23-year-old sister refuses to cancel her graduation trip in favor of babysitting sister's kids while sister leaves for her anniversary getaway: ‘I already had everything planned and paid for’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
May 21, 2025 7:00 PM EDT

When couples begin to seriously consider having kids, they should take into account all of the things they will not get to do again until their kids are all grown up. Not sleeping through a full night is a big change once you have a baby, and for many, that change sticks even after that baby is, well, no longer a baby. Not being able to go on a romantic vacation is another big change, one that many new parents might overlook at the beginning, but miss a great deal once they truly understand what it means.

Sure, you can take your kid on vacation along with you, but then it is not really a vacation, right? It's not like you can sleep in or lounge by the pool all day long; you still have the responsibility of taking care of your child. You can also try to leave your kids behind with a babysitter, maybe their grandparents, an aunt, or an uncle, but none of them actually owe you anything. If they are not willing to do it, then you can kiss your dream vacation goodbye.

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  • When the mother in the story below had her babysitter cancel on her, she turned to her family for help. However, instead of asking nicely, she actually demanded her younger sister cancel all her plans so she could babysit over the weekend. Unfortunately for the mother, the sister was not ready to sacrifice her plans for kids who are not hers.

  • 01
    "No one owes you childcare"
    via Africa images

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

  • 02

    AITA for not canceling my graduation trip to babysit my sister’s kids?

    I (23F) graduated college last week, and me and a few friends planned this small road trip to celebrate. Nothing crazy, just four days driving along the
    via Sweet_Piece1502
  • 03
    coast, staying in cheap Airbnb's, eating good food, taking pics something we've talked about doing since sophomore year. Everyone chipped in, we saved for it,
    via Sweet_Piece1502
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    and it was meant to be one last trip before people start moving away or starting jobs. Anyway, two days before we're supposed to leave,
    via Sweet_Piece1502
  • 05
    my sister (32F) calls me kind of freaking out. She's got three kids under 7, and her babysitter canceled last minute. She and her husband had planned a
    via Sweet_Piece1502
  • 06
    weekend anniversary getaway, and now she wants me to stay back and watch the kids. I told her I couldn't. I'd already paid for my part of the trip, I was
    via Sweet_Piece1502
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    really looking forward to it, and it wasn't something I could just drop last second. She got super upset and said I was being selfish and immature, and that I don't
    via Sweet_Piece1502
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    have anything important going on and she never asks me for help (not really true, she does, a lot). Then my mom chimed in too, saying I should be there for
    via Sweet_Piece1502
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    family and that my trip could wait. I told them I wasn't trying to be mean, I just wanted to do this one. thing for myself after working my a. off for four years.
    via Sweet_Piece1502
  • 10
    MommaSnarky Definitely NTA. Your sister is being selfish. Her anniversary trip with her husband is not important, and they can postpone. Sometimes, that is just life with kids. The kids are the parents' responsibility, not yours.
    via MommaSnarky
  • 11
    Sweet Piece1502 OP Thanks, that actually makes me feel a little better. I've been really torn about it, but you're right her anniversary isn't somehow more important than my graduation. I worked hard. for this, and it's something I've been looking forward to for ages. Just wish she saw it that way too.
    via Sweet_Piece1502
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    Cheezburger Image 10507837952
    via Africa images

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

  • 13
    AdWitty7251 Ur sisters the AH for even asking
    via AdWitty7251
  • 14
    Sweet Piece1502 OP Yeah, I was really surprised she even asked. I get that she's stressed, but it felt unfair to put that all on me last minute, especially after I already had everything planned and paid for.
    via Sweet_Piece1502
  • 15
    Idontlikesoup1 Her trip versus your trip. Her kids versus no kids for you. She's the immature one. Enjoy your trip and congrats on your graduation.
    via Idontlikesoup1
  • 16
    Icy-Platform-5904 Exactly, that's not a "favor," that's straight-up trying to slap a parenthood side quest on you mid-celebration.
    via Icy-Platform-5904
  • 17
    hilltopj Why can't your mom babysit, is she not family? It's fun how "Family helps family" always seems to come from the family member not helping.
    via hilltopj
  • 18
    NTA, btw. It might be worth considering skipping the trip if your sister was hard up for a babysitter because she was at risk of losing her job or had a dire emergency, but she just wants to go on her own vacation. F that.
    via hilltopj
  • 19
    There's nothing special about having kids that means that everyone else has to cater to her; since you didn't get a say in them. being born then you're not responsible for them. Enjoy your road trip.
    via hilltopj
  • 20
    romanaribella Lmao I love how her childcare emergency means you should cancel your plans, but it didn't occur to her to cancel hers.
    via romanaribella
  • 21
    Plus, you only have one graduation. Unless her marriage falls apart, she gets an anniversary every year. Entitled parents need a reality check. No one owes you childcare.
    via romanaribella

Tags

family drama aita baby babysitter graduation kids mother siblings reddit story babysitting aunt family sister Reddit women college parents children vacation
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