Kids are brats

I feel sad for everyone involved. I'm sure it is not easy for the father to raise five children alone. The children are obviously not getting enough discipline if they misbehave that much. But they also could be reacting to their circumstances. Must be hard when their mom abandoned them. Not everyone is a good parent. I guess I wonder if the dad is showing them love. He may think there is nothing wrong with Mac and cheese for lunch every day, just like another parent may send a peanut butter sandwich with their kid every day. Sometimes money is tight and people can't buy the foods they would like to. It sounds like you do not have a good repoire with the kids though. If you are unable to control them and they act like that, you should think about letting the father find another babysitter and you finding another family to babysit for. They sound like they would be difficult to care for, but maybe if they have love coming from a sitter, that could have a good positive impact on them. Have you voiced your concerns about them killing your cat to the dad? That is pretty extreme? If I felt my own children were in the path of harm, i would definitely stop watching them. good luck.

Do you have a reason to think they're being neglected? I mean, lots of single parents (mums and dads) can be lenient with their children to the point that they lack discipline. Also, their mom split from them but the dad got the kids. Unless you know the entire circumstances, it's unfair to assume that it was all him. Anyway, that's beside the point. If you have them for so long, can you not help to discipline them? I mean, if they were all at school or daycare, those places would be expected to enforce discipline. But if it's really causing that much of a problem for your own family, you should let this guy know and give him a chance to find someone else to care for the kids. I am a single parent of 2 well behaved kids and that's hard enough so really can't imagine how much harder it must be with 5 of them.

I have babysat many children. They are told the house rules...you break the rules punishment is swift and consistent. Even the most undisciplined children have responded well. I take this tack from day one.

I couldn't keep watching them if they didn't listen to me.

Just because kids are bad, doesn't mean they're being neglected by parents. This is the reason kids get taken away when they shouldn't because people don't understand the difference between neglect and kids being kids and just not listening to grown ups.

You need to call Child Protective Services immediately and file a report about the children's behavior. None of that is normal--a 4-year-old trying to kill another child by drowning them in the toilet, killing pets... that's sociopathic behavior right there, at the very least. Forget about the money. What sort of parent puts earning a few dollars above their own kids' health and welfare? They've destroyed your home. They killed your cat. One of the kids already attempted to murder your 4-year-old. You need to put your foot down and tell their father to find alternate care arrangements, and let CPS intervene. Those kids need intensive help that's far beyond any untrained babysitter's capabilities. The best thing you can do for them is let the professionals take over. I guarantee that neglect is the least of the problems in that household. Time to start protecting your kids from their abusers.