We all expect some reciprocity if you’re helping a family member, and there is nothing wrong with it. But what if you ask for a small favor and everyone goes against you?
A Redditor took to the forum and asked, “Am I wrong for making my younger sister watch my baby?”
Backstory
The Original Poster (OP) is a 24-year-old female who lives in her apartment. OP’s fiancé was deployed, and she has a one-year-old son.
OP’s younger sister Ella is 18 years old and lives with OP. She paid no rent and went to the nearby college. She had no job, and OP financially supported her since she was in school. OP’s parents lived 3 hours away, so it was a better fit.
OP worked five days a week, and her son was in daycare. OP got called to work on a Saturday, which was a weekend, and the daycares were closed. OP pleaded with her sister to watch over her son.
OP’s sister refused and told her that it was her weekend off from school and she had a lot of studying to do. OP said she needed her to do that, and this is one of the very few requests she ever makes. She told OP that she should find a babysitter online. OP noted that she needed to watch him, explaining that she cared for her and could do that one thing for her or go back and live with her parents.
What Did OP’s Sister Do?
She became distraught and told OP that she was rubbing what she did for her in her face and that she was an adult and OP’s son wasn’t her responsibility. However, she eventually agreed to watch him, and OP went to work.
While OP was on break, she checked her phone and had numerous texts from her parents saying that OP was abusing her power over her sister and that her son wasn’t her sister’s responsibility.
OP never asked her sister for help with the baby; she lived with her, so she could attend the school she wanted.
What Did Others Think?
Redditors tagged her as not the A..hole.
“NTA. She is living with you for free. This was an exceptional circumstance. Like if the plumbing needs to be fixed and you asked her to stay home to let the plumber in.” said one.
“NTA. I don’t get the people saying OP is…..The sister lives there rent-free with no responsibilities besides school; they can live financially free because of OP. Asking her to watch the kid once is not outrageous given it was for OP to get to work, and she likely needs the money with the extra adult to feed and house,” another added.
Source: Reddit.
Was the OP justified in asking her sister to look after her son, or was her sister right in arguing that OP’s son wasn’t her responsibility? What do you think? What would you do in this situation?
This article was originally published on Mrs. Daaku Studio.