AITA for Telling My Sister Her “Surprise Baby” Isn’t My Responsibility?
Family drama hit hard when my sister, unexpectedly pregnant, asked me to take on babysitting duties after her child was born. I love her and want to help, but I have my own life, a demanding job, and zero interest in playing live-in nanny. I kept Refusing to babysit sister’s baby, things blew up. Now my family’s divided – so am I the jerk here?
The Request I Couldn’t Handle
My sister and I have always been close, but her surprise pregnancy changed everything. The baby wasn’t planned, and she’s been struggling to balance her career and new motherhood. I get it – parenting is hard.
A month after giving birth, she called me, nearly in tears, asking if I could babysit on weekdays while she worked. She even suggested I adjust my work hours to help out. I empathized but firmly told her I couldn’t commit to that level of responsibility.
That’s when things got ugly.
“You’re family,” she snapped. “I would do this for you.”
My parents sided with her, saying I should be more supportive since “family helps family.”
What the Internet Thinks
Support for OP:
“You have your own life. Nobody should guilt you into parenthood by proxy.”
“If they want constant babysitting, they should hire a nanny.”
Criticism for OP:
“You sound selfish. Your sister needs you — step up!”
“Family does help family, and it sounds like you’re making excuses.”
A few readers suggested a compromise: offering to babysit occasionally but setting boundaries around work and personal time.
Balancing Boundaries and Family Expectations
I’m not heartless, but I don’t think anyone should be forced into a caregiving role they didn’t sign up for. Saying yes to everything doesn’t make you a better sibling — it makes you burnt out and resentful.
Still, I’m wondering if I could’ve handled the situation with more tact.
OP Refusing to Babysit Sister’s Baby, Who’s Really in the Wrong?
Family obligations can be tricky, but where do you draw the line between helping and enabling? Have you ever faced a similar situation? What would you have done differently?
Takeaways:
This story brings up the debate between setting healthy personal boundaries and meeting family expectations. Whether you’re on Team Help or Team Boundaries, it’s a reminder that both empathy and limits can coexist.
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