Uncle refuses to babysit for rambunctious nephews because they broke his $1500 television, brother refuses to pay or apologize

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Apr 5, 2026 10:00 AM EDT

They say "kids will be kids," but that doesn't mean you have to take care of them for free.

You might love the kids in your life, but that doesn't mean you want them running around wrecking your stuff. Stuff that you worked hard to own. As a non-parent, you might be accustomed to the non-kid life. You have breakables in your home and haven't given one thought to childproofing. And that's your right to do. You don't have kids, so you don't need to secure your home for them. But what about the kiddos that come into your life, faster than a moving train? Maybe you're their aunt or uncle, or maybe they're the children of a friend. Either way, you suddenly have kids in your space where there once were none. And kids are nothing if not unpredictable. You never quite know their next move. 

You're probably happy to babysit the kids in your life who you love, and you might even do it for free. Someone you love is a parent, and you know they need all the help they can get, so you're happy to swoop in. They're doing a million things, and you can take some things off their plate for a time. You might even love the kids and relish spending time with them. Kids can be an immensely positive influence on your life. They can also break your expensive television set. Both things can be, and usually are true. 

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  • Two young children run around inside
    via Unsplash+ (Curated Lifestyle)

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

  • Am I in the wrong for refusing to babysit my nephews cause they broke my tv last time?

    My brother has two kids who are litterally Live wires. Last month I watched them for a weekend and they smashed my flat screan tv by throwing a baseball inside the house. My brother refuse to pay for it and said kids will be kids. Yesterday he asked me to watch them agian so he could go to a aniversary dinner. I laughted and
    via greenmonkeyyyy
  • said absolutly no way. He got super mad and said family is suposed to help each other out. I told him he owe me 1500 bucks first. Now my mom is super mad at me and say I am holding a grude against little childern. I definitly think my brother is just cheep and entiteled but my whole family wont stop texting me. AITAH
    via greenmonkeyyyy

  • If you're the parent in that scenario, then you'd better step up to the plate to help out when your kids do something wrong. You know that it's probably not their fault, and that we should all be allowed to make mistakes, but there is only so much that you can let them get away with. If your kid breaks something that belongs to someone else, it's on you to replace it. The parent in this story didn't think so, however, and it harmed his relationship with his brother. Keep scrolling to see what you think about it, and then read what commenters had to say.

  • Commenters were dismayed at the reaction of these parents.

    patientzerozerozero Not real. There's no way your mom is on his side.
    via patientzerozerozero
  • greenmonkeyyyy Original Poster's Reply i also cant believe
    via greenmonkeyyyy
  • Commercial-Meat-1346 "Kids will be kids" is a parenting philosophy, not a home insurance policy. He refused to replace your TV and then asked you to watch them again that's not family helping each other, that's one person repeatedly absorbing the cost of another person's choices. NTA, and $1,500 is a very reasonable prerequisite for a second chance. Your mom's texts don't pay for a new television.
    via Commercial-Meat-1346
  • A young child jumps up and down on a bed
    via Unsplash+ (Curated Lifestyle)

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

  • No_Fault_2268 NTA, why doesn't your mom let her grandchildren smash her house? Maybe she'll change her opinion after it.
    via No_Fault_2268
  • DaBingeGirl NTA. D n. I had a similar situation with a relative's kid, though not as costly. Tell your mom she's welcome to watch the kids. F around, find out. People need to start parenting.
    via DaBingeGirl
  • Acceptable-Law9406 NTA I would be holding that broken TV over his head for DECADES Or take him to small claims court.
    via Acceptable-Law9406
  • Consistent-Dog8537 NTA. I would have expected he buy you a new TV too. Tell him and whoever is criticizing you to rack off.
    via Consistent-Dog8537
  • Successful_Steak_923 NTA. His kids broke your TV and he refused to take responsibility. That's the real issue. You're not holding a grudge against the kids, you're setting a boundary with a parent who won't own the damage. Asking him to pay first is completely reasonable. Family helps each other, but that goes both ways.
    via Successful_Steak_923
  • PurpleEmotional1401 NTA. Ask him to send them to juvie for the weekend. They'll feel at home there.
    via PurpleEmotional1401
  • Tight_Most_8465 NTA-your brother's the real AH for dodging that $1500 bill and expecting free chaos cleanup, stand your ground!
    via Tight_Most_8465
  • Foxbur19 NTA. Tell your mother the grudge isn't against the children. Tell her actions have consequences and a parent is responsible for the damage their children do to other peoples property. NTA!
    via Foxbur19

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nephews kids brother sibling memes siblings family feud babysitting sibling money
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