Woman Leaves Family Vacation After Unwillingly Becoming the Go-To Babysitter, Ignoring Family's Backlash in Favor of a Kid-Free Solo Trip

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Nov 17, 2024 5:00 PM EST

Welcome, gossip goddesses. Even the most dedicated and hardworking girlbosses need a vacation eventually. Sometimes having a long weekend off to girlrot at home, catch up on your favorite Netflix shows, and finally get enough sleep is simply not enough. In such cases, what the mind and body crave is to change environments, to break away from the confines of a strict schedule, and to be free of weight of worries wrought by the stress of work and life. Only after escaping the Samsara of the daily grind can one relax fully enough to heal from the wounds of reality. 

However, as all mothers know, it is impossible to reach peak relaxation when you have to take care of children. In our story today, our protagonist finds herself unwillingly becoming the go-to babysitter for her entire family. Fed up with their selfishness, she packs her bags and makes and Irish goodbye in the night, leaving her family without free childcare and prioritizing her own enjoyment instead. Get all the details down below. 

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  • 01
    r/AITAH u/Soft-Egg7725 • 1d AITA for leaving a family vacation after being treated like a babysitter?
    via u/Soft-Egg7725
  • 02
    Every summer, my extended family organizes a big vacation. This year, we rented a massive beach house, and everyone was supposed to chip in financially and help with chores. I was really looking forward to it-spending time with everyone, relaxing, and maybe even catching up on some much-needed rest.
    via u/Soft-Egg7725
  • 03
    But from the moment we arrived, it became clear that my "role" was pre-assigned. I don't have kids, but almost everyone else does, and somehow, I became the go-to babysitter. Every time I sat down to read or relax, someone would ask me to "watch the kids real quick" while they went to grab a drink, run to the store, or just "take a breather."
    via u/Soft-Egg7725
  • 04
    At first, I didn't mind helping out. But it escalated. I spent entire days running after toddlers on the beach, breaking up sibling fights, and dealing with tantrums while the parents were nowhere to be found. When I finally said I needed a break, I got guilt-tripped with comments like, "It's not that hard," or "You don't understand because you don't have kids."
    via u/Soft-Egg7725
  • 05
    The tipping point came when one of the moms accused me of being "selfish" for not wanting to help. That night, I packed my things and left. I texted everyone, explaining that I felt more like hired help than family and that I needed a vacation too.
    via u/Soft-Egg7725
  • 06
    Now, I'm being called immature and ungrateful. Some family members think I overreacted and should have just "gone with the flow." But I can't help feeling like I was taken advantage of. AITA for walking away from the vacation? 5,999 ✓ 780 D
    via u/Soft-Egg7725
  • 07
    Sharkim • 1d NTA. You went on vacation to relax, not to be an unpaid babysitter for everyone else's kids. It's one thing to help out here and there, but it sounds like they completely took advantage of you. The guilt- tripping and "you don't understand because you don't have kids" comments are just gross. You have every right to leave when your boundaries aren't respected. If they wanted a full-time babysitter, they should've hired one. Reply 5.4k
    via u/Sharkim
  • 08
    SiennaBerries • 1d emphasis on "unpaid babysitter" you are suppose to enjoy your vacation and if you choose to help that's different. 374
    via u/SiennaBerries
  • 09
    believehype1616 1d They also could have easily developed a schedule for who would help with childcare which days or which adults got freedom certain days etc.
    via u/believehype1616
  • 10
    Parents A, Parents B, Parents C, Grandparents, OP, or whatever. First day, Parents A babysit for Parents B, second day, Parents B cover for parents C, etc. With the other chores also rotated. OP would probably have been fine having one day to babysit x kids only or whatever in that rotation. Or, meals are also a chore that could be rotated instead if preferred. Not hard. They'd all still get breaks. And grandparents and OP would get some time with their grandkids/niblings. G 48
    via u/believehype1616
  • 11
    Creepy-Stable-6192 • 1d NTA. I would have done the same thing. Let them know they can be mad all they want, but it doesnt change that they were the ones forcing their children on you. You didnt get a vacation. You got a job that YOU had to pay for. ← Reply 551
    via u/Creepy-Stable-6192
  • 12
    xLushViolet • 21h NTA. You were absolutely right to leave. They took advantage of you and turned your vacation into a babysitting job. You deserve to relax, not be guilt- tripped into taking care of their kids OP. ← 12
    via u/xLushViolet
  • 13
    your_baby_1 · 1d • You're absolutely not the bad one here. A family vacation is supposed to be enjoyable for everyone, not an unpaid childcare gig. Your relatives should have communicated their expectations beforehand instead of dumping the responsibility on you.
    via u/your_baby_1
  • 14
    It's unfair to guilt-trip you for wanting a break, especially when you were taken advantage of. Walking away was the right call to protect your boundaries and sanity. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty for prioritizing your own well-being. I would have done the same in your place Reply 618
    via u/your_baby_1
  • 15
    jewel_flip • 1d Not only unpaid, she paid to be on that vacation. 58 в 147 д
    via u/jewel_flip
  • 16
    Tatikely ⚫ 1d • completely agree!!!!! You also have the right to enjoy your vacation. Each one is responsible for their own thing. 56
    via u/Tatikely
  • 17
    SpeakingMyTruth4All ⚫ 1d • NTA. They should refund you for money spent ... Reply ↑ 279
    via u/SpeakingMyTruth4All
  • 18
    Shadow_84 • 1d NTA. Heard a similar one a bit ago. That op grabbed a drink every time and stated they couldn't help as they were drinking already And you weren't hired help. You paid to 'help' ... Reply 232
    via u/Shadow_84
  • 19
    KateNotEdwina • 1d This used to be my sister and I. At every family gathering somehow we would be in charged of all the kids as the parents just partied. One day we just stopped. We just joined the fun. If the kids asked us anything we said to go ask your parents. Answered "where's my child?" With "you don't know where your own child is?!"
    via u/KateNotEdwina
  • 20
    Don't let them guilt trip you. Sounds like there were multiple kids and for you to keep watching them - seems like non stop babysitting on what is supposed to be a vacation for you too. Send your family a link to this thread and let them see the unconditional support you're getting from strangers instead of your own family. Reply 589
    via u/KateNotEdwina
  • 21
    NightVowy⚫ 23h NTA, you deserve a break just like everyone else. It's unfair to expect you to babysit without discussing it first. A friend of mine dealt with this too, and she ended up just saying no more. Stand your ground and enjoy your vacations guilt-free. Reply 84 ♡
    via u/NightVowy
  • 22
    GrimShadow249321. 1d Sounds like you were expected to be the "cool aunt/ uncle" while the parents got a break. Too bad they couldn't appreciate your need for a break too. Definitely NTA. Reply 79 ↓
    via u/GrimShadow249321
  • 23
    Downtherabbithole14 1d No, sorry. As a parent, your "vacations" are just parenting in a different location. They took advantage of you and are mad you didn't put up with their bulls . And I hate the whole "but you don't have kids" Like yea, I'm aware, and you have kids, you are responsible for them, not YOU!
    via u/Downtherabbithole14
  • 24
    If they wanted to have a more relaxing time, they should have either hired a sitter for the trip or take turns amongst the people that are parents and take turns. Not just throw the kids onto the childless person. You being childless doesn't entitle the parents to USING YOUR VACATION time to THEIR them and anyone that enables their BENEFIT. F behavior. ← Reply 99
    via u/Downtherabbithole14

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childcare womanhood family drama babysitter Female Empowerment reddit story relationships parenting feminism entitled reddit thread Reddit raising kids entitled people vacation
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