Woman asks 20-year-old sister to babysit her 3-year-old niece for a $25 fast food gift card, chews her out when she refuses: 'You can chase a kid when you have your own'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Nov 18, 2024 12:00 PM EST

Babysitting is no simple task, that's why we pay babysitters and nannies the big bucks. Children, especially toddlers, can be notoriously difficult to wrangle. You need the right amount of patience, level-headedness, and willingness to tire yourself out. Not to mention it's a huge amount of responsibility. If something goes wrong, you need to be ready to snap into action. This is why it's no fun to ask someone to babysit at the last minute. Unless you're a seasoned pro or a parent yourself (even then, you probably have less patience for someone else's rugrat), it's a big ask. It gets even more complicated when you ask a family member. 

Odds are, you rely on your for help in some ways, but it needs to be a reciprocal arrangement, or else it just feels icky. That's what came up in this family when one woman had an interesting idea on how to compensate her sister. Read on for the story. 

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10430356480
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story

  • 02
    AITAH for refusing to babysit my niece after my sister tried to "pay" me in a way that shocked me?
    via u/Cascade_Soul
  • 03
    So, I (20F) have a sister, "Amanda" (28F), and a niece, "Lily" (3). I love my niece, but I'm not exactly the babysitting queen. I've got a packed schedule-school, work, trying to figure out what I'm doing with my life- and I'm just not interested in watching a toddler run around like a mini hurricane.
    via u/Cascade_Soul
  • 04
    A few days ago, Amanda asked if I could watch Lily for a few hours while she went out, and I politely said no. She wasn't happy, but she dropped it. Fast forward to today, and she asks again, but this time she really wants me to say yes. She says, "I'll pay you!" and I'm like, okay, I'm listening. But then she pulls out her offer: she would pay me in Chick-fil-A gift cards. As in, a gift card to a fast food chain.
    via u/Cascade_Soul
  • 05
    I'm looking at her, trying to figure out if she's joking. I mean, I like Chick-fil-A as much as the next person, but I'm not sure how a $25 gift card makes up for a whole afternoon of chasing around a toddler who thinks glitter glue is a new form of edible art.
    via u/Cascade_Soul
  • 06
    But it gets weirder. When I turn her down, she says, "Okay, how about I throw in a couple of bags of your favorite candy too? And I'll stop eating your snacks behind your back for a whole month!" I'm pretty sure this was supposed to be some huge incentive, but all I could think was, "So you've been stealing my snacks and now you're bribing me to watch your kid?"
    via u/Cascade_Soul
  • 07
    I still said no, and now she's acting like I'm the worst person on the planet, texting me that I'm "ruining family bonds" and that I'm "too busy for her and Lily." And the rest of the family is all like, "You should just help her out." it up and
    via u/Cascade_Soul
  • 08
    So, AITA for turning down a Chick-fil-A bribery scheme and refusing to babysit? Should I just let her pay me in fast food and sweets, or am I right to draw the line here?
    via u/Cascade_Soul
  • 09
    Vivid-Farm6291 1d ago . • NTA There is a story somewhere on reddit about this subject. It had a spectacular ending. The OP didn't want to babysit anymore and family berated her because you know family helps family.
    via u/Cascade_Soul
  • 10
    So the OP took it to heart and made a schedule of babysitting for all those relatives berating her for not stepping up. She gave the sister the schedule and she ran with it. Suddenly they were not so keen on helping family. So please if relatives or friends are telling you to step up, give your sister a list of names and numbers of all the volunteers.
    via u/Cascade_Soul
  • 11
    SummitJunkie7 • 1d ago • If you're willing to do it for pay, then tell her your rate. If she can't afford you, then she can't. If you're not willing to do it, even for pay, then just let her know that.
    via u/Cascade_Soul
  • 12
    Tell her you have no interest in babysitting and you don't have the time. As family you'll help out in a true emergency, which means someone's in the hospital or similar, not someone planned things poorly. There are so many ways to bond with your niece that have nothing to do with babysitting. In fact, you may be better able to bond with her while not being an authority figure in her life.
    via u/Cascade_Soul
  • 13
    And, thank her for bringing to your attention that you need to secure your snacks, you'll be sure not to leave those around where she can steal them in future.
    via u/Cascade_Soul
  • 14
    andronicuspark • 1d ago • It's adorable she's offering to partially pay you back in goods she stole from you. What a gem.
    via u/andronicuspark
  • 15
    I'd point out her generosity and turn her down. If she resorts to paying you an amount you deem acceptable, get it up front and a retainer in case she's late. She shows up on time she gets that back. If not, oh well. But honestly, it sounds like she's going to keep you over.
    via u/andronicuspark
  • 16
    JohnRedcornMassage · 1d ago • NTA Anytime a family member tries to guilt you into helping her out, let them know you're glad they're volunteering, since family is so important and forward it to your sister. That should shut them up pretty quickly.
    via u/JohnRedcornMassage
  • 17
    • Pillowprincess_222 · 1d ago. NTA. You can chase a kid when you have your own.
    via u/Pillowprincess_222
  • 18
    CharKrat 1d ago • Top 5% Commenter When she said that "you're too busy for me and Lily" you should respond with... yeah sometimes I am but it doesn't mean I don't love you!
    via u/CharKrat
  • 19
    . Free_Theory7066 1d ago • NTA you do it once for a gift card next she's going to be asking you to do it for free or she'll pay you later and "forget". I've been I this situation and people will take advantage as log as u let them.
    via u/Free_Theory7066
  • 20
    debthemac 1d ago NTA. School and work are enough. And the family that is judging you should step up then.
    via u/debthemac
  • 21
    Cat1832 1d ago . Top 10% Commenter NTA and now you know she's stealing your food, lock up your snacks. What audacity. "I'll stop stealing from you!"
    via u/Cat1832
  • 22
    pepperpat64 • 1d ago · Your sister should "just it up" and not go out. Once people have kids, they have to give up many of the things they did before the kid came along. If you ever agree to babysit, charge a minimum of $25 per hour, paid in cash up front.
    via u/pepperpat64
  • 23
    davekayaus 1d ago • Anyone in your family telling you to help - send their messages to your sister and tell her they are volunteering
    via u/davekayaus
  • 24
    ☑lianavan · 1d ago • Who are these people always involving the whole family and how do they have nothing better to do than harass OP instead of shutting up or babysitting themselves? Do actual babysitters not exist anymore?
    via u/lianavan

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childcare Babies aita infant kids sisters moms parenting babysitting dad cute kids pregnant sister reddit thread parent Reddit raising kids Parenting Fail parents children Parenting FAILS
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