Boy Destroys Babysitter’s Laptop After Dumping Water on It and Shattering Screen. Now the Parents Aren’t Offering to Replace It

A babysitter is unsure whether the parents of the child they care for should pay for their broken laptop after the kid smashed it on the ground and poured water on it.

The original poster (OP) shared the story on Reddit, explaining that they normally babysit for a family with two kids — a 7-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl. The mom suggested the babysitter do their homework around the boy, hoping it would encourage him to do his homework too.

“The boy is really bad and acts up all the time,” OP said. “He’s the kind of kid that has never heard ‘no.'”

OP explained that most of their homework is done on their laptop, and the boy was curious, so they showed him what it could do. While showing him the keyboard that lights up and the paper they were writing on, the boy asked what would happen if water were poured on it.

“I immediately panicked and said, ‘Well, you might break it because water can damage electronics,'” OP wrote. “I also threatened to pour water on his switch. The dad said it was okay to make empty threats because it could scare him into acting up.”

Fearing the boy might try something, OP put their laptop in their backpack, but the boy kept trying to open it. Eventually, OP placed the laptop on a very high shelf, which led the boy to try dragging his high chair over to reach it for the next hour.

At one point, the girl needed to go to the bathroom, so OP left the boy alone. He took the chance to pull down the laptop and slam it on the ground, shattering the screen. Then he poured water all over it.

“I freaked out and told the parents. The dad was very apologetic, but the mom just sent me a text saying, ‘I’ll speak to him and hopefully he’ll listen this time,'” OP wrote. “The issue is this happens every day. The kid acts up, the dad disciplines him, and the mom just sends a sorry text.”

OP said they want the family to replace the laptop because the dad often brags that the mom is a lawyer and makes a lot of money. “I got the vibe they’re pretty well off,” OP said.

“It’s a $1,000 gaming laptop, and I worked hard to get it a couple of years ago,” OP said, asking if it would be unreasonable to request that they replace it.

Many commenters supported OP, saying the family should replace the laptop.

“They should absolutely replace it, and frankly, if their little demons are that destructive, maybe it’s not worth babysitting them anymore,” one person wrote.

Another said OP should quit since the parents can’t handle their own kids.

“100% and don’t babysit for them anymore,” they wrote. “People who can’t control their kids should be careful about having others watch them before issues are resolved.”

OP replied that they were considering quitting since it was only their second week. “Their previous babysitter lasted a week, and I totally see why now,” OP added.

A third commenter said the incident wasn’t an accident and suggested OP could take the family to civil court if they don’t pay for the laptop.

“This wasn’t an accident. If he was drinking out of an open cup and it slipped out of his hands, I’d say no… but holy s— I’d be getting a new laptop out of it,” they said.

“And if they didn’t want to pay, I’d take them to civil court. If they weren’t well off, I might think differently, but nah.”