A woman has stated that she refuses to babysit her brother's children because he disrupted her New Year’s Eve plans.
The woman, who recounted her experience on Reddit’s “Am I the A------” forum on Thursday, January 2, explained that while she frequently helps out by looking after her 6-year-old nephew and 4-year-old niece whenever her 27-year-old brother requires assistance, the New Year’s incident was the last straw for her.
"My brother and his wife requested that I watch their children while they attended an extravagant New Year's Eve party," she began, adding that she "hesitantly agreed" because her brother offered to compensate her double her normal babysitting rate.
However, despite the arrangement that her brother and sister-in-law would return by 1 a.m. so that she could join her friends for a late celebration, the couple did not return until 4 a.m.
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| People celebrating New Year's |
She mentioned that she attempted to contact them via text, calls, and even by calling the party venue, but received no response. When they finally arrived home, "quite intoxicated," they acted as though their lateness was inconsequential.
"My brother laughed when I expressed my frustration over being left all night and said, ‘You didn't have anything important going on anyway,’” she recounted.
"That was very hurtful," she said, adding, "I informed him that they would no longer be able to rely on me to babysit if they couldn't respect my schedule and time."
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The original poster (OP) disclosed that her brother is now angry with her, accusing her of being "overly strict." She is now questioning whether she is in the wrong for standing firm.
The post garnered over 6,000 upvotes and more than 700 comments within eight hours, with Reddit users overwhelmingly supporting the OP.
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| Man and woman arguing |
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"NTA (not the a------)," wrote one Reddit user.
“Your brother and his wife significantly failed you. Their actions demonstrate a clear lack of respect for your New Year’s Eve plans. There is a simple principle: as parents, they should have been the ones to sacrifice their plans, not you. Furthermore, their return was delayed by several hours. Stand firm in your decision. Refuse to babysit again. Allow your brother to be upset; it is you who faced the disrespect, not him. His reaction is merely an attempt at intimidation.”
Another person highlighted the necessity of an apology from the brother and his spouse.
“They did not just disregard your time but also broke their commitment to return at a specified time,” the user commented. “Moreover, their method of handling the situation was exceedingly discourteous. They are underestimating your importance and devaluing your social plans. I would not feel obligated to assist them again unless they offer a genuine apology and demonstrate changed behavior.”