It’s far too often that people look down on certain professions.
Specifically, those that don’t require as many degrees or credentials as others.
But any properly educated person knows that all jobs bring value to this world.
So people should think very carefully before demeaning someone’s profession.
The sister of Redditor No-Scientist00 asked them for a favor that would allow her to attend a wedding.
While the original poster (OP) initially agreed, they were willing to do so on one condition regarding their job.
Unfortunately, the reaction of the OP’s sister to this condition resulted in the OP backing out of this favor.
After being called “selfish” and “hung up” by their sister for doing so, the OP took to the subReddit “Am I The A**hole” (AITA), where they asked fellow Redditors:
“AITA for saying no to babysitting after my sister insulted my job?”
The OP explained why they backed out of helping out their sister:
“My sister asked me to watch her 3 kids last weekend so she could go to a wedding.”
“I work from home and had a project deadline that same day, but I was still willing to rearrange my schedule to help her out.”
“When I told her I’d just need a quiet space for a few hours to get my work done while watching the kids, she laughed and said my online job isn’t real work and that I sit around all day.”
“That comment really bothered me because I work hard and pay all my own bills.”
“I told her if she didn’t respect what I do, then I wouldn’t be comfortable helping.”
“She called me selfish and hung up.”
“Now my parents are upset because she had to skip the wedding, but I feel like I was doing her a favor, and she was the one who ruined it with the insults.”
“AITA?”
Fellow Redditors weighed in on where they believed the OP fell in this particular situation, by declaring:
- NTA: Not the A**hole
- YTA: You’re the A**hole
- ESH: Everybody Sucks Here
- NAH: No A**holes Here
The Reddit community firmly took the side of the OP, agreeing that they were not the a**hole for refusing to watch their sister’s kids.
Everyone agreed that the OP’s rude and disrespectful behavior made her unworthy of the OP volunteering their time to help her out, and the fact that she couldn’t find any alternatives for child care only further highlighted her lazy, entitled behavior:
“NTA, tell your parents they can watch the kids if they’re so upset.”- yellowjacket1996
“NTA.”
“‘Don’t bite the hand that feeds you’ feels appropriate here.”- nuggets256
“Leading with an insult isn’t really the best way to ask someone for a favor.”
“NTA for turning her down.”- ScarletNotThatOne
“NTA.”
“I don’t know why it’s so hard to understand that working from home is working, not sitting around getting paid to scroll wastebook.”
“Then again, it’s probably indicating what these folk would do if they ever got a W@H job.”-Mira_DFalco
“NTA.”
“For a start, it is none of your parents’ business, so they can keep their noses out and opinions to themselves.”
“As for your sister – you are under no legal, family, or any other obligation to watch her kids.”
“You are also not expected to be criticised by your sister about your job.”
“No more babysitting.”- kiwimuz
“NTA.”
“For a start, it is none of your parents’ business, so they can keep their noses out and opinions to themselves.”
“As for your sister, you are under no legal, family, or any other obligation to watch her kids.”
“You are also not expected to be criticised by your sister about your job.”
“No more babysitting.”- kiwimuz
“NTA.”
“Can’t insult people and expect them to help you.”- Tassle15
“NTA.”
“She didn’t/doesn’t respect or apparently attempt to understand your job.”
“She mocked you.”
“Her kids are ultimately her responsibility.”
“If she was not willing to pay or could not find a babysitter, that’s on her.”
“Your parents have no place to shame or get mad at you about anything.”
“At the end of the day, they’re not your kids.”
“Just because you’re family doesn’t mean you’re obligated to babysit or rearrange your life.”
“What if you didn’t live in the same city?”
“What would she have done?”
“Is your sister willing to do something to supplement your income if you couldn’t get your work done?”
“Your sister needs boundaries and manners.”- momowag
“NTA.”
“Ah, she’s one of those.”
“Thinks a wfh job is not a job lol.”
“Does she work?”
“Surely she can paya babysitter for a day.”- friedsherbert
“NTA.”
“The real issue is she can’t regulate her mind/mouth well enough to get the outcome she needs—that’s selfish.”- johnnycomephilately
“NTA.”
“She missed the wedding because of her poor behavior, not you.”
“You have a job, and deadlines are important.”
“Good for you for standing your ground, knowing that your sister could have messed with your employment.”- Fit-Combination-6211
“NTA.”
“We don’t help people who crap on us.”
“Very simple life hack.”- Free-Place-3930
“NTA.”
“Oh well, next time your sister needs to keep her mouth shut.”
“Better yet, next time your parents can babysit THEIR grandkids.”- FlashyHabit3030
“NTA.”
“Set your boundaries, don’t let them try and guilt you into helping the next time your family asks you.”
“Tell them you’re busy with work and that’s it.”
“Also, don’t ever let anyone tell you remote work isn’t serious work; the two most demanding and draining jobs I’ve worked were both remote.”- eithrel
“NTA.”
“I work from home (tech) and between productivity to hit deadlines and too many Zoom meetings that could have been an email, it’s a damn good thing I do work from home and am not losing 3 hours of my day getting ready for, going to, and driving home from work.”
“It takes serious discipline to work from home, in my opinion, because the urge to f*ck off is strong.”
“Your sister can pay for a sitter at triple rate, or your parents can take on her responsibilities.”
“Don’t watch her kids and make it a point to tell her you’re taking yourself to a movie instead.”-SublimeApathy
“NTA.”
“Tell your sister that if she has a real job, she can use her salary to pay for a sitter.”
“And tell your parents that they can do it if it bothers them that much.”
“In that blunt, harsh wording.”- Alternative_Pair_924
“NTA.”
“Your sister planned this.”
“She didn’t want to go, so she waited until the last minute to ask you to babysit, and when it sounded like you were going to give her a qualified yes, she insulted you just to be sure that you would say no.”
“Then she threw you under the bus and blamed you for making her miss the wedding.”
“It’s not your problem.”
“Not your monkey, not your circus, not your job to watch her kids, and not your fault that your parents have lost all touch with reality when it comes to your sister.”
“Next time your sister wants you to watch her kid, tell her no.”
“If she and your parents want to complain about it, let them.”
“You can’t control other people, so don’t even try.”
“You can control yourself, though, and while your family can complain all they want to, you can control whether or not you bother listening to them.”
“My advice would be: don’t.”
“Hang up the phone.”
“Delete the texts without reading them.”
“Walk away.”
“But don’t sit there and listen to their nonsense.”
“Read the book ‘Let them’.”
“It’s quite liberating.”- dusty_relic
“NTA.”
“Sounds like you’re on the road to setting and enforcing boundaries.”- littleslytherin
“NTA.”
“‘I moved alot to help you and you don’t respect me’.”
“‘If you can’t even offer basic respect I don’t see why i should make the effort’.”
“Actions have consequences.”
“Her parents could have watched the kids if it was so important she attend the wedding.”
“So I’d throw that back on them.”- Exotic-Rooster4427
“You were doing her a favor; she ruined it.”
“Don’t entertain helping her again unless she sincerely apologizes.”
“NTA.”- Jealous-Contract7426
“NTA.”
“Not your kids, not your problem.”
“To disrespect how someone earns a living, then ask a favor from the same person, is pretty ballsy.”
“She got what she deserves.”- Aggravating-Aa74
“NTA.”
“FAFO, she did, she has!”- G-reeper66
“NTA.”
“Shame, shame on sister.”
“She could have gone to the wedding if she’d found a sitter, which she did, but then insulted them.”
“Your parents…well, they should know better.”- Opine65
“NTA.”
“Classic case of F*ck around and find out.”- Riker_Omega_Three
It seems clear that the OP’s sister has fairly high and mighty standards.
Evidenced by the fact that she was too proud to apologize, if only to ensure she wouldn’t have to miss the wedding.
The OP’s parents must have similarly thwarted views on reality.
Seeing as they seemed indifferent to the fact that their child is 100% self-sufficient and doesn’t need to rely on them for financial assistance.
Every parent’s dream…