“My brother and SIL think I’m a free babysitting service”
We all want to help our families in any way we can. Taking them to doctor’s appointments, helping them pack and move when they move, and watching over the kids from time to time are just some of the things we can do to make life easier for our loved ones. But you are willing to help your relatives only if they help you from time to time. Ultimately, you decide that a “generous” family is enough.
One man recently tired of backbending for his brother and sister-in-law Posted in the True Off My Chest subreddit We detail why he finally decided to put his foot down. After being expected to babysit his nephew on numerous occasions, this father decided to enforce boundaries and eventually cut off his younger brother.
Below you can read the full story of how the father came to this decision, along with some responses from our readers and an interview with him. bored pandaLet us know in the comments what you think about all this family drama. I read an article about a parent who felt entitled to free childcare from their family. Here!
After being used multiple times as a free babysitter by his brother and sister-in-law, this dad finally decided to stand his ground
Image credit: Meruyert Gonullu (not actual photo)
Image credit: Polina Tankilevitch (not actual photo)
After his post started blowing up, the father shared an update with additional details about the situation
Image credit: OK-Statistician3072
I don’t have children of my own, but having worked as a teacher, babysitter and au pair, caring for children is certainly an important part of my job. jobsOf course parents are doing it for free every day and are certainly getting more recognition for all the things that have to be balanced, but don’t leave the job of caring for the kids to someone else. It’s completely unfair to leave it for free. We can expect our loved ones to help us out from time to time, but it’s not like we’ve been doing them for too long, as this narrative couple has been doing for too long. When you start using , your friends and family suddenly go missing.
We reached out to Reddit user Ok-Statistician3072 to get a little more insight into the situation. We were curious if he and his siblings had always had a tumultuous relationship, or if they were close before he became a go-to free nursery teacher.
“Me and my brother have always been good friends,” he told Bored Panda. He also asked if he tried to explain to his brother and sister-in-law that their children were not his responsibility. “And my wife doesn’t have a family of her own, so she loves making peace with her kids by her side. So I always have my nephews I have been overly involved in the life of
Unfortunately, there is currently no reconciliation between the brothers. “My brother isn’t talking to me right now,” he Ok-Statistician3072 told his Bored Panda. “He said I was wrong for bringing the drama into his job. His wife is currently staying at a friend’s house and has not been heard from.”
I was also curious as to whether this situation affected the relationship between this uncle and his nephew. “When children are constantly being sent off and only with people who are available, it tends to lead to resentment,” he shared. Unfortunately, boundaries have to be set, but the eldest is understanding and leaves open communication.”
It’s a shame that family drama had to be born out of something that should be so simple: caring for children. verywell family, using relatives as babysitters can often lead to uncomfortable and tense situations. , they may not have the CPR and first aid training that parenting professionals receive, and resentment can build over time if one party feels taken advantage of. . of.
Apryl Duncan of Verywell Family recommends that when families are involved in any kind of babysitting contract, it can be helpful to create a contract to set boundaries and establish rules. “It may feel strange to approach a family with a contract, but this contract is like a guideline to protect you all from hurt feelings and harm to relationships,” she wrote. “Sit down and define what you expect and what they expect from you.”
“The point of the deal is to make sure you’re both on the same page about your expectations.” , it may not cost as much.”
It’s unfortunate that this father ended up blocking the family, but it seems to be the only option left to protect his own family and his sanity. I hope the sisters learn from their mistakes and work hard to mend their relationship. Let us know your thoughts on this situation in the comments below. Then if you want to read another of her Bored Panda articles about parents who feel they deserve free childcare, you can find that one. Here.