Stepmom "Heather" expects 17-year-old stepson to call in sick to free babysit his 3 half siblings, he refuses and dad gets involved: 'He told me to start focusing on family relationships before I have none left'

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Sep 29, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

Life for a teenager isn't easy. Though many adults would sacrifice a lot to live the life of a teenager, it's no paradise when you're actually in that transition period. Just because you don't pay rent and eat whatever you want doesn't mean life is easy. A lot of teens start to have hostile relationships with their parents, and if you have a blended family, then things get even more complicated. 

In this story, the narrator is a 17-year-old whose dad remarried and had three kids with his new wife. They have 3 children all under 3-years-old, so there's a lot of work to be done to support them. One particular Saturday, the stepmom, "Heater," expects her stepson to babysit the kids while she goes to an appointment, which would require him to cancel his work shift. He refuses and sneaks out of the house. His father and stepmom are livid when they find out, but I totally understand where he's coming from. 

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  • 01

    AITA for going to work after being told I needed to babysit which meant my dad's wife had to cancel her appointment and and be with my half siblings?

    Teenage boy working
    via kali9 / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    This happened Saturday. I (17m) was scheduled to work. On Thursday Heather (dad's wife) told me I needed to call out
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 03
    Saturday because she had a doctors appointment and someone had to babysit my half siblings (3 of them 3 and under). I
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 04
    told her I wasn't calling out and she'd need to find someone else. My dad works Saturday's and he told me his job was more
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 05
    told me his job was more important than mine and I didn't need to be so locked in on work and school that I ignore my
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 06
    'family' anyway so I should call out of work and enjoy the day of being a big brother. I told him I
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 07
    wasn't doing that and I'm going to work whether they like it or not.
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 08
    My dad left the house way early Saturday morning and then Heather told me her appointment was for 9 and she was leaving at 8
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 09
    so I would watch the kids. Instead I skipped breakfast and left for work early and ate breakfast. somewhere else. Heather was
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 10
    getting ready when I left. She tried calling me but I kept walking lol.
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 11
    I got 10 calls from Heather before those stopped and then around lunch I got 5 calls and 4 texts from dad saying I was supposed
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 12
    to babysit and did I realize I cost Heather her appointment. I ignored his calls and texts. I got
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 13
    home around 3 and Heather was yelling and cussing me out saying I knew she had the appointment. My only response was she knew I
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 14
    wasn't calling out of work. She tried to take my phone but I refused to hand it over.
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 15
    Babies
    via FatCamera / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 16
    Dad got home around 7 and he was pred too. He lectured me on leaving Heather without someone to babysit and on not
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 17
    taking the time to be there with my half siblings. He told me I might not want to be with them but as a member of the family
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 18
    and a member of the household I owe it to everyone to contribute and to make time to help out. He said my half siblings didn't
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 19
    Teenager studying
    via SeventyFour / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 20
    deserve to be walked out on like that and Heather didn't deserve to miss a doctors appointment because I'm spiteful that he
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 21
    remarried and they want us to be a real family. He told me I need to start working on family relationships before I have none
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 22
    left. Then yesterday morning they expected me to apologize or to act remorseful but I'm not. I have zero regrets and I went to work as normal yesterday.
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 23
    The reason I focus so hard on work and school is I do not want to live with them a second longer than I have to. I'm saving to get
    via u/LuKHdee
  • 24
    out and go no contact and I work every chance I get. My dad's aware of what I'm up to but I don't think he really believes I'm serious about it but I am. AITA?
    via u/LuKHdee

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family drama drama siblings family feud relationships lol love entitled family reddit thread red flag Reddit funny money dating entitled people
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