When parents have children, they may often rely on family and loved ones to help out with odd favours with their newborn. However, there are boundaries that shouldn't be exceeded - as a mum explained online.
Taking to popular forum Mumsnet, a woman has refused to babysit her son's girlfriend's two children. The anonymous user has questioned whether she's being unreasonable to refuse the request of her son's new relationship.
She explained: "Looking for an unbiased opinion to see if I'm being unreasonable. My son is 17, he's been in a relationship with a woman for about two months. She's 23 and has two children - four and two."
The woman went on: "I'm not happy about the relationship due to her age, and I think it's moving too quickly with my son meeting her children already.
"A couple of weeks ago, I came back home and the two-year-old was here with my son, apparently, his gf had asked him to look after her whilst she took the eldest to an appointment. I wasn't happy as I wasn't asked and again, their relationship is new.
"My son has asked me to look after her children next weekend so they can go out on a date, apparently her family aren't involved neither are the children’s fathers and usually her friend looks after them but she's also busy.
"I've said no, which my son has said I'm being unfair and selfish as I won't be doing anything anyway. I've also never met the eldest, and only met the youngest briefly."
Seeking advice, she questioned: "Would I be unreasonable by saying no?"
Since sharing, the woman's post has raked in over 200 comments to date - with several people assuring the mum that she was being reasonable.
One person wrote: "You are not being unreasonable. It's far too early to be introducing a new partner never mind a new grandma figure. The kids don't know you so you shouldn't be baby sitting BUT if this relationship lasts long term you want both son and new daughter-in-law to be onside. You will need to tread carefully."
Meanwhile, someone else said: "You are being completely reasonable. As a mother you wouldn't be babysitting my child unless I personally knew you a long time and also knew that you were capable of looking after a four-year-old."
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