Having kids comes with responsibility.
Being part of a family also comes with its fair share of responsibility.
All that responsibility can cause a lot of drama.
Who knew babysitting could be a problem?
Case in point…
Redditor Winter-Brick6307 wanted to discuss her experience and get some feedback. So naturally, she came to visit the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subReddit.
She asked:
“AITA for closing the front door on my aunt because she wanted us to babysit again?”
The Original Poster (OP) explained:
“My (16 F[emale]) Aunt (34 F) has recently been dropping her child off at our house for no reason without notifying us.”
“And I’m talking about leaving him here at all times when she’s busy or when she has a date with her husband (36 M[ale]) who barely helps.”
“Sometimes this surprise babysitting prevents my mom from being able to pick me up from school, causing me to have to walk home more often, even when it’s raining.”
“I’ve become very annoyed with this, and it’s starting to become repetitive.”
“And I’ve told my aunt to quit multiple times, but she brushes it off because we’re ‘family,’ and I should be there for her.”
“Now, I wouldn’t mind if she was paying us, or even a little heads up would have her on thin ice, but dropping her son off almost every day of the week with no kind of pay or appreciation isn’t cool.”
“This morning, my aunt, of course, comes over to drop off her son, and my mom is not home.”
“I was still sleepy, so when I woke up to the doorbell ringing multiple times, I was still a bit grumpy.”
“When I went downstairs to see my aunt with her child, I really couldn’t take it anymore, and I slammed the door and went upstairs to finish sleeping.”
“After this, all hell broke loose, and my mom (35 F), grandma (57 F), aunt (23 F), and uncle (my other aunt’s husband) had all gotten angry at me.”
“And told me that what I did was rude.”
“And my first aunt called this morning and said I wasn’t.”
“When I asked my 23-year-old aunt, she said my aunt was the AH, but I should’ve just opened the door for her to resolve the conflict.”
“So AITA?”
Redditors shared their thoughts on this matter and weighed some options to the question AITA:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
Many Redditors declared OP was NOT the A**hole.
“NTA. If your mom is okay with watching the kid and having you walk home, that’s fine.”
“If you’re not okay with watching the kid, you shouldn’t have to.”
“Personally, I wouldn’t want my kid to walk in the rain (this makes your mom the AH), but overall you’re not responsible, nor should you feel bad.” ~ Historical-Problem-8
“She’s 16. She can cope with walking in the rain sometimes.”
“But let’s be honest. It’s not just sometimes. NTA.”
“This is too much to ask of you.”
“Edit: damn, I’m on her side. I’m just saying it wouldn’t kill her if it were once or twice.” ~ bertieholton
“If this is always last minute thing, then OP might not have brought a raincoat or umbrella with her.”
“Walking several miles in the rain with no warning or protection really sucks, no matter the age.” ~ leomercury
“I would lose my sh*t if someone kept dropping their kid at my door with no warning.”
“OP’s at the end of her tether.”
“I hope the rest of her family cuts her some slack.”
“I think everyone needs to sit down and clear the air, set some boundaries on what is and isn’t acceptable forms of securing a sitter.”
“And what, if any (I say any because apparently, only one other family member agrees with OP, I don’t know why, but I guess no one else in her family finds this sh*t rude AF) consequences there will be in the future if she continues to drop her kid and bounce.”
“NTA all day.”
“I woulda had some choice words following the door slam lol. She was definitely cooler about it than I would have been.” ~ HeyPrettyLadyMaam
“NTA, tell all your relatives that if they want to babysit for free, they’re welcome to.”
“You’re not a child care center.” ~ Cheeseballfondue
“Just a reminder that OP to is a kid that needs taking care of as well.”
“That includes not being left in the rain.”
“If OP’s mom can’t watch/take care/protect BOTH kids at the same time, then she shouldn’t watch both kids at the same time.”
“And who NEEDS to come 1st for OP’s mom?”
“That’s right, OP. Op could get sick at the very least from walking in the rain so often.”
“Not to mention they could get mugged or something while walking home.” ~ No_Salad_8766
“She could have handled it in a more tactful way, but then it seems her aunt has zero bones about respect and rudeness.”
“She shoves a kid at you. You shove a door at her.”
“Some folk don’t have any boundaries, and if you don’t push back, they will take advantage.” ~ shaensays
“NTA. I would not open the door next time (look out the peephole or don’t open it at all if you aren’t expecting someone.)”
“That sucks about your mom making you walk in the rain.”
“I would make myself unavailable to help with babysitting.” ~ avocadosdontbite
“NTA. So, no one but you were home?”
“So, in other words, she would have expected you to babysit indefinitely… as if she owns all of you and your time.”
“People like that are the biggest ah’s on the planet.”
“We don’t belong to other people to do their bidding. Period.” ~ canvasshoes2
“NTA. You’re 16, a minor, and you’re being tasked with taking care of a child at random times during the day?”
“What if something happens and your mother isn’t around?”
“Tell your family that they need to be responsible adults.” ~ Zen_Ona
“NTA. Your aunt’s just taking advantage of you folks.”
“For the rest of the relatives who complained, they should have stepped up to the plate and done the babysitting for her.”
“Since your aunt can’t handle having a child, she should never have any more kids.”
“She’s definitely an AH.” ~ Teani2003
“NTA, she was told to stop multiple times already and ignored you.”
“Seriously, all the adults are just enabling your aunt and husband’s behavior.”
“And need to stop in my honest opinion other than them enabling them, they also probably don’t want to babysit either.”
“Seriously she and her husband need to start acting like adults instead of entitled immature, teenagers pawning their child and responsibilities off on others without asking permission.”
“First was it ok for their kid to babysit before someone comment under me? A break and pawning responsibilities without asking anyone beforehand are two different things.” ~ Apprehensive-Fox3187
“NTA, your mom can let her walk all of her, but you don’t have to.”
‘Your mom wasn’t home, and you were unwilling.”
“Last minute notice is not OK.”
“Also, have a talk with your mom about how upset it makes you that she puts your aunt and her child ahead of you.”
“That your aunt constantly dropping her child off last minute shows she has no respect for your family’s time or schedule.”
“That if she needs help this often then a schedule needs to be made.”
“But that demanding everyone drop everything for her whenever she demands it is not going to happen with you anymore.” ~ Last_Caterpillar8770
“From what you’ve described, I don’t think you’re the a**hole here.”
“It sounds like your aunt has been taking advantage of your family’s kindness by dropping off her child without notice and without offering any compensation or appreciation.”
“It’s understandable that you would be frustrated by this, especially if it’s causing inconvenience to your daily routine like having to walk home from school more often.”
“As for the incident where you slammed the door, I can see why your family members might have thought it was rude.”
“However, it seems like this was a reaction to a build-up of frustration rather than a deliberate attempt to be disrespectful.”
“I think it would be worth having a conversation with your family members and explaining how you’ve been feeling about the situation.”
“It’s important to communicate your boundaries and expectations so that everyone is on the same page.
Overall, I think you’re NTA in this situation.” ~ AITA_Analyst
“NTA. Your family is for sure.”
“I think if your family is saying you have an issue, then they should be the ones she starts just dropping the kid off with.”
“If they keep giving you a hard time, then just tell them to watch the kid.”
“They are saying you’re the problem because if you and your mom keep dealing with your aunt, then the rest of your family doesn’t have to.” ~ smallbird42
“NTA. But a little rude.”
“Your aunt’s behavior is awful, but everyone is responsible for their own behavior, so you own yours.”
“The good news is that you probably won’t be asked to babysit again.”
“It’s your parent’s responsibility to manage their home and protect you, so they should be doing a better job setting boundaries with the aunt.”
“Who does that to their child?”
“Imposing them upon people without notice?”
“Poor kid is going to grow up thinking the whole family views him as an unwanted inconvenience.”
“Regardless of how you resolve your relationship with the aunt, this is not your cousin’s fault.” ~ ComputerCrafty4781
Well, OP, Reddit is with you.
You aren’t a servant by blood.
So it’s understandable that you would be upset.
Time for a BIG family chat.