18-year-old son refuses to babysit his dad's girlfriend's 5, 7, and 10-year-old kids after she tries to guilt him into it: ‘I stood by my answer’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Nov 13, 2025 5:00 PM EST

The concept of a chosen family definitely exists, but when someone tries to force you into choosing them as family, that's when things get unnecessarily complicated.

At the end of the day, we all want to have loved ones by our sides, proudly holding up figurative signs signifying how much they support us in everything we do. Warming up to new, potential family members is a bit nerve-racking and often prompts a negative response from us simply because we aren't ready to welcome another person into our lives. Do we owe our parents' new arm candy our time for under-market babysitting pay rates? No, and the new beau is a fool if they think they can guilt us into it.

Such is the case with the 18-year-old in this next story, who stands his ground after his dad's girlfriend tries to play the "bonus child" "we will be a family soon" cards just so he'll cave and watch them for chump change.

There could always be a gentler way to handle things… But when our needs and feelings aren't being listened to and understood, why should we tread lightly? Scroll below to continue reading the story and gain more perspective into the teen's family life.

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  • 01
    three children sitting at a table
    via Keren Fedida for Unsplash

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

  • 02

    "AITAH for refusing to be a cheap babysitter for my dad's girlfriend?"

    My dad's got this girlfriend Laura and Laura has three kids (10, 7 and 5). She has sole custody of her kids and they don't have dads in their lives.
    via Lynhnhun
  • 03
    My dad and Laura now live together. And I (18M) babysat once or twice before. But babysitting was/is $25 a night and the hours were 7pm to 10am.
    via Lynhmhum
  • 04
    I didn't appreciate being paid so little and it came with entertaining the kids which I wasn't cool with.
    via Lynhnhum
  • 05
    My dad and Laura expected me to keep babysitting once a month like that. Laura was pissed when I told her I wasn't babysitting anymore.
    via Lynhnhum
  • 06
    They said getting family to babysit should make it cheaper. Laura said me and her kids will be siblings when her and dad get married so I should take the chance to spend time with them and bond with them.
    via Lynhnhum
  • 07
    I told her we'd only be stepsiblings and we don't have to be close. I said I have to be polite and not a jerk but nowhere is there a law that says I need to act like I'm their big bro.
    via Lynhnhum
  • 08
    My dad and I aren't that close anyway and my mom was my primary parent growing up.
    via Lynhnhum
  • 09
    Now I stay at mom's house. So it's not like I'm eager to do it for him, so he can have his date nights with his girlfriend.
    via Lynhnhum
  • 10
    Doing him a favor isn't top of my priority list either. It's been like a year since I last babysat and they want a night out before Christmas but don't want to pay a regular sitter who'd charge Laura way more.
    via Lynhnhum
  • 11
    They told me I should get over myself already and babysit again because it's important for their relationship.
    via Lynhnhum
  • 12
    teen boy in an orange sweatshirt looking out the window solemnly
    via Ludmila Pashkevych for Unsplash

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

  • 13
    I asked them why I cared what was important to their relationship and Laura said it's because we're family and I want them to go the distance.
    via Lynhnhum
  • 14
    I told her I didn't care either way. She asked what my problem was and I told her it's a lot to ask.
    via Lynhnhum
  • 15
    I said she only pays $25 but I also have to entertain her kids and stay with them for hours and I'm the one who has to make sure they get to bed.
    via Lynhnhum
  • 16
    I said it's not the same as babysitting when the kids are in bed and I can do my own thing.
    via Lynhnhum
  • 17
    She said it's quality time with my new siblings. I rolled my eyes and my dad said I might not like it but we are siblings now and I should act like it.
    via Lynhnhum
  • 18
    Laura told me I'm meant to be her bonus son and I should be happy to help her out.
    via Lynhnhum
  • 19
    I stood by my answer and they're really trying their best to convince me I'm being shitty.
    via Lynhnhum
  • 20
    So I figure why not ask here. AITAH?
    via Lynhnhum
  • 21
    Visual-Lobster6625. NTA - she's treating you like a bonus servant rather than a "bonus son". 99% of problems I see with blended families happens when relationships are forced. No one can force you to see Laura and her kids as family. They may be your dad's family, but that doesn't automatically make them yours.
    via Visual-Lobster6625
  • 22
    Realisyan Exactly. They're acting like he owes them free childcare just because his dad's dating her. That's not family bonding, that's straight-up taking advantage
    via Realisyan
  • 23
    National-Plastic8691 and OP's father didn't even really raise him
    via National-Plastic8691
  • 24
    Prize_Maximum_8815 Exactly! FWIW, when my sister asks my daughter to babysit, she pays quite a bit more than the going rate. Because it's family. You don't take advantage of your kids, or nephews and nieces, you do more for them than you'd do for a stranger.
    via Prize_Maximum_8815

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family dynamics family drama entitled parents entitlement reddit story family feud parenting entitled family reddit thread parent Reddit Parenting Fail parents entitled people Parenting FAILS
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