I (23F) recently agreed to watch my sister’s kids (6 and 8) for the weekend while she and her husband went on a trip. I love my niece and nephew, but honestly, it was a nightmare. The entire time, they were running around, making a mess, and breaking things in my apartment.
One of the things they broke was a vase that I inherited from my late grandmother. It was really sentimental to me.
The other item was an expensive tablet I use for work. I was absolutely upset, but I didn’t want to make a scene in front of the kids, so I quietly told my sister when she came to pick them up. Her response was basically, “It’s just stuff, don’t worry about it.”
A few days ago, she asked if I could watch the kids again. I said no, explaining that after everything that happened, I wasn’t comfortable having them at my place again, especially since nothing was really done about the broken things.
She got really mad, said I was being too harsh, and now my parents are telling me I should just let it go because “it’s just a couple of broken things.”
I feel like I’m being reasonable, but now I’m feeling guilty. AITA for refusing to babysit again?
Comments
Why would you be TAH?
NTA – her kids sound undisciplined if that’s how they behave. Your sister should pay for what they broke and make them apologize. I wouldn’t babysit them again either.
Absolutely NTA. I hope this is freaking fake! If not, head to their house, break some important shit, don’t offer to replace the replaceable stuff, shrug and say it’s just stuff right?? I can’t believe she didn’t even offer to pay for the tablet. I’d feel awful if my son broke something at another person’s house.
Yeah right, just things. Tell her when she pays to replace ‘just things’ you’ll consider it. Did you tell her how much the tablet cost you? Did you ask her if her home insurance would cover it? Did you tell your parents that you’ll do it if they cover the damages for it and from here on anything they break?
Put your foot down otherwise they’ll walk all over you.
>and now my parents are telling me I should just let it go because “it’s just a couple of broken things.”
Perfect, your parents can watch the kids instead. NTA.
nta, my children would NEVER behave like that, esp as guests at others houses.
Same story, different day. Why can’t you find some other topic to write fiction about?
NTA Ask your parents to take them and let them get “a couple of broken things” at their house.
Tell your parents they can watch their grandkids. NTA.
Fake. At least you changed things, however slightly.
NTA- jeez your sister sounds like a entitled spoiled brat and no wonder the kids behave that way. They’re the same. At 6 and 8 they should be able to behave, they’re not toddlers, Is just going to get worse from here on. I’ll stay away from them. Your parents can babysit if they think they’re just broken things.
NTA – Yeah, they’re kids. But They are 6 & 8 and an appropriate age to learn about responsibility and respecting other people’s things. Your sister’s response is what makes me add that you should not babysit them in your place again until they can prove that they can behave (in an age appropriate manner, not be perfect).
If you still want to watch them because you want to foster that relationship with them… you can tell your sister that you will watch them but only at their home. I would also say that while you are upset about “the stuff” which was sentimental or, for the tablet, expensive, that you are more upset and disappointed in her reaction to it. But that might be a can of worms you don’t want to open (or open yet).
NTA her kids broke stuff she didn’t offer to help fix the problem so why would you let them back to break more things?
I would thank your parents for offering to babysit and then mic drop your way out of there
NTA. Sister should help replace the things
Babysit at their home
Nta. Your house , your rules.
No. Your family is being unreasonable. The vase isn’t just a ‘thing’.
NTA. Tell sis that mom and dad said they would take the kids when ever she needed them to be watched.
NTA actions have consequences, if they don’t want to parent their own kids it’s not your responsibility, you didn’t get yourself knocked up twice, you have every right to not let people who destroy your things in your home.
NTA.
Your parents are probably coming from a place of experience. You and your sister probably broke a lot of stuff when you were children. What they seem to be missing here is the fact that these are NOT your children. They are your sister’s.
Why not suggest that you take care of the children in THEIR home? That way they will be breaking your sister’s things rather than yours?
NTA It sounds like your parents just made themselves volunteers for babysitting since they think breaking stuff is nbd
Why not watch them at hers?
NTA but if you feel bad you can always agree to watch them at their own house
100% AI. YTA
I have kids. I’d be mortified if they broke someone’s things. They would be made to apologize, and find a way to make it up to you, while I pay for the damages or replace what was broken.
She doesn’t get to be off the hook for what they did. Parents are responsible for their kids and their behaviour. She owes you compensation and you owe her absolutely nothing.
NTA. Maybe your parents should watch them.
Even if they were perfect angels, you could still decline to babysit.
You know why? Because they aren’t your children and you aren’t obligated to watch them.
NTA
I’m a mom of an 8 & 9 year old. If they ever acted like that at my sisters house, I would be appalled. NTA op, your sister sounds awful
NTA. It’s “just stuff”, but if you keep the goblins again, it’ll be ” more stuff”. Don’t even put yourself in that situation again. Your sister has shown who she is and how she handles situations like this. Take note and don’t feel guilty about protecting what matters to you.
fake story and not very good.
YTA I’ve read the bad-mannered sister’s kids cliché several times this week.
My kids are seven and five and it’s not acceptable for them to run inside the house and touch things without permission. Your sister and mother are obviously not fit to be raising children if they think the kids behavior is remotely acceptable. I wouldn’t babysit them either. NTA
Just a couple broken things, no big deal. Ok, then pay up sis.
NTA – Tell your parents to watch the kids – “it’s just a couple of broken things” so they would not care if things get broken at their house.
NTA, if your parents are on her side tell them wonderful Mom and Dad can watch them they broke valuable things in my house and you as their parent should replace such things and I’m sure Mom are and Dad don’t mind that their darling grandkids break stuff. Delete and ignore. Remind your sister her kids will be in jail or beat up if this behavior continues.
Whole heartedly NTA and I would be mortified if my kids ever did anything like that.
No one is obligated to look after anyone else’s kids unless it’s their profession (such as a daycare worker). You don’t even need a reason to refuse. It’s your home, your life, your time. You get to decide what to do with it. By saying “it’s just stuff” and trying to pressure you, it’s obvious she doesn’t respect you or your autonomy. You owe her nothing. “Family” is not carte blanche to walk all over someone.
NTA, but if you decide to babysit again do it at her house. Let them break her stuff.
NTA
Buy me a new tablet and give me something of grandmas, then we can talk.
Tell her that her kids can go break things at someone else’s place. If they were couple of things then should be replacing it instead of acting all entitled. I bet no one wants to have her kids at their place.
NTA. She’s lucky you didn’t slam a baseball bat into her car and tell her, “It’s okay, it’s just stuff.”
Your sister should have immediately insisted on replacing things, and if your parents think it’s no big deal, they can do it themselves.
Fuck peace, go to war for your mental health
Well I am just so sick of family telling people to suck it up regarding someone’s incredibly bad behavior. I wouldn’t babysit the little brats again either. Obviously they have no boundaries at home if they don’t have boundaries at your house and I would not want to take care of kids I don’t know how to behave.