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Guy Ruins New Year For Sister, Is Shocked She Refuses To Babysit His Kids Ever Again
December 31st is about seeing off the year on your own terms. Whether it’s partying with friends or sprawling on the couch and judging the ones who do, the beauty of New Year’s Eve is that it’s one of those holidays that’s entirely yours to define—a celebration, a reflection, or just another Saturday night but with better snacks.
However, Eli, who goes by Dreamgirl_sweet on Reddit, had her plans ruined when her brother asked her to babysit his children at the last minute so that he and his wife could go to a fancy dinner.
RELATED:
Babysitting children probably isn’t people’s idea of how to spend their New Year’s Eve
Image credits: EyeEm / freepik (not the actual photo)
And even though this woman did it for the other brother, he didn’t seem appreciative
Image credits: aimenda123 / freepik (not the actual photo)
Image credits: dreamgirl_sweet
Paying your relatives for babysitting your children doesn’t give you the right to break your agreements
Image credits: user18526052 / freepik (not the actual photo)
The cost of childcare is high. For example, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) states that it is considered affordable when it costs families no more than 7% of their income. However, according to the 2024 Cost of Care Report, respondents, on average, are spending 24% of their household income on childcare, with 60% spending 20% or more, and 84% spending 10% or more.
So, the fact that the dad is paying his sister for babysitting is commendable. In these situations, “You have to think about the financial implications of all involved,” said Abbey Sangmeister, a therapist, life coach, and founder of Evolving Whole.
“The amount of hours, what is expected during that caregiving time — acknowledging there is labor involved in caring for children is the first step to having a successful relationship.”
However, for an arrangement to work, both parties need to adhere to it. One simply cannot assume anyone with experience watching kids is available or willing to spend their time caring for theirs. As much as we want to think grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings will help us with childcare, it’s still asking a lot, so the least you can do for them is to stick to the conditions you agreed on.
Virtually everyone who read the woman’s story sided with her
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What do you think ?
Shark Lady 2 weeks ago
Refusing to answer your phone when you have someone else looking after your children is a big no no. If you can't trust them to answer your call then you should stop babysitting permanently.
General Anaesthesia 2 weeks ago (edited)
By returning late without notification they abandoned their children. Act accordingly.
KatSaidWhat 2 weeks ago
"Just say no" - not always easy, sunshine. She gave into pressure from them, got burnt. So now she is saying a solid no. I've been there, had that happen to me. It's a callous lack of respect and you don't have to put yourself in that position again, guilt or not.
Danish Susanne 1 week ago
Your brothers comment about your having nothing important going on anyway shows me, that he is a selfcentered a*s.... .Since he thinks that only his own plans are important, don't trust him or babysit for him again.
Valerie Brillhart 1 week ago
What you should do is NOT BABYSIT FOR 6 MONTHS, you will still see the kids at family functions but, you will not watch them for 6onth at triple the pay up front along with a $300.00 deposit if they are not back in time. I am sure after them having to pay what babysitters really cost for 6 months they will change their tune
CBolt 1 week ago (edited)
NTA for refusing to babysit in the future (BTW, where are all the usual texts & emails from relatives, blasting OP for overreacting & for being selfish because family comes 1st blah, blah, blah ..... ?) but why on Earth did you it this time anyway? You already had plans & even had other people "begging" you to join them. I have no idea what the going rate is for babysitters these days but was their paying double worth it? I'd bet this isn't the 1st time they've taken advantage in some way, altho nothing nearly as egregious as this. BP posts on this same subject seem to be on the upswing: parents still not at home long after the agreed upon time & are unreachable. Generally, there are some comments saying to call the police or CPS & report that the children have been abandoned & you can't stay any longer, & I can't disagree with that advice. One poster actually did that & after the police arrived he went on with the plans he'd already made. He'd made it abundantly clear to the parent what time he had to leave & she had agreed to to be home by then. When she finally got home to find the babysitter gone & the police in her house, she was livid - & it was completely her fault. You've done the right thing - now don't back down, no matter what their "emergency" is.
Ruth Watry 2 weeks ago
Their behavior was very out of line, and he has made the right choice in refusing to babysit for them in the future. They showed him less than zero respect.
Mr. Jones 2 weeks ago
The OP knows she's not the a*****e, she just showed up here for a pat on the back.
Kayli Wade 1 week ago
sometimes people just need to be validated, especially when the people close to them are gaslighting them and making them feel like they're overreacting.
Load More Replies... Shark Lady 2 weeks ago
Refusing to answer your phone when you have someone else looking after your children is a big no no. If you can't trust them to answer your call then you should stop babysitting permanently.
General Anaesthesia 2 weeks ago (edited)
By returning late without notification they abandoned their children. Act accordingly.
KatSaidWhat 2 weeks ago
"Just say no" - not always easy, sunshine. She gave into pressure from them, got burnt. So now she is saying a solid no. I've been there, had that happen to me. It's a callous lack of respect and you don't have to put yourself in that position again, guilt or not.
Danish Susanne 1 week ago
Your brothers comment about your having nothing important going on anyway shows me, that he is a selfcentered a*s.... .Since he thinks that only his own plans are important, don't trust him or babysit for him again.
Valerie Brillhart 1 week ago
What you should do is NOT BABYSIT FOR 6 MONTHS, you will still see the kids at family functions but, you will not watch them for 6onth at triple the pay up front along with a $300.00 deposit if they are not back in time. I am sure after them having to pay what babysitters really cost for 6 months they will change their tune
CBolt 1 week ago (edited)
NTA for refusing to babysit in the future (BTW, where are all the usual texts & emails from relatives, blasting OP for overreacting & for being selfish because family comes 1st blah, blah, blah ..... ?) but why on Earth did you it this time anyway? You already had plans & even had other people "begging" you to join them. I have no idea what the going rate is for babysitters these days but was their paying double worth it? I'd bet this isn't the 1st time they've taken advantage in some way, altho nothing nearly as egregious as this. BP posts on this same subject seem to be on the upswing: parents still not at home long after the agreed upon time & are unreachable. Generally, there are some comments saying to call the police or CPS & report that the children have been abandoned & you can't stay any longer, & I can't disagree with that advice. One poster actually did that & after the police arrived he went on with the plans he'd already made. He'd made it abundantly clear to the parent what time he had to leave & she had agreed to to be home by then. When she finally got home to find the babysitter gone & the police in her house, she was livid - & it was completely her fault. You've done the right thing - now don't back down, no matter what their "emergency" is.
Ruth Watry 2 weeks ago
Their behavior was very out of line, and he has made the right choice in refusing to babysit for them in the future. They showed him less than zero respect.
Mr. Jones 2 weeks ago
The OP knows she's not the a*****e, she just showed up here for a pat on the back.
Kayli Wade 1 week ago
sometimes people just need to be validated, especially when the people close to them are gaslighting them and making them feel like they're overreacting.
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