Parents scold 25-year-old son for refusing to babysit his 18-year-old sister for a weekend: 'She is a fully functioning 18-year-old. My wife and I also live about a 5-minute drive away from their house.'

2 weeks ago 44

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  • Woman in blue crew neck shirt

    An 18-year-old girl, who is perfectly capable of staying at her parents' house by herself for the weekend. 

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

  • Am I the bad guy for not babysitting my 18-year-old sister?

    My parents (51 and 52 years old) asked my wife (24 and I (25) to stay at home with my sister while they were away for the weekend. I explained to my parents that we already had plans for the weekend and wouldn't be able to stay at their house overnight. My mom

  • repeatedly pressured us to stay the night even after we said no. And when we kept repeating no she said that she was "going to remember this" and use it against us in the future.

  • A woman sitting at a table in the kitchen

    A mother who refuses to forgive her adult son for refusing to babysit his legal adult younger sister.

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

  • Here's the kicker....my sister is 18 years old and doesn't have any disa ities. She is a fully functioning 18 year old. They live in a safe neighborhood. And we have family that lives right. across the street. My wife and I also live about a 5 minute drive away from their house.

  • Golden hour modern middle class neighborhood dense population

    A safe neighborhood where most 18-year-olds could spend a weekend alone without incident.

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

  • We left after my mom's comment and my parents proceeded to not talk to my wife or I for a month. Full on silent treatment. We felt a wide range of emotions during this time period including guilt, anxiety, anger, hurt, and fear.

  • When they finally did start talking to us again they acted like nothing happened. When that period has come up in conversation they maintain that we were the ones who were being @ s and they did nothing wrong. So are we the a- s?

  • juanredshirt NTA. ?! So they screwed up raising your sister so badly that they don't trust her to be home by herself?!

  • Turbulent Safety9661 Right?? Like at 18 I was living on my own in a dorm, not needing a din babysitter. They really dropped the ball somewhere along the way.

  • AmarissaBhaneboar Right? I was watching my younger brother alone at like 9/10 years old lol. I had emergency numbers, I knew when and how to call emergency services family members, or family friends. If I could handle us for a few hours at 9/10 while my parents ran errands or had a date night, I think an 18 year old can handle herself for a weekend, lol

  • Sherlzzy0421 I agree NTA, but we don't know that the sister is the issue. It could be that the parents are way too overprotective and don't want to treat his sister as an adult.

  • happy-in-texas NTA - just curious, what did your parents do instead of you staying with your sister. I don't think I would let your parents go back to "nothing happened". You need for them to apologize for treating you and your wife so badly. And tell them you will remember this when they ask for something else. Time is on your side. One day they will ask.....

  • ThePookieBearHeart OP They did nothing. She stayed home by herself and was fine. To the surprise of no one.

  • owaikeia The next time you all have dinner and your parents bring this up, loudly ask your sister, in front of everyone, ignoring anyone who tries to interrupt... "Hey sis, the time you were left alone, did anything happen? Anything terrible happen? Did you feel OK and didn't need a babysitter?"

  • franklinchica22 I'm wondering if your parents were worried she was going to turn their house into a den of iniquity while they were gone and your job was to prevent her from having "a boy over."

  • Diligent-Towel-4708 So odd. Obviously NTA. I can't imagine demanding a babysitter for a barely teen let alone an 18 yr old with family across the street. Definitely missing some back story here.

  • ThePookieBearHeart OP My mom is a super clingy helicopter parent. And my sister is the youngest and only daughter. I think my mom is not ready for her to grow up and so she treats her like a little kid still. (Which drives my sister nuts too.)

  • dollkyu yeah, as someone that is the youngest child and only daughter in my family, my first thought was that they were controlling/helicopter parents because she's the girl and the "baby."

  • Lil-AngelGurl_99 Going to remember this? lol who says that AH sh? Why didn't they take her away with them? She's 18 and legally an adult in some countries. Be happy for the silent treatment.... dont let bad behaviour from them dictate your life - its manipulating bad behaviour.

  • Bunni_Bear Narcissists say it all the time.

  • IntrepidMuch The biggest problem here is that they saw no problem with punishing you. Both you and your wife should think hard about how much you are willing to let them back into your lives

  • Katsaj NTA. Silent treatment is not something emotionally healthy adults do. Declining to provide an unneeded favor because you already have other plans is. I hope your sister is out from under their surveillance state soon.

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