Negligent Parents Try To Pawn Off Their Children Onto a Babysitter On Christmas Day

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Dec 23, 2022 12:30 PM EST

If there's one holiday you don't want to work on, it's Christmas. Even if you don't celebrate the holiday, there's a sort of unspoken cultural rule in America that demanding or asking somebody to work on Christmas is inappropriate without giving them a sizeable bonus for that day. After all, there are so few days in the year that workers get off; anyone working on Christmas needs to get paid at least double what they usually get paid for it to be worth it. 

One Redditor shared her story about rejecting a family she babysits for regarding their request for her to look after their kids on Christmas day. The premise of this post already raises some red flags. Why would parents of young children need a babysitter on Christmas? Wouldn't they want to spend the day with their family uninterrupted? Even more red flags arise in this story about advocating for yourself to your cheap boss. 

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  • 01
    Font - r/AmltheAsshole u/pumpkinspice82282 • 11h AITA for refusing to babysit on Christmas. I (21F) am a babysitter for a family. I've been their babysitter since March. They're a great family, treat me well, and pay me well. I wrote down a list of days I'm unable to work the entire year and for however long they need me. the days are; My birthday, Christmas day, boxing day, new years eve, new years day and Nov 16th. They said that these days were fine and for those days they can get someone to
    via u/pumpkinspice82282
  • 02
    Font - Well, on sunday, they messaged asking if I could babysit their 3 kids (12M 9M and 3F) on Christmas day from 3pm-9pm, I asked if they were joking, and they said no. They said every other person they've asked has also said no to which i replied "well they would because its Christmas day". They began to beg and said that they'd offer me $50 more than they would any other day. Again, I responded no.
    via u/pumpkinspice82282
  • 03
    Font - The days i have strictly given them are the days that I want off so I can spend time with friends and family. And Christmas is the only day my family can get together and spend time with each other. Not only that but the family would be wanting me to look after their kids in the same house they'll be in but they'll be In the other room and don't want the children to distract them. so AITA?
    via u/pumpkinspice82282
  • 04
    Font - EDIT: The hours 3pm-9pm are because they usually have their Christmas dinner between 1-2pm and want me to look after the kids (theirs and the cousins, nieces, and nephews aswell) half 8 they were wanting me to put the children to bed and I could leave at 9pm. EDIT 2: I usually get $15 per hour I babysit, and they were giving an extra $50.
    via u/pumpkinspice82282
  • 05
    Font - thatoneguy112358 11h ● NTA. They agreed to you getting those days off, and they need to keep their word. Also, unless they have to work during those hours, why aren't they spending time with their kids on Christmas? Reply 8.4k
    via u/thatoneguy112358
  • 06
    Font - Fyst2010. 9h Partassipant [1] It's also for sure not just their kids. She'll end up with a room full of all the cousins too, and the $50 will somehow magically be enough compensation for that extra as well. The family is having a Christmas party and wants someone to entertain all the youngsters. 44.1k 4.1k
    via u/Fyst2010
  • 07
    Font - MyNameYourMouth. 9h Opening with an extra $50 to work Christmas is straight disrespectful. They're not assholes for asking, but they are assholes for that offer... ... 42k 2k
    via u/MyNameYourMouth
  • 08
    Font - Otherwise_Ad2201 . 8h Yeah, I had to read that twice. I was looking for the "an hour part". On Christmas, I might be enticed with an extra 50 an hour. ... 41.1k
    via u/Otherwise_Ad2201
  • 09
    Font - . 7h 50 bucks extra per hour per additional child. SuspiciousAdvice217 825
    via u/SuspiciousAdvice217
  • 10
    Font - Idontlikesoup1 . 7h NTA. So, a family has three kids who will "spend" Christmas with them but don't want to be bothered so will park them in a room with the babysitter? Why do people have kids? Not surprising they don't understand why OP wants to spend the day with their family! 426
    via u/Idontlikesoup1
  • 11
    Font - fanofpolkadotts • 6h As a teacher, I can say I'm not surprised. It's not just wealthy people, it's not just people. I've known parents who dropped their kids off w/another family they didn't even know-to have a weekend to themselves, to party, to escape parenthood. Yeah, parenting is tough and parents need "Alone Time." But on Christmas-that is truly pitiful parenting. ... 4202 202
    via u/fanofpolkadotts
  • 12
    Font - ΝΤΑ mmj1990. 11h Asshole Enthusiast [9] I cannot even believe they'd ask you or anyone else to babysit their kids on christmas. They should be spending it with their kids themselves. Reply 2.7k
    via u/mmj1990
  • 13
    Font - Noodlefanboi. 10h Partassipant [4] The hours they are asking for don't even make sense either. What are you going to do from 3-9 on Christmas Day? Everything is closed, and it's not even the right hours for a dinner. There is literally nothing to do during that time but hang out with your family. Edit: Just saw the part about how the parents would literally be in the house while OP watched the kids. I guess they just don't love their children. 890
    via u/Noodlefanboi
  • 14
    Font - calihunlax. 9h What are you going to do from 3-9 on Christmas Day? I suspect alcohol is involved. 459 459
    via u/calihunlax
  • 15
    Rectangle - pumpkinspice82282 OP. 5h yes alcohol involved. they wanted me to put the kids to bed at half 8, and I can leave at 9. 4216 ...
    via u/pumpkinspice82282
  • 16
    Handwriting - failure_as_a_dad. 5h Partassipant [4] They want you to put a 12 year old and a 9 year old in bed at 8:30pm? Yikes. 254
    via u/failure_as_a_dad
  • 17
    Font - J.U gr8ver 4h On Christmas, no less! ● 133
    via u/gr8ver
  • 18
    Font - SPolowiski. 11h Asshole Aficionado [12] NTA, if the parents cannot look after their kids on Christmas, then they shouldn't be having kids. Looks like they want to enjoy their Christmas in peace with their friends or family without the kids interrupting them. Its your time to enjoy the time with your family and friends and its what you need to do. ... Reply 1.1k
    via u/SPolowiski
  • 19
    Font - Sad_Coat2859 - 8h NTA. Their desire to miss Christmas with their children makes them sound like AHs. G 262
    via u/Sad_Coat2859
  • 20
    Rectangle - Shelfside123. 11h Asshole Enthusiast [9] I was NTA until I got to the bit about them being in the same house and now I'd like to find a way to double my vote Reply 303
    via u/Shelfside123
  • 21
    Font - GhostParty21. 4h In the same house with MORE kids than usual. I see your double and raise you a triple. 33
    via u/GhostParty21

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FAILS christmas aita babysitter FAIL kids crazy things parents say bad parenting parenting babysitting parent Reddit Parenting Fail parents Parenting FAILS
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