state to charge you money!!! Licensing fees, inspections, etc.... the state doesn't "care" about the quality of care the kids are getting! They just want the revenue! EEEKKKS, glad I'm not there anymore.

I agree...I grew up in NJ and have lived in Arkansas for almost 30 years now, whenever we go back to visit relatives I am astounded by new laws, regulations and ordinances.....and OMG the fees and taxes! I guess Arkansas has spoiled me.......I live in the country and here, when living out of city limits, I can still build, improve, whatever without permits, there are no toll roads, we have beautiful state parks and lakes that are free to use, free to park at and most only charge "chump change" to camp at. Good Lord a few years ago we were driving down to the beach in Jersey..it seemed like every 6-10 miles we had to pay a toll when staying on the same highway, we had to pay something like $10 to park, we had to purchase beach badges to swim.....what a complete joke!!

I cannot believe that a woman letting the neighbors kids come inside before school (you can barely even call it babysitting) was told to stop! Our government has entirely too much power ok, off my soap box...just want to include my favorite quote before I get out of this thread

“A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have."

[kimmyann123]

dang sounds nice in arkansas any jobs down there im on it!

[KellyMarie]

Originally Posted by kimmyann123

dang sounds nice in arkansas any jobs down there im on it!

There are jobs, of course they don't pay as well as they do in other states, but the cost of living is INCREDIBLE here! I am almost embarassed to tell this......in NJ our real estate taxes were 12K a year for 2 acres and an approx 4,000 sq ft house....here in Arkansas, I have a 2,400 sq ft house on 40 acres.....last year my taxes were less than $600 and I only had to pay less than $200 because of a homesteader clause, oh and something like $20 for a timber tax My kids' houses in town...they each pay about $300 in real estate taxes..............I could never leave here....heck couldn't afford it

[kimmyann123]

awesome! sounds good to me...

[timmsa]

That is just stupid. I mean what would the county want the parents to do, let them run around the street for that hour before the bus comes?
Honestly I would do it anyway, and then if I got in trouble, I would fight it claiming that I am doing the parents and the city a favor by not letting the kids run free and get into trouble. And the fact that I am not charging them. So it would be just a favor and not a business.

But here is the thing though, I hold an an administration of Justice degree and I would know how to fight them. I am 1 step away from becoming a cop if I want. But I could not pass the physical part, because I have a bad knee and a bad back. But I would really fight them on this one.

[Lynda1811]

I was just coming to post this.

So according to this law, we should keep track of the hours that kids are at our house to play? I see no difference. We are responsible of watching other kids while at our house to play. If I added the time that kids are at my house to play, then my kids would never have friends over after a few months.

Or how about taking the kids to grandmas for a weekend, so mom and dad can have a break, take a mini vaca, or go out of town to work. I know my mom isn't licensed to have kids in her home, but will on occasion watch my kids for a week at a time. And Yes, I know I'm in a different state, with different laws. But, come on.

There are more important things to think about, focus on, and be involved in, than a mother, helping another mother out.

To the neighbor that reported this, I hope they don't have kids, or are never in a position when they have kids, to ask a neighbor to watch their kids for a short period of time.

Some people really need to learn to mind their own business when there are other things out there to focus their attention on.

Lynda

[carmended]

wow thats crazy! poor lady that is dealing with all that! she was probably scared half to death!

[JaimeDae]

Wow that's insane that someone would even complain about this woman helping out her friends.

[KellyMarie]

What's even more insane is that these ordinances get passed in the first place!!!

[kimmyann123]

if i counted how many hours other peoples kids were at my house for free,not a daycare,i guess id be in jail

[FirealSwords]

I was watching Headline News last week when they were talking about this and a lawyer came on and said that according to the wording of the law, you would be breaking it if you ever had a babysitter come to your house and watch your kids, and anytime you or another parent hosted a sleep-over, that would be breaking the law too. How silly! I think the lady will prob fight it and win. She said she's making the one boy who still comes over stay on the porch because if he comes inside, that is when the law takes effect.

[simmonds4]

Insane! Glad I left MI 17 years ago!

[shnn18]

Sadly, it is embarrassing to live in Michigan right now. All the problems with the Mayors, Detroit, the school system, all the money that has been stolen, the list just goes on and on......