AITA for Refusing to Babysit My Sister’s Kids Again?
A woman is facing backlash from her sister after refusing to babysit her two young children anymore. The sister frequently asks for babysitting favors, despite the woman having a demanding job. After a particularly stressful incident where the kids destroyed her apartment,
including damaging a prized vintage record player, she decided to set boundaries. The sister accused her of being selfish and uncaring toward family. The woman wonders if she’s wrong for prioritizing her own needs over babysitting. read the original story below…
‘ AITA for Refusing to Babysit My Sister’s Kids Again?’
My sister constantly asks me to babysit her two young children, a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old. She knows I have a demanding job, but she still expects me to drop everything to watch them. I’ve babysat for her a few times in the past, but it’s always a stressful experience.
The kids are loud, messy, and difficult to manage. They don’t listen to me, and they’re CONSTANTLY causing trouble. The last time I babysit, they completely trashed my apartment. They spilled juice on my new carpet, drew on my walls with markers, and broke my favorite vintage record player.
My sister just laughed it off, saying, “Kids will be kids.” I’m NOT okay with this. I’m not a professional babysitter, and I shouldn’t have to clean up after her children all the time. I told her I wouldn’t babysit anymore, but she got upset. She accused me of being selfish and not caring about family.
I feel like I’m being reasonable. I have my own life to live, and I shouldn’t have to sacrifice my time and energy for my sister’s convenience. AITA for setting boundaries and prioritizing my own needs?
These are the responses from Reddit users:
Netflickingthebean − I have four kids under the age of eight and I would never dream of being so entitled with a familial babysitter. I would be fixing, cleaning, paying to repair/replace anything my kids damaged.
And if anyone doesn’t want to watch my kids, that is their right because my kids are mine and my husband’s responsibility. Literally no one else was involved in the making of those kids.. NTA, hold your boundaries!
StAlvis − NTA She accused me of being selfish and not caring about family. She clearly does not care about *you*.
lemon_charlie − NTA. They’re her kids, she needs to take responsibility for them and teach them about playing nice with other peoples things. She says kids will be kids, respond with “parents need to be parents and actually be a parent rather than an enabler”.
tosser9212 − It’s not selfish to protect your s**t from wanton damage.
Your sister needs to hire a professional, and have the baby-sitting done in her own home, no one else’s.. NTA
FasterThanNewts − Stop caring about her getting upset. After the way her kids trashed your place, it’s a hard non-guilty no. NTA
Malibu_Cola − NTA. They are your sister’s kids, not your own, they screwed up your things, and your sister doesn’t seem to care or have any reign on her kids. Put your foot down and tell her that you’re not her personal babysitter and that you have own life.
transistor12 − NTA, what is it with these people expecting free mandatory babysitting from people, including relatives? I just don’t get the entitlement. Stand your ground and if you get any guff from other relatives, just immediately text your sister, “Hey…X said they would take over babysitting from me.“
I remember reading somewhere that someone in a similar situation even made a schedule for everyone who complained and eventually they all turned on the mother for being lazy…lol
LowBalance4404 − NTA. Her kids sound extremely lacking in discipline and this isn’t your problem. The next time she asks, let her know you have a meeting and can’t cancel. Or just say “No, we’ve discussed this”.
Dominique-Gleeful − Nta they’re HER problem not yours! Wtf is the baby daddy in all this
FierceFemme77 − I read this exact story not too long ago – spilled juice on carpet, sister laughs and says “kids will be kids”, etc. so tired of these repeat posts.
Is the woman justified in refusing to babysit her sister’s kids after repeated stressful experiences, or is she being unfair to her family? What do you think? Share your thoughts below!