Mother refuses for her 15-year-old step-niece to babysit her 2-year-old baby as she doesn't want to pay her the same $40 she gives her niece: 'I only pay this much to my niece. I wouldn't give someone else this much money.'

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  • I have a 2 years old daughter. My niece (15) has been babysitting my daughter since she was born. My daughter is really attached to her. She does such a good job. I pay her 40 dollars an hour which might be too much but hear me out, my brother is a single dad who is financially struggling and she needs this money. This is my way of helping. Now my brother got remarried and her new wife has a 16yo daughter and she thinks the girls
  • Two kids playing while an adult cares for them. Representation.
  • should take turns babysitting. I don't want that. 1. I don't trust his stepdaughter. I don't know her. 2. I only pay this much to my niece. I wouldn't give someone else this much money. 3. My daughter is attached to my niece Now she thinks I'm an a h le and causing problems
  • oceanicitl NTA. You decide who looks after your child. They're bonded and you trust her. Carry on as you are
  • Temporary Thing7517 You specifically, are fine. Don't worry about it. You don't have to let her watch your kid or anything else, let alone pay as much as you paid your niece. Their home problems are their own to deal with. However, understand that they may stop your niece from babysitting for you to hurt you. She's 15? She will be fine in a few years when she can make her own choices, but it may s k for a bit.
  • Arpeggio_Miette NTA. You choose who babysits your toddler. Your reasons are valid. And, you don't have to give her any reasons. "No" is enough of an answer. She thinks you're an a hole because she wants her daughter to be making that money. She is acting entitled to YOUR money and how you spend it.
  • eldarwen9999 NTA, stepmom is just trying to get the $40/h and mind you, she'll try to up it because her daughter is older and thus needs more spending money
  • 1568314 You say your brother isnt the kind of dad to let his wife make his daughter suffer... But if that were true, you wouldnt be posting here. He would've already shut this down and protected her job and her relationship with her cousin as well as your right to choose who cares for your kid. Instead he is standing back enough to make his wife's covetous behavior
  • A girl babysitting a baby. Representation.
  • everyone else's problem to manage. If he wont even take a stand for you and your baby, hes definitely not putting in the effort to keep his daughter from "causing problems in their family" by not doing whatever stepmom wants. NTA
  • TheDIYEd NTA. Just tell your brother that you are not interested and if he continues to push this will lead to strained relationship. My guess is the new wife feels entitled that her daughter needs to get some of those sweet $40/h
  • Melodic_Lynx_3546 NTA Your kid your rules end of conversation
  • paulinaatjex NTA make sure to have a way that your niece gets to keep all her money instead of them forcing her to share.
  • Lacroix24601 NTA, your child, your decision. This should never be about the step child having an equal opportunity to make money. I can guarantee that if not for paying your niece the $40, there would be no push for equal babysitting opportunities.
  • Lucky_Life5517 Trust your gut, some people are not built for babysitting, I have a 15 yo daughter and I wouldn't let her babysit my 2 other little ones for more than 5 minutes because she simply doesn't care for it, and would rather be on her phone than watch them. I for sure wouldn't trust a teenager I don't know to take care of them.
  • shan680k01 NTA, you're new SIL doesn't get to make your childcare decisions. It's an unreasonable ask.
  • -Raveheart- NTA. Communicate your very valid reasons to your brother, who can hopefully convince the wife that you're not doing it to snub her or her daughter. If your brother or the wife can't accept that, tough. You don't owe your brother's wife's daughter any babysitting rights.

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