|
Post by sugarandspicexx on Aug 28, 2006 5:34:10 GMT -5
I recently re-read this one after a few years.
I felt Mrs Cheplin really was harsh on Stacey just because she was younger than she expected. I however in a way don't blame Mrs Cheplin, in a lot of ways I still think 13 is a bit on the young side to babysit. I was only just starting to be left home alone at age 12-13 and did not start babysitting until I was nearly 15.
She was constantly trying to find fault in her work, overloaded her and then critisised her and called her 'immature' when she couldn't keep up the expected standard.
Dana Cheplin really annoyed me with her using her diabetes as an excuse to get her own way.
|
|
|
Post by booboobrewer on Aug 28, 2006 19:31:30 GMT -5
The whole Cheplin family annoyed me. For all her doubts, Mrs. Cheplin could have easily backed out once Stacey said she got her mother's permission and hired an older, more experienced person instead, but she didn't. Dana seemed like a terrible friend, sulking and feigning illness when her playmates disagreed with her. And Adam -- I think he bursts into tears when Stacey is plainly busy, running around trying to accomplish the chores on the list, and forgets to listen to him read a book. I felt like Stacey really should have told off Mrs. Cheplin in the end. Of course she wouldn't, as the BSC fears clients bad-mouthing the club so much, but it really would have been nice. She did sooo much housework for her and didn't get much gratitude at all.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2006 12:22:36 GMT -5
I understood Mrs Cheplin's hesitation, but she definitely handled it strangely. And how unlike a BabySitters Club book it was for her to never really get what was coming to her, or have a change of heart and realize she was being ridiculous.
In real life it would be funny to see her get an older babysitter who did even less in the way of chores, etc.
|
|
|
Post by aln1982 on Feb 28, 2007 11:11:44 GMT -5
I thought Mrs. Cheplin really took advantage of Stacey and made Stacey feel like this was okay at first because she had to "prove" herself since she was only 13. I liked this book and could really relate to Stacey - every time I make a little money I feel greedy and want more, more, more even if it means that I have to work harder than I should. I also enjoyed that Stacey and her mom realized the similarities between Stacey and her dad.
|
|
msstock87
Sitting For The Braddocks
Here Comes The Bride!
Created by Rie.
Posts: 3,618
|
Post by msstock87 on Mar 6, 2007 13:56:11 GMT -5
I didn't like how Mrs. Cheplin took advantage of Stacey, she wasn't her personal slave. I wish Stacey would have told her off.
|
|
mckay
Junior Sitter
Posts: 672
|
Post by mckay on Mar 10, 2007 1:03:03 GMT -5
This book always irked me, because I KNEW the Cheplins growing up. Seriously, if you changed the names, you would have had the exact same family, except this family had a father around (was there a Mr. Cheplin? I don't remember one.)
Diabetic older sister who was a complete spoiled brat - her parents felt guilty about her diabetes so she basically ruled the household. Younger brother who was basically ignored and thus acted like a little freak to get noticed (except it was more than whining and crying and tantrums; this kid had *problems*.) The mom was completely out of touch with reality. The dad was normal. I still wonder how in the hell he ended up with the family he did.
So, yeah, I loathe the Cheplins more than anyone should hate a fictional family.
|
|
|
Post by aln1982 on Mar 11, 2007 23:54:56 GMT -5
I hated how Dana used her diabetes and am especially feeling angry about this now. My aunt broke her hip a few weeks ago falling on the ice (her husband accidently tripped her while walking the dog!) and has all kinds of complications from her diabetes. It's not something to use to get sympathy. I'm so glad that Stacey doesn't seem to do this, though I wish they would focus a bit less on her normalacy and a bit more on her struggles. That would be more realistic and maybe help kids with diabetes and other chronic, serious illnesses, though it might scare the general readers.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2007 1:08:59 GMT -5
Back to the 13, 13 is the age where girls and vice versa guys, are noticing the opposite sex, but it's not quite there yet. It's the last few years of innocence before boys become number 1 priority (vice versa for guys). 13-14 is the perfect age to start babysitting because it also builds a work ethic for when you are 15/16 and get a real job.
|
|
msstock87
Sitting For The Braddocks
Here Comes The Bride!
Created by Rie.
Posts: 3,618
|
Post by msstock87 on Mar 19, 2007 1:18:22 GMT -5
I think babysitting is a good job to start off with, I started when I was around 12 I believe and it started to teach me the value of a dollar.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2007 1:57:35 GMT -5
I was the same age, I had a class and everything. I still have my license and CPR license, I should probably dust them off, hehe!
|
|
magentanation
Sitter-In-Training
The girl with colitis goes by
Posts: 424
|
Post by magentanation on May 14, 2007 21:35:42 GMT -5
Just finished re-reading this one. I hate Mrs. Cheplin, she's such an entitlement cow. She just expected too much out of Stacey. If I were Stacey, I would have told that b*tch off when she got all pissy after Dana got sick and Stacey didn't have the time to complete all her stupid chores. And I'm sorry to sound so harsh, but after Stacey calls her at the end and she's all "I guess you're just not mature enough for this job", I would have told her just where she could shove her chores list and that she's now on her own for childcare. Seriously, screw her. Wow...I never usually hate a fictional character quite this much.
|
|
mckay
Junior Sitter
Posts: 672
|
Post by mckay on May 15, 2007 1:48:56 GMT -5
I always wondered why Mrs. Cheplin was more concerned with a clean house than her daughter not going into a coma...
|
|
|
Post by aln1982 on May 17, 2007 15:21:24 GMT -5
^ I can't stand people like Mrs. Cheplin. She made me really mad, too. I like this book because of the whole "super sitter" theme (kind of like why I like Dawn and the Impossible 3 - one of my childhood fantasies to be able to swoop in and organize some family's life - strange, I know) and can now really relate to Stacey's money hungriness - a little bit just makes you want more, more more. Anyway, I hate Mrs. Cheplin a lot but not as much as I do some other fictional characters. Can't think of who right off hand, though.
|
|
msstock87
Sitting For The Braddocks
Here Comes The Bride!
Created by Rie.
Posts: 3,618
|
Post by msstock87 on May 17, 2007 20:32:10 GMT -5
I seriously didn't know how Stacey held her tongue and didn't give her a piece of her mind. If I was being taken advantage of like that I would have let Mrs. Cheplin know for sure!Then again, at 13 I may not have, I didn't have quite the guts and the smarts to realize things like that at that age.
|
|
mckay
Junior Sitter
Posts: 672
|
Post by mckay on Nov 8, 2007 4:35:26 GMT -5
I just reread this one and I forgot how annoying Adam was. What a whiny little brat. As I've said before, Dana totally reminded me of this girl I knew growing up.
I don't think Stacey was completely blameless, though. Mrs. Cheplin asked a lot of her, but she never said anything along the lines of "I don't think I can safely watch the kids and do all of this housework in a two-hour period." And she was getting paid extra for the housework, wasn't she? Really, I think Mrs. Cheplin was partially right - no thirteen-year-old would be able to do all that. Hell, I'd have trouble with it, and I'm 24. Stacey never said she was having trouble with it, and actually said there was no problem. Yeah, she was a b*tch, but generally speaking, if someone's doing the job I'm paying them to do (Stacey managed to get the chores done, after all) and not complaining, I'm going to assume they can handle it.
Also, I laughed at two good seats to a Broadway show being "almost a hundred dollars." You'll pay nearly a hundred dollars for one good seat now. (And Stacey thinking Robert would particularly love a musical...what thirteen-year-old boy is willingly going to go see a musical?!)
|
|