My aunt has four young kids (between 7 and 13) and often asks me to babysit when she runs errands or has plans. I usually say yes and don’t expect anything in return.
This time she asked me to watch them for a full Saturday. I had to give up a work shift to do it. Money is tight for me right now and that shift actually mattered.
I asked if she planned to pay me… she seemed caught off guard and said family doesn’t charge family. I explained that I wouldn’t be able to afford missing work but she really wasn’t taking it well. She wasn’t shouting or anything, but she had that kind of demeanour where you can tell she was a mix of angry/disappointed with me.
She found someone else, but later my mom told me my aunt was upset and felt like I was putting money over family. I don’t feel good about it, but I also didn’t want to pretend it didn’t matter.
AITA? I feel like on one side, yes family shouldn’t charge family, but on the otherside, when doing something for them causes you to lose out on money that you would have otherwise made, then it becomes more reasonable, or does it??
If you had skipped work without getting paid by your aunt, you would have paid to babysit.
She’s disappointed you didn’t pay to babysit her kids. And they’re saying that *you* are putting money over family?
NTA.
Lmaooo that’s actually so true, when you put it like that!
If my aunt mentions it again I’m gonna bring that up and see how she reacts 😂
Tell her that anyway since she got a flying monkey to go after you for it.
Well, you know ,since family doesn’t pay for my rent or food I can’t babysit unless I get the same I make at work for my shift. Sorry
> my mom told me my aunt was upset and felt like I was putting money over family
Your Aunt wanted you to babysit for free at your expense to save money. I’m sure your Mother is not stupid enough to not realise this. NTA
Next time just tell her you have work. Dont inconvenience yourself with no reward. NTA
This. You have a job where you get paid. Why would you give that up to work for your aunt for free?
No kidding, it amounts Op paying the Aunt for the privilege of babysitting her kids.
Also, if it’s so important to Ops mom, she can babysit the kids
dude your aunt is taking advantage of you thats not cool
my cousin used to do this until i started asking for cash
you gotta pay your bills she can get a real babysitter
This is why I love Reddit!! I knew there’d be people here who’ve had the exact same issue.
Thank you for your reply, it gives me a lot of reassurance that I did the right thing as I’ve been all over the place with this recently.
NTA
Next time tell her that you are not free, You have work.
It’s bizarre reasoning that she expects you to drop a shift when money is tight so she can do whatever, putting herself above “family.”
NTA, but you are being an asshole to yourself by not standing up for yourself. Do not ever watch these kids unless you want to and she’s paying you. Why isn’t your mom watching the kids if that’s how she feels about it?
NTA. Your aunt is taking advantage of you. Not to mention, putting money into niblings pockets is part of the fun of being an aunt. I do not like her. Booo.
If you’re scheduled to work, don’t even say you can babysit if she would pay you. Just say “I’m sorry, I can’t babysit for you Saturday, I have to work.” If she says you should skip work, just say she should understand that work is an adult responsibility and that you can’t just blow it off or you will lose your job. Ask her ”Do you want me to lose my job?“ See just how far she will take her self-centeredness. And then go to work.