21-year-old mother of 2 expects her 18-year-old sister to constantly take care of her kids: 'When she’s taking care of them she’s on her phone and ignoring them 80% of the time'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Aug 2, 2025 8:00 AM EDT

I don't understand people who have kids and don't want to take care of them. I'm not talking about parents who need to work three jobs just to keep the lights on, nor am I talking about parents who work overtime to make sure they can pay for their children's college educations. I'm talking about parents who, when in the same room as their precious bundles of joy, choose to ignore them to watch TV or scroll on their phones. I don't think that you need to have your full attention on your kids for every second of the day, but if they feel like you care more about what's on your phone than you care about them, you're not being a good parent. If you can't be around your young kids all day, make the most of the time you do have with them to build a close relationship. 

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement

  • The mom in this story is setting herself up to be estranged from her kids. She had them when she was 17 and 19, and now that she's 21, she hasn't gotten her life together to care for them at all properly. She's leaving that work to her 18-year-old sister, who can barely take care of herself.

  • 01

    My sister had kids young and expects everyone else to take care of them

    My sister had my niece at 17 and my nephew at 19 only my nephew was planned and she only had him so that her baby daddy would stay and he didn't. Now she's 21 and expects everyone to take care of them.
    via u/extreamlypulpymilk
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10537236480
    via Christian Bowen

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

  • 03
    When she's taking care of them she's on her phone and ignoring them 80% of the time. My parents babysit for her a lot because she's never home. I live with her and I have to watch her kids while she's home because she doesn't watch them despite the fact I'm au tic and can't even take care of myself. I'm watching them right
    via u/extreamlypulpymilk
  • 04
    Cheezburger Image 10537230080
    via Aiony Haust

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

  • 05
    now and i didn't even know it was just me here with them for the first 30 minutes because she didn't tell me I was watching them. I don't mind watching them sometimes but like, what the actual f
    via u/extreamlypulpymilk
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10537210624
    via Jayson Hinrichsen (Unsplash+)

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

  • 07
    HellaShelle Smh. Sad how often this seems to come up on this site. And how old are you now, OP?
    via u/HellaShelle
  • 08
    extreamlypulpymilk OP I'm 18
    via u/extreamlypulpymilk
  • 09
    SnooWords4839 Go away to college and let sister figure it out!
    via u/SnooWords4839
  • 10
    HellaShelle I think you need to focus on becoming independent. Sign up for classes at a community college, call CPS and ask if they know of any resources that can help you figure out where you might be able to work. When you do find yourself babysitting try to enjoy what you can of the experience but don't volunteer for it. Your parents are taking on what they can and you can't force your sister to be different, but you can aim to be responsible and accountable for yourself, kids or no kids.
    via u/HellaShelle
  • 11
    buddyblazeson It s ks that you're dealing with this, I can relate, my sister has two kids, instead of spending time with them, she spends 90% of her time on the computer playing video games, like they'll come and ask me if they want food, a drink, have a question, and then when I try to get her attention, she gets all mad at me.
    via u/buddyblazeson
  • 12
    I feel a bit guilty for being frustrated over this, and not giving them the care I think they need, but I'm only one person, who never wanted the responsibility of having kids, I didn't have any part in creating them, but at the same time, I want them to have an adequate life.
    via u/buddyblazeson
  • 13
    I'm also on the spectrum, so I get that too, and even if I wanted to get a job, I'd be hard for me to, since I can rarely leave the house since there always needs to be someone watching the kids. It's frustrating because I'm 18 now, I want to live my own life, not pick up the slack of someone else's. If you ever need to vent about someone who can strongly relate, feel free.
    via u/buddyblazeson
  • 14
    4-Inch- -Club Can't believe someone who had a kid at 17 might have unrealistic expectations.
    via u/4-Inch-*******-Club
  • 15
    Negative_Track_8109 She is immature and using everyone around her. She will likely be having another kid soon to try to lock down another baby daddy.
    via u/Negative_Track_8109
  • 16
    Whole_Craft_1106 This is happening because there aren't any consequences. Its sad, because something will eventually happen and it will be those kids that suffer.
    via u/Whole_Craft_1106
  • 17
    Dear_View_4957 i can definitely understand where you're coming from, my sister had her son when she was young and expected me to take care of him all the time because we're “family.” it s_ks a but i had to set some boundaries and let her know that im not gonna watch him for free especially when i had to sacrifice my job and school. i love the kid but it got so tiring. i hope things get better for you OP. :(
    via u/Dear_View_4957
  • 18
    Sad-Country-9873 You need to prepare to move out and live your life. Mom and dad can welcome her home.
    via u/Sad-Country-9873
  • 19
    Lorrie322 My brother and his gf are 33 and 30 and do this....
    via u/Lorrie322
  • 20
    Entire-Garage-1902 Those children are going to need all the help they can get. Be a positive force in their lives and they will love you forever.
    via u/Entire-Garage-1902
  • 21
    genxreader This. I understand your frustrations so much, but these poor kids need people who truly care about them.
    via u/genxreader
  • 22
    numbersev She's a good example of why people say you should have to take an IQ test before having kids
    via u/numbersev
  • 23
    marysposts It sounds like you both still live at home with mom and dad. Mom and dad enable her lifestyle and you are just stuck in the crossfire. Start working, use that as your excuse to not being able to watch her kids and then start saving for your own place because her situation is likely not going to get better endless your parents put their foot down. You can't control how they decide to raise your sister, the only thing you can control is making things better for yourself
    via u/marysposts
  • 24
    Busy-Preparation- It's really not okay that she does that. All you can really do is move away from her. That's really sad for the kids. They are like toys she doesn't want to play with no more
    via u/Busy-Preparation-
  • 25
    Even-Escape6545 Thats how i ended up raising my little brother
    via u/Even-Escape6545

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

family drama entitled parents kids mother teen mom siblings entitled parent niece babysitting entitled family sister Reddit mom nephew children entitled people
Scroll Down For The Next Article