17-year-old refuses to babysit sister’s kids after she embarrasses her by calling her a live-in nanny at family dinner: 'She doesn't have a life'

Author image for Isabella Penn
Isabella Penn
Mar 29, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

Being the sibling that ends up as the designated babysitter at every family gathering is exhausting. It's great for the parents, they get to sit back, relax, and enjoy a glass of wine. But the unpaid labor for the kid who got the short end of the stick is brutal. Growing up, I was always in charge of my two little cousins at family parties. And while I love them to death now, the thought of playing hide and seek for hours on end still gives me PTSD.

But this 17-year-old sister's story is a little different. After years of quietly watching her older sister's three kids without complaint, one particularly petty moment at the family dinner table pushed her too far. Instead of offering a simple "thank you," her sister decided to crack jokes about her being single and having nothing better to do than babysit. Now, this teen is setting some much-needed boundaries with her older sis... but not everyone in the family is happy about it.

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  • "AITA for refusing to babysit my sister’s kids after she embarrassed me at a family dinner?"

    So, I (17F) have an older sister, "Lisa" (27F), who has three kids (6M, 4F, and 2F). She's always asking me to babysit for free, and I usually do it because I love my nieces and nephew. But lately, I feel like she's been taking advantage of me.
    via IntroductionRude8359
  • Last weekend, we had a big family dinner at my parents' house. Everything was fine until my mom jokingly mentioned how I've been focusing on school a lot lately, and Lisa goes, "Yeah, because she doesn't have a life otherwise. No boyfriend, no
    via IntroductionRude8359
  • social life, just stuck at home doing math." I laughed it off at first, but she kept going, making jokes about how I'm "basically a live-in nanny" and how she's doing me a favor by giving me "something to do." The whole table was
    via IntroductionRude8359
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  • laughing, and I was sitting there embarrassed as h I. My dad even said, "Lisa, that's enough," but she shrugged it off. I was so mad that I decided right then and there that I was done.
    via IntroductionRude8359
  • The next time she texted me, "Hey, can you watch the kids Saturday?" I just replied, "No, I'm busy." She asked me with what, and I said, "Finding a life." Now she's furious, saying I'm being childish and punishing her
    via IntroductionRude8359

  • This sister set herself right up for that comeback. 

  • kids over a joke. Even my mom is saying I should "be the bigger person." But I feel like if I don't set a boundary now, she'll keep walking all over me. AITA?
    via IntroductionRude8359
  • peakpenguins NTA. You should be the bigger person? She's 27 years old ffs. She was relying on you for child care and instead of being appreciative, sh all over. you in front of your family. She made her bed, she can lay in it while she's watching her own kids.
    via peakpenguins

    Mic drop

  • Cheap_Direction9564 Yeah, that's a big FAFO Lisa. Enjoy your Saturday night at home with the kids.
    via Cheap_Direction9564
  • Nowelo NTA - setting that boundary is a smart thing to do. Stick to it!
    via Nowelo
  • Material_Cellist4133 NTA Tell your mom "I'm finding a life. You should support me not enabling a hole behavior. Why don't you babysit?" Then walk away.
    via Material_Cellist4133
  • dogmamayeah Sounds like she's jealous of you and your freedom. You sound like a wonderful sister. Excellent quip back to her. You can forgive her when you're ready on your terms. NTA!!!!
    via dogmamayeah
  • saintandvillian NTA. Tell your mom that you'll be the bigger person while you're finding a life. Then tell her that it's outrageous for her to chastise you when her 27- year old daughter is so ride and entitled. She needs to parent her *other* daughter. and leave you alone.
    via saintandvillian
  • hdgal63 NTA, if she can't appreciate you, then let her learn how to deal without you. That was just downright r de, uncalled for and you have every right to set boundaries. You are not punishing anyone, your sister is doing that all on her own.
    via hdgal63
  • DareDare_Jarrah You're 17. If there is a good time to be the petty person, it's now. Your sister is 27, tell her she probably shouldn't. treat people who are doing a big favour like sh.
    via DareDare_Jarrah

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Tags

family drama drama kids sibling rivalry siblings revenge parenting petty babysitting dinner sister karma parents children entitled people
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