Is this client behavior normal?

You definitely had an unusual booking. Although recently, the weather has caused lots of cancellations and such , much like as you may have experienced during recent years the pandemic health crises caused lots of plans to change without much notice. For clients like this, you may need to communicate more than usual.

It’s great that your bedroom locks so you had that sense of security. When they mentioned the daughter and boyfriend were staying and friends start showing up, you could have communicated to the parents if that was their understanding because now it’s no longer just their daughter and her boyfriend. Similarly, when the husbands mother showed up, you could message them immediately “hi, this woman showed up and says she’s your mother. I’m checking if that’s true for the safety and security of your home, pets, and myself.” After receiving an answer in either of those scenarios, the next question might be is there anyone else that will be coming by the house so I will know who is authorized to enter. Although you don’t really have a. vote in the matter, you have a right & responsibility to know who is authorized and anticipated to access home / and nobody else other than who they say. ( you probably won’t need to explain to them that you’re coming from a place of people stake out homes when people go away and someone who might have nothing to do with this couple could pretend to gain access to their home to potentially commit a crime).

The cameras in living common spaces do not weird me out at all if there’s none in the bedroom or bathroom. In fact, that type of placement can work in your favor, almost like an alibi. With so many people coming in and going out the house, to some limited extent, they can see what you are or are not doing (vs other people).

Since you’ve been questioned about practices, one way to turn this around, if you didn’t during m&g, find out the dogs’ routine (when walk/how long, when feed/ treat, how often change water) and stick to it. Then in daily photo updates, you could comment. I.e. Ace devoured breakfast, Ace and I had a great walk-barked at a squirrel,etc. Ace ate dinner more slowly tonight...

Unsolicited comment: Rover sitters whose rates are among the lowest in their competitive market area tend to have the worst client experiences. So, even though, rover encourages pricing low to gain clients, I’d advise to the contrary. Especially since you have experience, price at the mid-point or higher end and you’ll likely have better experiences.

When they texted you at 5am telling you about the flight delays/cancellations (we all know what's been happening all over the country), did you say you are NOT comfortable with this situation? Or did you ask any questions? Or did you just say OK? From their side, I can understand they see nothing wrong with their own child staying because of the flight cancellations. They don't think about you or your feelings. You MUST communicate with the client, as no one here can help you, I am sorry.

They are NOT watching you constantly, I am sure they have better things to do while on vacation :D If they were watching you they would not be asking you questions about accidents or water etc because they would have known.

I understand you are irritated, as you expected to be home alone with the dogs and hang out. But it is a serious situation across the whole country with the flight cancellations and so it's understandable they won't kick out their own child.

You need to communicate your needs clearly and directly with the client and tell them what's going on. And ask them to let you know in advance if anyone is coming in. Tell them this is for your safety as for other people's safety. You may mistaken them for an intruder...

Good luck.