33-year-old single childless woman refuses to go on a family vacation where she's forced to babysit her toddler nieces and nephews: 'We [take care of the kids] every day, it’s your turn'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Jul 15, 2025 8:00 PM EDT

Planning a big vacation with a large group can be a little stressful. If you're the one who put the trip on your credit card, you have to rely on a lot of people to pay you back so you can pay it off. I just booked a wood-paneled cabin for me and my eight best friends from college (and 2 of their partners) to spend Memorial Day weekend, and I'm relieved to report that all but one have paid me back in full. 

It was a no-brainer how we were going to split the cost of this experience. Every individual would pay for themselves. Even though there are four couples going on this trip, there is no way I would treat the couples as one person. That would mean Dan, Zack, and I would have to pay $382 individually, with couples splitting the same amount between two people. 

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01

    AITA for not going on family vacation?

    I (33f) am the only single, childless person in my family. My siblings are in relationships and have kids.
    via u/td55478

  • But what about couples with little children? Would they be factored into the overall cost of a vacation rental? The woman at the center of this story is not in a family that is as reasonable as my friend group. Despite being one person, her siblings are asking her to pay the same amount as couples with children for the honor of babysitting their kids while they party away. The absolute audacity….

  • 02
    We're planning family vacation and discussing sleeping situations & cost for the cabin we'll share this summer. I would have to share a room with my parents. I don't really mind sharing but would love to have my own
    via u/td55478
  • 03
    space. Unfortunately, that isn't possible where we vacation. Cost is cabin + pet fee, divided by couple but they want me to pay the same amount they are paying.
    via u/td55478
  • 04
    Cheezburger Image 10458379776
    via laura adai (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 05
    Considering it's just me and I won't have my own space for my only vacation of the year, I don't think I should have to pay the same amount as everyone else. I could go have a quiet vacation solo for the same price. They'll also calculate food cost and divide it evenly. I'm truly not asking for a big discount lol.
    via u/td55478
  • 06
    Most of my family isn't chiming in but a couple of them are saying "that's not how it works in the real world" when I've said I don't believe that's fair. Am I the a hole for telling them | don't want to go?
    via u/td55478
  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 10458380288
    via Gantas Vaičiulėnas

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 08
    More context: I work with kids and do not get PTO. I have chronic pain & get overstimulated quickly so I'm always disappearing for a bit to reset myself mentally during family functions. I'm also the only person that doesn't drink and am kind of an outsider in my family because of that and political
    via u/td55478
  • 09
    views so there tends to be a lot of what feels like them ganging up on me. I've been told "we do it every day, it's your turn" in regards to taking care of the kids numerous times at gatherings. My response is always that I would have kids if I wanted to do it every day. They seem to think I don't deserve to relax because
    via u/td55478
  • 10
    I've decided not to have children. I hate missing out on time with the kids but know I would 100% end up taking care of them (all under 3yo) while the rest of the adults drink and it wouldn't be much of a vacation for me. I didn't go last year for this reason.
    via u/td55478
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10458379008
    via Gantas Vaičiulėnas (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 12
    thehangel ⚫ 20h ago Part ipant [1] Let me see if I have this right. * You're sharing a room with your parents, but you're paying the same as everyone else * You're expected to take a turn babysitting, but you don't have any kids * (Not sure about this one) Food costs are divided "evenly" (per family? Which means you're paying the
    via u/thehangel
  • 13
    same for one person as your parents are for two/your siblings are for 2+ kids? or per person?) * You often feel ganged-up-on Boy, I would be running so far in the opposite direction that I'd leave skid marks on the ground. NTA!
    via u/thehangel
  • 14
    • pissed_bitch ⚫ 19h ago The way I would have a very important work trip/meeting/event I absolutely can not miss show up on my calendar. Ugh so sorry I would have LOVED to be there, but no can do. Or tell em you'd rather not. That works too, considering they have no concerns being ahles to you. That's just the way the real world works
    via u/pissed_bitch
  • 15
    Confident-Broccoli42 Part ipant [4] 19h ago You couldn't pay me to go on this misadventure!
    via u/Confident-Broccoli42
  • 16
    friendlily • 19h ago Professor Emeritass [76] Also OP is paying for a pet fee - do they even have a pet they're bringing?! OP is just a vacation subsidizer at this point. I hope they bow out and take more relaxing, cost- effective trips moving forward.
    via u/friendlily
  • 17
    ak3307 19h ago Part ipant [1] Exactly!!! The cabin cost should be split by room...if there are 3 rooms then the people staying in that room means they pay 1/3 the cost. You would then split that cost with your parents bc they are also getting short changed by sharing a room but paying the same.
    via u/ak3307
  • 18
    Wheeliebean • 18h ago If you're sharing a room with your parents, you could be considered as a dependent which means you should pay zero Put your terms on the table, and if they won't accept, then don't go.
    via u/Wheeliebean
  • 19
    Pretty-Necessary-941 • 20h ago Certified Proctolog|st [25] NTA. You wouldn't pay to eat at a restaurant only to find you're expected to do the cooking, serving and washing up. If they want a vacation from their children they should pay a nanny, or leave them behind.
    via u/Pretty-Necessary-941
  • 20
    Existentialist Teapot ⚫ 20h ago A hole Aficionado [14] NTA This doesn't sound like much of a vacation at all. How it works in the "real world" is that people get to choose and you can just choose not to subsidise their accommodation cost. At the very least, accommodation costs should be split by bedroom not by person/couple. But beyond all that, if these trips don't make you happy, then don't go. Family obligation goes both ways and if they won't meet you in the middle then don't martyr yourself
    via u/ExistentialistTeapot
  • 21
    donnasnola • 20h ago That really sounds like a miserable way to spend your time off/ and then you're expected to pay the same? Go on a singles cruise or ask them to split it by each person in the family/children too/ that's how my family does it- kids eat a lot and cause wear and tear
    via u/donnasnola
  • 22
    Sure-Acadia-4376 • 20h ago A hole Enthusiast [5] " a couple of them are saying "that's not how it works in the real world""...that's EXACTLY how it works in the real world. They're trying to subsidize the cost of everything at your expense. Don't give in. NTA.
    via u/Sure-Acadia-4376
  • 23
    SomeRavenAtMyWindow • 14h ago • Edited 14h ago Exactly! Here in the real world, people are expected to: • Pay their fair share per person for travel, accommodations, and group activities • Pay for their own food and other costs (based on what they actually ordered, plus any shared items they ate) • Take care of their own choose to bring them kids, if they Pay their own pet fees if they choose to bring animals
    via u/SomeRavenAtMyWindow
  • 24
    OP's family are a bunch of scummy moochers. They're trying to make OP sound like a petulant, immature child by saying things like “this is how it works in the real world", when they're the ones not living in reality here. They're giving the same energy as the friend who asks everyone to meet for dinner, then orders 4 cocktails, 2 appetizers no one wanted, and a $$$ entree, but still expects the entire table to "split the tab equally” when everyone else just had water and salads.
    via u/SomeRavenAtMyWindow
  • 25
    tiredapost8 • 20h ago I only made it through the first sentence before I knew where this was going. NTA. They want you to be free childcare and pay a singles tax to join when, as you noted, you wouldn't even get your own space. Go take that nice solo trip and enjoy the peace.
    via u/tiredapost8
  • 26
    td55478 OP • 16h ago Oh wow lol. Cheesy but thank y'all for making me feel so validated I will definitely not be going. I have been very open with all of them about why I don't want to go. The ones that understand don't speak up to avoid conflict (mostly w the men) but I'm happy to speak my mind... Don't need to please them so I can sleep peacefully at night.
    via u/td55478
  • 27
    I would like to go, only if I had my own space, but that's not feasible as the only cabin with enough rooms for everyone is in a spot unsafe for little ones. We've vacationed there every summer for my entire life. My mom learned to swim there. So did my siblings and I. Now my nieces and nephews are. Of course | want to be there! I skipped last year because I realized when we went in 2023 that it wasn't fun for me anymore with so many extra people. I love being there but less so when I can't be m
    via u/td55478
  • 28
    to be the only sober person when everyone is dr‍ink. I smoke w d but obviously not around the kids or in crowded locations since it's illegal. Being around a bunch of drink people isn't fun for me, no matter how stoned I get. One of my siblings was trying very hard to make it work for me but we had to move the trip up to avoid a baby being born in the middle of nowhere lol. No smaller spots available for that time unless I want to camp. I love camping but not during July here in Texas. I was a l
    via u/td55478
  • 29
    and that's fine. I just do my own thing and am pretty happy on my own for the first time since I was a child. I've done lots of work on myself to get here and am still working. I'm sure I'll get to go again sometime in the future but the older I get, I'm more interested in protecting my peace and choosing myself. Thank you all again sm jeez
    via u/td55478

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

family drama entitled parents families kids siblings childless babysitting entitled family trip cabin money family vacation parents entitled people vacation
Scroll Down For The Next Article