I know, Sandman, that's what I said also.
If this is truly a dramatic change in her personality, it really sounds like something happened to her but they don't know what it is.
Maybe there's a clique of girls in her class that encourages mean behavior? Maybe something else happened traumatizing that the mother doesn't know about?
In my experience, kids don't go from being easy going and sweet to this kind of behavior in a few months without a traumatizing event.
Are her biological parents in a stable, loving marriage?
Almost sounds like something happened to her two months ago, that caused this change in her?
Nothing at all has changed, that's the strange thing about it. It honestly just don't occured one day out the of the blue. And while her mother is shocked as well as horrified by some of the things she says/does, she seems to think that this will all go away if she spends quality time with her - which always equates to movies, restaurant dinners and bribing. I am concerned since it was such a turn around. This kid was pretty easy going until this. I am worried she is turning this into a habit - cry, get a bribe, repeat. And that eventually she's going to be a real awful thing to be around and gave no friends. It's sad because i know she can be so great.
The biggest surprise in all this is that this behavior just started 2 months ago, in a nearly 6 year old child.
I've seen girls who behave like this, and they are like this when they are 3. Bossy, can't stand to lose, pouty.
Did anything happen in her life 3 or 4 months ago, do you know, that would explain her sudden moodiness?
Well, I can just say from experience that critiquing a friend's child and parenting can quickly end a friendship. I wasn't trying to be rude to you in calling you the babysitter but in all honesty, I don't think it's right or fair to be judgmental like this. I have kids older than this and remember those years well. There are different levels of maturity, different parenting styles, etc. and it is easy to pick out the flaws. Kids are quirky and especially at that age. you really don't describe anything I haven't seen in kids. Frequently.
I would curtail babysitting if it is going to get in the way of how you look at her and her family. The friendship is more important. good luck
Hmmmmm. Simply the baby sitter.......well, it goes a little deeper than that as yes, I am friendly with her mom AND she's also my daughters best friend. I never stated that I was 'going into how I feel I know things about her daughter that she doesn't and that she isn't parenting correctly'. Of course since I am a major care provider for this child, I see her more hours per day than her own parents do, I would naturally bring up troublesome behavior that this child displays with her parents when they pick her up.
I am not trying to be a parent to this child. I was asking others for insight into my situation and this childs behavior.
You are simply the babysitter. I would not babysit anymore and leave it at that. Do you want to maintain any type of friendly relationship with her? Then don't go into how you feel you know things about her daughter that she doesn't and she isn't parenting correctly. Nothing creates bad feelings faster.
Keep focused on being a good mom to your own kids and let other parents be parents to their kids. good luck