35-year-old aunt offers to take 17-year-old nephew on a trip to Italy if his mom watches her 4-year-old daughter while they're away: 'Awesome opportunity for everyone involved!'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Mar 25, 2026 8:00 AM EDT

This will be so much fun for both kids!

What kid doesn't love to spend time with their aunts and uncles without their parents? It's so much fun to be around adults who are responsible enough to take care of you, but aren't going to parent you the same way your parents will. If your dad takes you to Six Flags, he might not want to spoil you rotten, so he'll say no to getting the giant Pixie Sticks. Your uncle, on the other hand? He is willing to indulge, mostly because he doesn't get to see you every day of the week, and he wants to make you happy for the little time you have together. It's nice to give special things to the kids in your family who you love, but the most important thing is savoring quality time when kids are young. You can always save more money, but you can't go back in time to go on a vacation to Disneyland when your family is full of young kids who would love it. 

It's wonderful to do kind things for the older kids in your family when your kids are not old enough to enjoy it. If you have a 2-year-old son, you might be better off bringing your 13-year-old niece to a Broadway show instead of your son, because she will appreciate, enjoy, and remember it much more than he will. The aunt in this story decided to bring her nephew on a vacation to Italy instead of her daughter, and it's an incredibly sweet gesture on her part. 

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  • A person with a backpack in front on Roman ruins
    via Joshua Kettle (Unsplash+)

    A teenage boy looks at ancient Roman architecture while on vacation in Italy.

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

  • Should my sister and I swap each others children for the week?

    My younger sister (F35) wants to bring my son (M17) on her upcoming trip to Italy next month during my son's spring break after him telling her that he always wanted to visit Italy when she mentioned it in a conversation with me when we recently visited each other. She wanted to do something special for him since he got accepted to a top college for next year and wants him to experience a vacation since my husband (M45) and I (F47) struggled financially our whole lives and don't have the money t
    via u/ComfortNatural404
  • iwillbringuwater What are your reservations about it? Seems a cut and dry choice/decision- so there must be an inkling of something off if you bring it to Reddit. Only you know the answer. Do you want to watch your Neice? Do you trust your son with your sister? If the answer to both is yes, I don't see why you wouldn't give him that experience and have the bonding time at home. If the answer is no to either question- put that in your post.
    via u/iwillbringuwater
  • ComfortNatural404 Original Poster's Reply She said that she's gonna parent him like her daughter for the vacation since she doesn't like my parenting style she's more strict, she wants no phone/electronics time for him during the day, wants him to study one hour each day during the vacation, and wants to ban him listening to music and watching shows which she thinks are a bad influence that's part of her deal
    via u/ComfortNatural404
  • Cautious_Alarm2919 I actually think that's a fair rule on vacation to be engaged on the once in a life time trip, and if that's not what he's used to that's fine if he's informed. It's not forever, and it's a good experience to adapt to different things
    via u/Cautious_Alarm2919
  • dkbGeek This. It's pretty common for us not to turn on a TV when we're in Italy for a couple of weeks, even in hotels that make it clear they have English-language satellite channels. (I speak Italian but my partner doesn't much, so Italian TV would be hard for him.) There's PLENTY to see and do and learn and experience to fill 10 days.
    via u/dkbGeek
  • AnastatiaMcGill I mean, theres no real reason to be watching TV while on vacation in Italy. Hopefully by the end of the day you're too tired or if you're staying in a hotel swim in the pool, use the gym etc
    via u/AnastatiaMcGill
  • ComfortNatural404 Original Poster's Reply Yeah Italy is too beautiful and a lot to do for tv time lol
    via u/ComfortNatural404
  • Venice grand canal Italy
    via Dan Novac

    Grand Canal, the main waterway of Venice, Italy. It is much more beautiful than television.

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

  • IslandOrganic5637 your sister is extremely controlling it sounds like. some of those might be good like limited phone access and mandatory studying, but the music and shows part is too much imo. 17 is old enough to watch R rated movies (by law in the US)
    via u/IslandOrganic5637
  • ComfortNatural404 Original Poster's Reply It's kinda like the sibling version of wife swap sibling swap, she says her rules are for my sons own good and personal development, then I could parent him how I want when he's back she said that I could parent her daughter the way I want for that time too
    via u/ComfortNatural404
  • A cute small girl with mother in bedroom indoors at home drawing pictures
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    An aunt drawing with her 4-year-old niece while her sister takes her teenage son on vacation to Italy.

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

  • OmniPurple I don't know your family but I know mine and a lot of others... I think it would be an awesome opportunity for your son but I also see it as her taking a vacation as a newly divorced single woman and not having to worry about missing out on things because she brought her 4yo instead of your 17yo.... maybe she knew you wouldn't agree to watch her kid if she didn't take yours... I could be wrong.... but also, taking care of a 4 year old is a LOT more work than a 17 yo....
    via u/OmniPurple
  • ComfortNatural404 Original Poster's Reply Her daughter has school during her scheduled trip,my son has spring break so their schedules fit perfectly she doesn't get much cg time off since she's partner at an accounting firm
    via u/ComfortNatural404
  • ghettoliving If you all are close and you get along well with her daughter and he gets along with her, I'd say do it. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for this young man. Congratulations to him for being accepted to the college. As long as he is comfortable and both parties are comfortable with doing it then both of the children will be well taken care of.
    via u/ghettoliving
  • EducationExpress3376 This is gonna sound harsh... the fact that you're even on Reddit asking, makes you incredibly. selfish! Your son has an amazing opportunity that you & his dad couldn't and won't ever be able to give him. Kinda sounds like you're a bit jealous and that's why you don't want to keep her kid while she spends thousands on yours. Could be reading this incorrectly but from an outsider's perspective your kid will 100% resent you if he doesn't go. My son's 15 & my sister is 8 years y
    via u/EducationExpress3376
  • LiteraryPhantom Fkg awesome opportunity for everyone involved! I lived 4 years in italy. This is literally one of those "once in a lifetime" kinda things. What would be the possible reasons to not allow it?
    via u/LiteraryPhantom

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Italy sisters niece aunt family accountant mom nephew vacation babysitting
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