Babysitting can be a lot of fun and quite lucrative, especially for a teen.
The only issue can be picky parents.
So many rules.
Which are fine. But you need state rules clearly so there are no issues.
Case in point…
Redditor Maximum_Grape_4440 wanted to discuss her story for some feedback. So naturally she came to visit the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subReddit.
She asked:
“AITA for buying myself a McDonalds while babysitting?”
The Original Poster (OP) explained:
“So this happened yesterday and I thought I’d share it here as I’m honestly baffled by this and if I actually did anything wrong.”
“I (18 F[emale]) was babysitting for my Aunt and Uncle, they have three kids”
“(11 M[ale]), (9 F), (3 F).”
“They left food for them to be heated up for their dinner which I did but it didn’t look appealing to me for my dinner despite there being enough.”
“It was a curry and honestly not a fan of those.”
“So I fed the kids and once all three were in bed and asleep (yes I checked) I ordered an Uber eats and got McDonalds delivered for myself.”
“I then proceeded to eat my dinner when it arrived while watching Bridgerton season 2.”
“I’m late to the party but I’m loving it so far.”
“I did pause every so often to check on the kids though especially the youngest as she’s the age where it’s not unthinkable she’d be up and down.”
“Anyway, everything was fine, and when my Aunt and Uncle got back they saw the McDonalds drink I still hadn’t finished.”
“And my Uncle asked me if i’d taken the kids out for McDonalds.”
“I explained that no iId fed them the food they’d left and once they were asleep I got myself a McDonalds.”
“My Uncle was rather cross at me over this and said if I was buying myself a McDonalds I should have gotten it for the kids too as it’s unfair.”
“I told him I’d only had enough for myself and if i’d had enough sure I’d have gotten the kids something.”
“But that was why I’d waited till they were asleep.”
“My Aunt then began to ask me why I’d not eaten the curry and how they’d made sure there was enough for me too.”
“I told them I just didn’t like curry that much.”
“And that made my Uncle go off on a tirade about how how people my age are so picky and spoiled and how iId wasted good food.”
“I’d put the leftovers in the fridge it’s not like I tossed what was left.”
“I admit I was upset by this and ended up leaving ASAP.”
“And my Dad is pissed at his brother and was shouting at him on the phone today.”
“Was it really that bad what I did?”
“I figured it’d be fine as I made sure the kids were asleep and wasn’t rubbing it in their faces.”
“AITA here?”
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
Redditors declared our OP was NOT the A**hole.
It’s a tricky situation.
Let’s hear some thoughts…
“NTA. Sounds like your Uncle and Aunt just lost themselves a perfectly reasonable babysitter.” ~T ahiniInMyVeins
“NTA. Where did they get the idea that you should’ve taken their kids to McDonald’s?”
“You did everything right.”
“You waited until the kids were in bed to eat it so you wouldn’t have to eat it in front of them, and you paid for it yourself.”
“Also, why is your uncle yelling at you for wasting food when you literally returned the leftovers to the fridge?”
“It appears that he is only interested in whining.”
“Do you get paid for babysitting?”
“I’d be wary about babysitting for them again, especially if they expect you to do it for free.” ~ simonedmunds5
“As a parent I even sometimes make my son food then order food when he’s sleeping mostly snacks lol.”
“OP did a good job and I would never expect a person who is babysitting especially for free to not eat what they want when my kid is asleep.” ~ SingleMomDrama
“My kid is only 18 months and I’ve started eating my dinner in the kitchen before I even plate his.”
“So I can friggin’ eat my food without him trying to stab my food with his fork or get pissed I won’t give him something I already know he won’t eat.”
“I also hide and eat chocolate.”
“When he’s older I 100% will be ordering myself special food and eating it when he’s asleep.” ~ Twallot
“NTA, OP!”
“If you HAD ordered McDonald’s for the kids instead of feeding them curry, your aunt and uncle would have been cross about that, too! “
“I’m sure there are plenty of other people who’d appreciate a thoughtful, responsible babysitter.”
“I’d suggest you work for them instead of for your utterly ungrateful aunt and uncle.” ~ Marzipan-Shepherdess
“There are also a lot of parents who’d be upset about the babysitter buying their kids fast food instead of feeding them the home-cooked meal specifically left for them by their parents.”
“A lot of parents are picky about what their kids eat and don’t want them eating McDonald’s.”
“How was she to know?”
“OP’s uncle contradicts himself on this point, too.”
“First he’s upset she didn’t also buy something for the kids (with her own money, mind you — wtf??”
“And she waited until they were asleep, so his ‘it’s not fair!’”
“Argument holds no water), and then he’s upset that she wasted food…?”
“So which is it, dude?”
“If she’d bought the kids McDonald’s, she’d have wasted a lot more of your precious curry.”
“And you’d have probably given her hell for feeding them junk food without your permission.”
“OP, it sounds like there’s no winning with your uncle.”
“He seems like a really bitter and weirdly controlling person who enjoys finding tiny, ridiculous things to get upset about.”
“You have every right to eat whatever food you please on your own dime, and you were thoughtful enough to wait until the kids had gone to bed.”
“Don’t babysit for this ungrateful jerk again.”
“He can find someone else to force-feed curry and get mad at for petty reasons. NTA.” ~ Predd1tor
“Seriously! I am apparently ‘doing it wrong’ since we pay our sitter 15€/hour, and order in food for her and our son, and then give her 10€ for her cab fare if it’s a later night.”
“NTA and I’d hire you in a HEART BEAT!” ~ Mustangbex
“As long as didn’t buy it and had it in front of the kids I see no problem.”
“That would have been a headache for OP too with kids that suddenly wanted McDonalds, not hungry etc.”
“It was the smartest choice.”
“I bet most parents (and that is me included).”
“Has some cabinets or shelf that’s high up with some snacks that’s ‘this Is my self spoil when the kids sleep.'”
“I have regular snacks for the kids, or snacks I don’t mind sharing with the kids if I bring it out at evening while they awake.”
“But the other is mine. McDonalds is no different.”
“If they wanted the kids so badly to have McDonalds they could leave money.”
“OP Even said if had more money would have gotten it for the kids too.”
“So NTA.” ~ Dangerous-WinterElf
“NTA. It would have been one thing if you ate it in front of the kids, or insulted their cooking and said that the curry was disgusting and inedible.”
“But you paid for the food yourself, the kids didn’t watch you eat it (or even know you got it), and you didn’t insult their cooking – you just didn’t care for what they made.”
“Honestly they sound like nasty people for attacking you like that.” ~ QuackLikeMe
“NTA you waited for the kids to go to bed so it wouldn’t affect them.”
“It wasn’t wasteful to put the food away rather than eating something you didn’t like.”
“I can’t understand their anger at all, because the children had no idea you even ate McDonald’s.”
“Also you were just doing your job, kids were taken care of, fed with meals they left, and got ready for bed.”
“At that point you had fulfilled your obligations.” ~ Chantalle22
“NTA. Where do they come off, thinking that you should’ve gotten their kids McDonald’s??”
“You did everything right—you waited until the kids were in bed so you wouldn’t be eating it in front of them.”
“And you paid for it with your own money.”
“Also, why’s your uncle going off about you wasting food when you literally put the leftovers back in the fridge?”
“Sounds like he just likes to complain.”
“Do they even pay you for babysitting?”
“I’d be less inclined to babysit for them again, especially if they are expecting you to do it for free.” ~ gollumwasrobbed
“NTA. They have no control over what you eat.”
“I could see them being PO’d if you bought the McDs while the kids were eating, but you waited and they’d never have known.”
“Also, go give your dad a hug for having your back.” ~ The_Fires_Of_Orc
Sounds like Reddit has no issue backing OP and dad.
Maybe Auntie and Uncle should be grateful for the service.
They may have just ruined a good thing.