32-year-old makes girlfriend of 7 months babysit 6-year-old daughter while he plays video games, protests when she refuses to continue childcare: 'He said I was being fragile and acting like she's a burden'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jun 2, 2025 9:00 PM EDT

Being a parent is hard, there are few who are going to dispute that. For many, doing it without being able to coparent can be even harder. This can make dating as a single parent even more of a challenge than it would be otherwise, because the kids have to come first, no matter what. Often, it is difficult for a potential partner to accept that.

At the same time, some single parents have a nasty habit of taking for granted that any love interest who comes into their lives will happily and quickly take on a large role in their child's life, which could be considered inappropriate. Free childcare is difficult to come by, and there are those people out there who consider a romantic partner to be the perfect stand-in for this. If it's truly a mutual agreement, this isn't always a bad thing, but frequently, this isn't the case.

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  • 01

    AITAH for not wanting to “babysit” my boyfriend’s daughter while he games?

    i (27f) have been dating this guy (32m) for 7 months. he has a 6 y/o daughter, she's cute and sweet and honestly i like her. not the issue. what IS the issue is he keeps casually hijakcing our weekends into "family time" then just disappears to his PC the whole day like i'm the unpaid nanny. like i'll come over friday night, we'll eat, maybe watch something, maybe have s I if he's not "too tired" from work. then saturday it's "let's do pancakes with emma" and suddenly i'm brushing tangles out of
    via ThessaraGlint
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10512646400
    via Jason Hinrichsen (Unsplash+)

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

  • One woman was feeling the strain of this kind of situation after growing tired of her boyfriend of seven months expecting her to care for his daughter while he played video games. While she liked spending some time with the child, she felt she was not being fully supported or appreciated as a romantic partner and had begun to refuse any more babysitting shifts.

    Her boyfriend got upset at this, leading her to wonder if she had been unreasonable. She wanted a second opinion to clarify things.

  • 03
    and idk maybe i'd be chill about it if he did literally ANYTHING in return?? i cooked dinner twice this week and he didn't even say thank you. he asked me to take emma to the park while he "caught up on emails" (he was on twitch) and when i brought it up he said i was being "fradgile" and acting like she's a burden. i'm not her mom. i didn't sign up to be a stepmom intern just bc he thinks women default childcare mode. i haven't even met HIS mom yet. but apparently i'm just part of the routine n
    via ThessaraGlint
  • 04
    so i told him today i'm not coming over next weekend unless we get actual alone time. he literally scoffed and said "wow. didn't think you were that kinda girl.” so like. am i?? AITAH?? or am i just dating a man who wants a girlfriend/mom/maid combo deal in one?? idk. my head's spinning.
    via ThessaraGlint
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10512646656
    via Brock Wegner (Unsplash+)

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

  • 06

    Outsiders assured her that she wasn't the problem.

    ReasonableCookie9369 he wants a bang-nanny move on
    via ReasonableCookie9369
  • 07
    Diet CokePeanut Butter As a complete dumb a who was IN FACT a bang Nanny (hind sight is 20/20), this is what he wants from you. RUN!!!! Also, because I am petty, I would tell his ex it is you who has been minding his child while Chad plays video games.
    via DietCokePeanutButter
  • 08
    PerpetuallyTired74 Not just about pettiness but child safety. The kid is six and needs supervision which this man-child apparently isn't doing.
    via PerpetuallyTired74
  • 09
    dalealace He's taking advantage of you. He knows exactly what he's doing.
    via dalealace
  • 10
    Empress-Palpetine Not gonna lie I'd be turning off the internet so fast. If he can't be a father to his child and expects you to do it and make you feel like you are the AH in this situation is wild. He's acting like a child. You need a new bf.
    via Empress-Palpetine
  • 11
    Character-Archer5436 Absolutely. If he wants to act like a child, he can go live with one. You signed up for a relationship, not unpaid parenting while he rage-games on WiFi you should've cut days ago.
    via Character-Archer5436
  • 12
    K_A_irony The MOMENT he disappears for more the 15 minutes is your cue to tell him you are going home and leave. She isn't your kid. Honestly I would dump him. ΝΤΑ.
    via K_A_irony
  • 13
    jasperjamboree You know this was his motive from the start? Dump his daughter and all the responsibility on you because you're a woman. He's a loser and a crop dad because he probably does this to every woman he dates.
    via jasperjamboree
  • 14
    Only_Music_2640 "That kind of girl"? One with a spine? Dump him.
    via Only_Music_2640
  • 15
    jukethaplug You are NOT. I get it... video games are fun, addicting, and very sociable when playing with your best friends... but he has priorities and that involves his daughter and family. He's not a kid anymore with zero responsibilities, as a dad he should be spending time more with his family rather than sitting on a PC playing shooter games all day. I just want to say kudos to you for taking care of her and treating her like your own.
    via jukethaplug
  • 16
    Quiet-Hamster6509 'You're right, im not that type of girl to let someone use me for free babysitting while they neglect their kid. Grow up and good luck. Don't contact me again. "
    via Quiet-Hamster6509
  • 17
    No_Yogurtcloset_1020 NTA. Not even a little bit.
    via No_Yogurtcloset_1020
  • 18
    Top-Ad-6430 Yeah, no. He lost me when you said you've been dating 7 months and he leaves her with you. That's just very irresponsible parenting. He's looking for a bang-maid. You're only 7 months in and when you raised your concern about this to him, he dismissed you and accused you of being too sensitive. If you keep going, this will be your role in this relationship. I'd bounce, personally.
    via Top-Ad-6430
  • 19
    No-Satisfaction-3897 Just dump him. Trust what he is doing, this is who he is. If you feel like you need to try some more because you aren't ready then you will need to make some plans. Every week Ask him if he has his daughter. If he does, let him know you will give him some daddy daughter bonding time and you look forward to seeing him some other time. If he says he doesn't, plan a day trip for just you and him to go to a winery, an R rated movie, a comedy club or some other activity that woul
    via No-Satisfaction-3897
  • 20
    External_Expert_2069 Oh honey. I have been down this road. This is what your life is if you continue this relationship This is who he is. You should not be cooking dinner two times a week.... is he even doing the dishes or buying the food?? I'm guessing not if he can't even say thank you. Get out of this situation because it's only gonna get worse.... he's already insulting you for not playing mom... well you are playing mom. You being there is getting him out of his responsibility. And when he
    via External_Expert_2069
  • 21
    RecipeOpen2606 He is obviously that kind of a guy. It might be better to drop him and find someone worthy of your time.
    via RecipeOpen2606
  • 22
    Charming-Cucumber-23 The red flag is him introducing you to his daughter so soon
    via Charming-Cucumber-23
  • 23
    Special-March-4827 No, you're right, it's unfair for you and especially his daughter because from what I understand, he only sees his daughter on certain weekends, so instead of being on Valorant and letting you babysit his daughter, it's horrible because the girl would probably want to spend time with her dad, while you didn't sign up to be the little girl's nanny when you thought you were going to do an activity with him and her. In these moments, he's just using you to babysit his unhappy dau
    via Special-March-4827
  • 24
    Ok-Point4302 Sigh. So at 7 months in, you should've barely met the kid casually, not be basically parenting her. Not only is it unfair to you, it's unfair to the child. Now shes attached to someone who won't be around (and given how little her father cares, he'll find another you quickly; her childhood will probably be a rotating door of dad's girlfriends coming and going). You should break up, but if you date another single parent in the future, take it as a red flag if they're in a rush to int
    via Ok-Point4302

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