Woman refuses to free babysit 6-year-old niece after sister spontaneously pressures her to, sister calls her selfish and is forced watch her own kid: “I rarely ask for favors"

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Jan 24, 2025 12:00 PM EST

Everyone has a right to their free time. We spend almost our entire days, weeks, and years of our lives at work, commuting to and from work, and working. Our time outside of these rigid hours at desks, on floors, farms, or wherever your occupation is, should be our own. It's the few moments of the day to decompress and spend your time how you wanted to spend it. In all honesty, we often spend this time keeping up with the inconveniences of life – chores, obligations, errands, and taking care of our pets. Weekends go by in a flash, and before you know it your alarm is lifting you out of a dream you only wish to return to. 

In the story below, the protagonist is agog to get into a personal project she's lacked the time for lately. Bustling about with a busy work week, she can come home one evening and actually get to the things she wants to. That is until her sister asks her to abruptly drop her plans so she can dump her kid on her and spend the night out with friends. As much as the protagonist wants to help out her sister, she really allotted the night for herself, much to her sister's disappointment. 

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  • 01

    AITA for refusing to babysit my niece at the last minute?

    "I have a right to set boundaries over my time"
    via pixelshot / Canva

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

  • 02
    Last weekend, my sister asked me to babysit my 6-year-old niece on very short notice. She wanted to go out with friends, as she hadn't had a night out in months and her regular babysitter canceled last minute. I had plans to spend that evening working on a personal project that was due soon and had been looking forward to a
    via u/YasumiBelle
  • 03
    quiet night after a hectic week at work.
    via u/YasumiBelle
  • 04
    When my sister called, I explained that I really needed the night to focus on my project. She got upset and told me that I was being selfish, reminding me that she rarely asks for favors and that I could work on my project another time. I felt bad, but I stood my ground because this
    via u/YasumiBelle
  • 05
    project was important for my career advancement.
    via u/YasumiBelle
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10457522688
    via dimaberlinphotos / Canva

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

  • 07
    She ended up having to cancel her plans and has been cold to me ever since. She's said things to other family members, who think I should have just helped her out this once. I feel torn because | hate letting family down, but I also feel like I had the right to set boundaries over my time. So, Reddit, AITA?
    via u/YasumiBelle

  • The protagonist has every right to say no! She allotted the night for herself. We all know the eager feeling of coming home to be alone, bereft of obligations. 

  • 08
    MaraCamillee • 5h ago You're NTA! You had your own thing going on, and it's not your responsibility to drop everything just because she needed a favor.
    via u/MaraCamillee
  • 09
    Frankinsens 5h ago Why can't the family who is giving you a hard time do it?
    via u/Frankinsens
  • 10
    Future-Nebula74656 5h ago • Nta. No one is entitled to your time. Not your child it's not your responsibility. cancel her plans and has been cold to me ever since. She's said things to other family
    via u/Future-Nebula74656
  • 11
    members, who think I should have just helped her out this once And why can't these other family members help out? Because they're always more than willing to say that you should do it so they don't have to
    via u/Future-Nebula74656
  • 12
    Cheezburger Image 10457522944
    via Gustavo Fring from Pexels / Canva

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

  • 13
    Bonus MomSays • 5h ago Noone was injured or bleeding? Noone needed to go to the Emergency Room? Then this was not an emergency requiring you to change your plans for the evening. NTA
    via u/Bonus MomSays
  • 14
    Sister just learned a valuable lesson: have a backup plan in the event the sitter cancels. Demanding you change your plans at the last minute so that she doesnt have to change hers is selfish. She has kids means they have a father where was he?? -
    via u/Bonus MomSays
  • 15
    joojie • 5h ago My sister did this to me once. I had just gotten off an overnight shift at an emergency vet hospital. She called and asked if I could babysit so she could go grocery shopping. She was ped that I said no because
    via u/joojie
  • 16
    I worked 6pm-6am and I was about to go to bed....she was also ped when I mentioned that most mothers take their children grocery shopping with them, it's part of being a mother.
    via u/joojie
  • 17
    MathOk8922 • 4h ago NTA. Next time don't tell her why you are not available. Wonder if she would accept a 'sorry not available' answer with more class.
    via u/MathOk8922
  • 18
    garybwatts ⚫5h ago NTA Your sister needs to act like a parent and realize that they are responsible for their child, not you. She could've invited her friends over to her place.
    via u/garybwatts

  • I understand the sister being in a jam, but at the end of the day it's her child and her responsibility, not someone else's.

  • 19
    Maleficent508 • 4h ago I'd have asked the helpful family members why they didn't babysit and if they said she didn't call them, I'd say "That's so nice! I'll be sure to let her know she should call you first next time!"
    via u/Maleficent508
  • 20
    Suspicious-Donkey... • 5h ago NTA, last minute requests (and any requests) to babysit always come with the risk that the person being asked already has other plans.
    via u/Suspicious-Donkey
  • 21
    It's not like it was an emergency, your sister just wanted to go and party. When you choose to become a parent, you have to make sacrifices and sometimes that means not being able to go out and party.
    via u/Suspicious-Donkey
  • 22
    Why should you change your plans to suit her, when she is the parent!
    via u/Suspicious-Donkey
  • 23
    Tessa Lilyana 5h ago NTA. Your sister asked you on short notice.
    via u/Tessa Lilyana
  • 24
    Gemini92320 • 5h ago NTA. That's not your child or your responsibility.
    via u/Gemini92320

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