It happened on your watch, so you ARE responsible. It doesn't matter who held the pen.

If you're watching children that young..and I mean actually watching them, not texting, napping or what ever that would distract you...you'd have kept him from getting the pen in the first place. If he'd ingested it, you'd be in jail for child neglect & the poisoning of their child...sorry OP but you get the YDI of the year award for that. I'd have fired you too...please don't have kids of your own, as from your post we can tell you're just plain incompetent.

I'd blame you, as well. If you're babysitting, you're responsible for everything those kids do.

Here's hoping that the parents saw through the ruse and released you from their employment because they did not like the way you babysit, and not because they thought you drew on the carpet. And that Little Johnny was properly disciplined for his actions as well. As a parent of two, I certainly understand that kids are a handful and can cause trouble quickly. When you replace two parents with one non-parent, it would be unreasonable to expect the same behavior or level of interaction with the children as normally. I anticipate the parents are not glued to the children 24x7 either. OP: consider it a lesson learned to be implemented for your future charges. While I don't think you deserved it, I can understand where the parents may have been coming from.

88: I'm curious; if this happened while the mother was home instead of the babysitter, would you also 'fire' the mom?

You lost your job because its your job to prevent that, not because they believed him

Honestly with a 3 year old all they need are the 30 seconds it can take for you to go to the bathroom to find something to get into. I've come out of the bathroom before to find my livingroom covered in baby powder before! Different kids act and do different things. I personally wouldn't have fired her. Kids will find a way to make a mess regardless of how much you try to keep an eye on them. All it takes is a bathroom break or a diaper change of a younger child. Kids are curious and you can't get mad, just find a way to clean the mess and make them help.

FYL because his parents are stupid enough to believe a 3 year old and not you.

I think they fired you because you were supposed to be "baby sitting" him 'aka' watching him so stuff like that doesn't happen. ??

I would said "BITCH ARE YOU FOR REAL!!!! Your going to believe a 3 yr old over? You can go **** YOURSELF!!!!" Then just be a horrible neighbor from then on.