Dad refuses to host sister's 4 kids in 2 bedroom apartment where 5 and 7-year-old already share a room: 'Just let them squish together'

Are we obliged to let family stay with us no matter what?

For a lot of people, having relatives visit is simply another part of family life, and babysitting the kids is something that is even more inevitable. If you are related to a parent with whom you are on decent terms, it is highly likely that you have watched their children at least once or twice. It is one of those favors that almost always come up.

That being said, people often have limits on this form of generosity, both in practice and in principle. Not everyone has the lifestyle and the setup to support multiple individuals, let alone kids, for an extended period of time. They can't be the go-to person for free childcare simply due to proximity; all the other factors have to be considered as well.

As a parent in desperate need of a babysitter, this can be one disappointment too far. Still, it is important to be realistic when it comes to whether relatives can cope with the level of childcare that they may be needing. It isn't always fair to dump this responsibility on them, in particular when there are other viable options available.

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A mom was expecting her fifth child with her husband, and was considering who would look after the other four kids when the baby came. She decided that her brother would be the best option to allow her some time alone with her new child and her husband.
The issue was that the brother lived with his two kids and his wife in a two-bedroom apartment, and he didn't think he had enough space to host his nieces and nephews for two whole days. On top of that, he didn't want to leave his wife with six children while he went to work. He refused her demand, but after her upset reaction, he wasn't sure he had done the right thing.
Am I wrong for not wanting to take in my sister's 4 kids?

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