Entitled couple leaves 12-year-old son at friend's house to go on a date, ignores texts from family that he's overstayed his welcome: "This was never a part of the plan"

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Feb 9, 2025 5:00 PM EST

I grew up in the US, but I was raised in a Latin American household. It was pretty hard for my parents to wrap their heads around the whole sleepover culture because it's just not really a thing in where they were raised. Even having friends over for dinner is a whole ordeal in Latin America, and having kids casually spend the night is almost unheard of. Thankfully, my folks are pretty open-minded and let me go over to friend's houses so long as they knew the parents. Still, they were incredibly prompt for pick-up time because they didn't want me to overstay my welcome, and they conversely expected my friends to skedaddle by breakfast and not to linger for lunch.

In our story today, a family finds themselves feeling taken advantage of for their previously lax policy on sleepovers. When an entitled couple leaves their kid with them for an extra day and ignores their texts, our protagonist finds out through Facebook that they are on a romantic date night. They clearly thought that they could get a free babysitter out of them for a night. Get all the juicy deets below!

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  • 01

    Sorry but today our house is not "the house"

    "We're not your babysitter; Come get your kid."
    via nd3000

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

  • 02
    For reference, we (me 45m, wife 44f, kids: 12yb, 10yg, 6yo b/g twins) are always the host of our kids friends group. Our 12y son plays club soccer, AAU basketball so often the world's merge like today for his birthday.
    via u/triandlun
  • 03
    I myself grew up 1 of 4 boys, so I'm fully aware of a rambunctious full household. We always over stock snacks and food knowing we usually have 4+ kids in our house with friends coming over, ride shares, and over nights.
    via u/triandlun
  • 04
    Cheezburger Image 10465672448
    via Peopleimages.com - Yuri Arcurs

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

  • 05
    Typically I don't care, actually love the extra company. Both my sons and daughters friends are respectful and a pleasure to be around. But I'm starting to wonder if our openness is being taken advantage of.
    via u/triandlun
  • 06
    As I mentioned today is our 12yo birthday. A friend, who is here often usually without planning already slept over last night to attend the party. Ok cool, no problem. Well, this morning, my wife wakes up with a fever and our twins are both chucking buckets. My wife and the twins stay home from the party which was at a different location and devastated her.
    via u/triandlun
  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 10465672960
    via Halfpoint

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

  • 08
    While at the party, the parents of the friend who had slept over the previous night asked if he could sleep at our house again tonight. This was never apart of the plan. I responded immediately no, and explained the situation with people being sick. I can
    via u/triandlun

  • This couple's plan was already pretty inconsiderate, but ignoring texts about the family being ill is just extra disrespectful.

  • 09
    see they read the text, but no response from parents. After the party I drive friend to his house, and sure enough he's locked out nobody home. I bring him to our house texting the parents they need to come get their kid. Again, read, no response.
    via u/triandlun
  • 10
    It's been 2 hours now, and according to the kids parents FB, they're at a brewery. I'm livid. AITAH to tell these parents we're not their babysitter and to come get their kid? I feel bad because he's a good kid and friends with my son, but if a sick wife and unpredictable puking twins ain't a line in the sand, I don't know what is.
    via u/triandlun
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10465672704
    via nd3000

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

  • 12
    UPDATE Wow! First of all thanks for all the respectful comments and feedback! A lot of people asked for updates and I wasn't quite sure how to do so, SO here it is:
    via u/triandlun
  • 13
    After reading some of the comments I felt like calling CPS or the police was a nuclear option that would ultimately lead to negative long-term consequences to both the friend and my son. He's a good kid, keeping him here and safe is not a burden. Nor do I think he parents are chronically neglectful.
    via u/triandlun
  • 14
    My response to the parents was basically reiterating all your comments. Although I didn't lay out a specific time period, or 3rd party involvement, I did make it very clear future engagements would be severely restricted going forward if the disrespect (from parents not kid) continued.
    via u/triandlun
  • 15
    I was apologized to in person several times when they showed up. An excuse was coming, and I quickly interrupted stating "I like your kid, he's a good kid, don't take us away from him." That must have struck a nerve with mom because I could see her fighting a tear. Hopefully that sinks in and we can go froward from this.
    via u/triandlun
  • 16
    booksandcheesedip Comment on their Facebook post "hey, we told you this morning when you asked that your child could not stay over again tonight because our family is sick. Come get him right now" public shame can go a long way
    via u/booksandcheesedip
  • 17
    pacificat Yes, this is the way, passive aggressive. No need to burn bridges when you have the threat of fire
    via u/pacificat

  • I hope their date night was worth it because they're not getting another chance at a free babysitter again.

  • 18
    Drabulous_770 It's not really passive aggressive though. It's direct and to the point.
    via u/Drabulous_770
  • 19
    Kotomorf Whoops, did we say free 24/7 childcare service? AA
    via u/Kotomorf
  • 20
    Adorable-Flight-496 This is how a good friendship can de. You start having the kids less and less because of the terrible parents. NTA
    via u/Adorable-Flight-496
  • 21
    triandlun OP This is actually what I want to avoid but I feel as they get older (the kid is an only child) it's going to get worse.
    via u/triandlun
  • 22
    On_my_last_spoon He's almost at the age where he can have a key to his house and stay there alone. I realize that the age parents feel comfortable doing this is much older now, but by 12 I was often home alone. I'd say there's another year of this and by 14 if they're still friends it won't be as dire.
    via u/On_my_last_spoon
  • 23
    Now of course as not the parent I certainly wouldn't just drop a 12 year old at an empty house! But the parent could have picked their kid up and gone to the brewery. Heck take the kid with you! If it's your standard microbrewery it's just a restaurant with better beer anyway.
    via u/On_my_last_spoon
  • 24
    LadyReika I grew up as a latchkey kid in the 80s. It mindboggles me that a 12 year old doesn't have a house key.
    via u/LadyReika
  • 25
    evilcj925 That is when you send them a text that they have 20 mins to get there, or your next call is to the police for child abandoment. Then, after 20 minutes, you call the police. If that ends the friendship, well, that is too bad.
    via u/evilcj925
  • 26
    Green Onion Crusader Comment it on their social media page. Explain how the whole family is throwing up and you've already asked them to come get their kid, now you're telling them. They decided a brewery was more important than their sons health and people need to tell them how sh tty they are for it.
    via u/GreenOnionCrusader
  • 27
    Sunny_babygirl2005 NTA You're hosting your own family and dealing with a sick household right now, so it's completely reasonable to set a boundary and let them know you're not their free babysitter.
    via u/Sunny_babygirl2005
  • 28
    Odd-Artist-2595 Either that, or simply show up at the brewery with their kid.
    via u/Odd-Artist-2595
  • 29
    irish_ninja_wte I like this one. Tell the staff "this is their child and he was locked out of the house. I was so worried for him"
    via u/irish_ninja_wte
  • 30
    AdWaste3417 I've been dropped off alone at my house as a kid many a time and the parents of my friends never gave a shif no one was home, they just took off. You're a good person.
    via u/AdWaste3417

Tags

friendship entitled parents fatherhood childhood adulting motherhood reddit story relationships parenting sleepover couples reddit thread Reddit raising kids entitled people
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