Continuity mistake: None of the Sheffield children are aged properly over the course of the series. It's established that Grace is 6 years old in season 1, but two years later in season 3 she's 10. Maggie is 18 at the end of season 5 but turns 21 years old in early season 6. And finally, Brighton is in seventh grade in season 2 and somehow is graduating high school at the end of season 6 (when he should be only a junior, and nothing about Brighton's character would suggest he's capable of skipping a grade).
Continuity mistake: In the opening titles sequence, cartoon Fran is thrown out of the bridal shop and the doors are closed behind her. When she hails a taxi in the next shot the doors are open again.
Continuity mistake: In the opening sequence, Fran arrives at the Scheffield house with a case of make-up. When we see a shot of the makeup head on, one can see two lipsticks at the far left corner of the case. When we see a shot of the case from behind, the lipstick is now at the right corner of the case.
Answer: Mr. Sheffield needed someone to manage the kids, not necessarily babysit them. Brighton was a Bart Simpson type, Maggie was shy and awkward and Gracie had personality issues.