“She wants a co-parent”: 16-year-old accused by stepmom of being unhelpful for refusing to free babysit half siblings when bio dad isn’t around, he doesn’t care

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Jul 20, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

Welcome back internet creatures. When you live with many family members, privacy becomes your best friend, your most coveted safety net. Some kids have everything they need and more, and some kids grow up in volatile, hostile, or toxic living situations when they're a kid. It doesn't matter if you live with both of your birth parents, with a single parent, or with divorced parents and their new spouse. Life will throw curves at us all that we can only stealthily dodge with care and consideration. 

If you are someone who grows up with step parents and step siblings, it's important to know where your boundaries are. Most kids aren't keen on the idea of new people suddenly living with them, so it's important to be extra sensitive in these situations. If you're not, things can turn ugly. It's best to have less pressure on teenagers, especially in these circumstances. In the story below, the stepmom expects her teenage boy to free babysit. Read the full story below. 

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  • 01

    AITA for refusing to help my dad's wife with my half siblings now that he's MIA?

    "I don't care what she thinks"
    via Fangirl from pixabay / Canva

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

  • 02
    My parents got divorced when I (16m) was 2. Until last year I split my time between them an equal amount. When I was 6 my dad remarried and had more kids with
    via u/Chaszisz
  • 03
    his wife. I never liked her much and we argued a lot. She hates my mom too, always did. Then last year a bunch of stuff changed. My dad was promoted and his base is now out of state.
    via u/Chaszisz
  • 04
    So he and mom agreed to change the custody schedule and she has me full time and I see him when he's "home". Him and his wife separated after that but
    via u/Chaszisz
  • 05
    they're still married and he goes to stay some weeks when he's "home" so I'm not sure what's going on there. But he's gone way more than he's there.
    via u/Chaszisz
  • 06
    His wife was p ed about the custody schedule with me changing and she tried to say she had raised me for 9 years and should be allowed to keep me in
    via u/Chaszisz
  • 07
    her and my half siblings' lives even if dad isn't always there. I didn't want to go so mom said no and dad was like whatever is fine by me.
    via u/Chaszisz
  • 08
    Cheezburger Image 10531324672
    via Pgiam from Getty Images Signature / Canva

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

  • 09
    Since I turned 16 she's been more pushy about me being more involved in her household and not staying away when dad isn't around. She told me I should be helping out now because she's
    via u/Chaszisz
  • 10
    "essentially a single parent even if she's not". I really don't want to be around her and I told her I don't give a f about helping
    via u/Chaszisz
  • 11
    her. But she says I owe my family more and she's family whether I like it or not and so are my half siblings.
    via u/Chaszisz
  • 12
    I'm fine with my half siblings but not close and I don't need to see them more than I do.
    via u/Chaszisz
  • 13
    She's getting angrier at me and at mom because I won't help and won't spend a few hours or nights at her house when dad isn't there.
    via u/Chaszisz
  • 14
    She's even angrier that I told her she has no authority over me and my mom has custody now. When she brought up how she's been around most of my life I told her I
    via u/Chaszisz
  • 15
    never liked her and since it looks like her and dad are basically over I don't need to have anything more to do with her.
    via u/Chaszisz
  • 16
    She told me I'm disgusting for being so unhelpful and for turning my back on my family. I don't care what she thinks. But I know that this was harder on my half siblings and the last time I
    via u/Chaszisz
  • 17
    saw them they said they missed me. It was awkward because I don't miss them when I don't see them for months. But all they
    via u/Chaszisz
  • 18
    Cheezburger Image 10531324416
    via Shamsheraz from Getty Images / Canva

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

  • 19
    knew was me being there two weeks a month. Now I'm maybe there three weeks a year. AITA?
    via u/Chaszisz
  • 20
    South Wrongdoer... • 16h ago I'm guessing that she wants a co-parent, not even just a babysitter. NTA
    via u/South_Wrongdoer2404
  • 21
    Preference Afraid ⚫ 16h ago NTA. You're not her back up parent.
    via u/Preference_Afraid
  • 22
    Inevitable_Pie9541 • 16h ago She wants a stand-in husband, now your dad isn't. around. You're 16, and that is not your job.
    via u/Inevitable_Pie9541
  • 23
    I don't mean anything gross, more like chores, handyman stuff, watching her kids. What a husband/father would do. Not your responsibility, NTA.
    via u/Inevitable_Pie9541

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