A dad has been shamed for insisting his wife pays him for "babysitting" their daughter because she's a "burden" to look after. He explained how his wife and their neighbour struck up a great friendship thanks to their shared love for horror films - and on occasion they watch movies together without their children.
While the dad doesn't have a problem with his wife spending time with their neighbour, he has started growing resentful of "babysitting" his daughter and the neighbour's two children while they relax in front of the TV. He said: "My wife really likes watching scary movies but I have never enjoyed them. I get too scared and end up having a bad time so I prefer to avoid them. Her friends sometimes go with her to the more popular ones but she also likes older, indies and foreign horror movies.
"She has always had a hard time finding people that have this niche interest and that is why it was such a big deal when we met our neighbour Walter and found out he also shares this tendency.
"They very quickly started to make plans to watch movies together. I was invited to be a part of this but refused."
He explained how his wife usually watches movies at Walter's house but sometimes ventures into town with him to catch them at the cinema instead.
"They eventually started doing stuff outside of watching movies like going out for dinner. Walter invited all of us, including the kids, to go with him to a restaurant that a friend of him owned but I said no because it was too expensive," he added on Reddit.
"I don't like that kind of place because I feel it is a waste of money and didn't think the kids would enjoy it either. I insisted on staying with the kids and let the two of them go by themselves.
"This has became a regular thing and it is in a way a good deal for me because Walter pays for my wife's dinner and she can no longer complain about me not taking her to fancy restaurants."
But after a while, the dad started to become resentful of always being expected to be free to watch over the children - aged 10, 12 and 14.
The dad said: "As both their movie and dinner nights have became so common, I have grown a little tired of the burden of constantly babysitting the girls.
"I talk to my wife and Walter about it and he explained that he usually does not like leaving his daughters with babysitters.
"He says he is really comfortable knowing that they are being watched by an experienced father like me instead of some teenage girl.
"He nevertheless agreed that it was too much of a load for me and offered to start paying me a standard babysitter fee each time he goes out with my wife."
However, his wife quickly shot this idea down saying he shouldn't be paid to watch over his own daughter or children of a close friend - like Walter.
"My wife was fully against it. We have been arguing about this but she insists on this notion and is not open to change," he added.
"She even gets mad every time I talk to her about this. Walter promised me that he will convince her but he does not seem to have been able to do so either."
While most users sided with his wife, others claim he is encouraging her to go to Walter for "all her emotional and social needs".
One user said: "You're in the wrong for several reasons, two of which are calling taking care of your own kid 'babysitting' and not really caring about your marriage.
"Don't be surprised if your wife ends up leaving you for Walter, if they're not already having an affair..."
Another user added: "To clarify, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a friend of the opposite sex who shares a hobby.
"The issue is - he is refusing to participate in any aspect of his wife’s interests or fill her romantic needs, letting Walter fill the whole vacuum of his neglect.
"He won’t compromise and join them on any of the movies, even infrequently; he won’t take his wife to a nice dinner because he thinks treating his wife to something nice occasionally is a waste of money.
"He insists on staying home when invited to join in non-scary movie activities, then whines about 'babysitting', and he doesn’t suggest any alternate group activities they all might enjoy.
"So, he’s just encouraging his wife to go to Walter for all her emotional and social needs. No way that could ever backfire."
A third user said: "I’m sorry but it looks like your wife has a new husband and somehow you’re the babysitter.
"You're wrong for asking for babysitting money. But, this whole situation is so bizarre. I think you need to figure out if you want to be married, and if she does, because right now it doesn’t seem like you are."
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