18-year-old daughter refuses to free baby-sit her stepmother's 3-month-old baby, her bio father tries to reinforce a live-in nanny role: ‘My dad says I’m being ungrateful’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Apr 1, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

Living at home as a new adult is difficult when you and your family don't see eye-to-eye on everything. What family does, though? Instead of making waves in family discourse and starting arguments, you hope the dust settles and whatever that's been bothering you comes to a close before things get serious. This is often wishful thinking…

In the next story you're about to read, an 18-year-old woman is facing a dilemma. She is taking a gap year before shipping herself off to university, and in this gap year, she's living at home and working part-time so she can save some money. Now, her stepmom recently gave birth to a baby girl and expects her stepdaughter to drop everything she's doing and make her half-sister her only priority. What's worse is that the woman's father is taking his new wife's side rather than his biological daughter's. Scroll below to read the full story.

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  • Living at home is a great way to save money, especially as a new adult. Gap years are also a great thing to consider if you're not completely ready to see yourself off into the world of academia, especially if it'll cost a pretty penny to get you there. The 18-year-old here as the right idea, but her stepmom and father have decided to make her the live-in nanny, whilst holding the concept of “free rent” over her head. Family will be family, I guess.

  • "My dad took her side and said that since I'm part of the family, I should be helping more."
    via Daiga Ellaby For Unsplash+

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

  • "AITA for refusing to babysit my stepmom’s baby even though I’m living in her house?"

    Okay, so I (18F) just graduated high school and am taking a gap year before college. I live with my dad (45M) and my stepmom
    via Significant_Year5200
  • (36F), who just had a baby three months ago. I work part-time and contribute to my own expenses, but I don't pay rent or anything.
    via Significant_Year5200
  • Ever since the baby was born, my stepmom has been asking me to "help out" more, which has slowly turned into her just expecting me to babysit for free whenever she wants a break. At
    via Significant_Year5200
  • first, I didn't mind watching my half-sister here and there, but it's gotten ridiculous. She'll call me home from hanging out with my friends, wake me up early on my days off, or just hand me the baby without asking first.
    via Significant_Year5200
  • The other day, she left the house without telling me and left me alone with the baby. I had plans to go out, but I obviously couldn't just leave, so I was forced to stay
    via Significant_Year5200
  • home. When she got back, I told her she needed to ask me first and not assume I'll always be available. She got really upset and said, "You live here for free, the least you can do is help."
    via Significant_Year5200
  • Cheezburger Image 10488238592
    via Joshua Reddekopp for Unsplash

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

  • I told her I never agreed to be a free babysitter just because I live here, and that if they wanted a full-time nanny, they should hire one. My dad took her side and
    via Significant_Year5200
  • said that since I'm part of the family, I should be helping more. I told them I'd start looking for other places to stay if they kept pushing this on me. Now they're both mad at me, and my dad says I'm being ungrateful.
    via Significant_Year5200
  • AITA for refusing to babysit even though I live in their house rent- free?
    via Significant_Year5200
  • Cheezburger Image 10488239360
    via Toa Heftiba for Unsplash

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

  • Away-Elephant-... I get you live there rent free, but that doesn't mean they need to treat you like a live- in babysitter, you have your own life too, she can't just rely on you to watch the baby whenever she needs a break
    via Away-Elephant-4323
  • shammy_dammy Not your kid, not your responsibility. Do start looking for other living arrangements because this will not stop. Best to get out before the child tries to bond to you. NTA
    via shammy_dammy
  • No-Community- NTA the baby is theirs not yours, living rent free doesn't mean you have to deal with a newborn constantly, the fact that your dad agrees with your step mom is insane. If you can I would suggest you to move, you aren't being ungrateful you are only 18 yourself you should enjoy life without having to deal with your step sibling being left to you, especially if you haven't discussed it before.
    via No-Community-
  • CharKrat Yep. Your stepmom and dad aren't going to back down. Time for your own place. It's the only way you'll get peace and not taken advantage of.
    via CharKrat
  • Electronic_Wait_7500 The person you should be speaking with is your father. You also need to find an extra job or ask for more hours. You're going to need the money, and it will also give you somewhere to be besides at her beck and call.
    via Electronic_Wait_7500
  • messageinthebox Not your kid, not your problem.
    via messageinthebox
  • Zealousideal_Fail_83 Helping out and being the maid/babysitter are two different things. If she doesn't notify you first, then don't do it. If you are stuck because she has left, tell her and your father that you are not the default parent in the house.
    via Zealousideal_Ratio_8
  • Salty Thing3144 NTA. Her baby is hers to care for. Move out because this is only going to escalate since your dad took her side.
    via Salty_Thing3144

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family drama stepmother entitled parents stepmom reddit story family feud parenting babysitting dad entitled family reddit thread Reddit mom Parenting Fail parents entitled people
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