December 31st is about seeing off the year on your own terms. Whether it’s partying with friends or sprawling on the couch and judging the ones who do, the beauty of New Year’s Eve is that it’s one of those holidays that’s entirely yours to define—a celebration, a reflection, or just another Saturday night but with better snacks.
However, Eli, who goes by Dreamgirl_sweet on Reddit, had her plans ruined when her brother asked her to babysit his children at the last minute so that he and his wife could go to a fancy dinner.
Babysitting children probably isn’t people’s idea of how to spend their New Year’s Eve
Image credits: EyeEm / freepik (not the actual photo)
And even though this woman did it for the other brother, he didn’t seem appreciative
Image credits: aimenda123 / freepik (not the actual photo)
Image credits: dreamgirl_sweet
Paying your relatives for babysitting your children doesn’t give you the right to break your agreements
Image credits: user18526052 / freepik (not the actual photo)
The cost of childcare is high. For example, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) states that it is considered affordable when it costs families no more than 7% of their income. However, according to the 2024 Cost of Care Report, respondents, on average, are spending 24% of their household income on childcare, with 60% spending 20% or more, and 84% spending 10% or more.
So, the fact that the dad is paying his sister for babysitting is commendable. In these situations, “You have to think about the financial implications of all involved,” said Abbey Sangmeister, a therapist, life coach, and founder of Evolving Whole.
“The amount of hours, what is expected during that caregiving time — acknowledging there is labor involved in caring for children is the first step to having a successful relationship.”
However, for an arrangement to work, both parties need to adhere to it. One simply cannot assume anyone with experience watching kids is available or willing to spend their time caring for theirs. As much as we want to think grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings will help us with childcare, it’s still asking a lot, so the least you can do for them is to stick to the conditions you agreed on.
Virtually everyone who read the woman’s story sided with her
