Internet Backs Man Who Refuses to Babysit His Sister's Kids Ever Again

A man has found support online after he refused to babysit for his sister again after a chocolate mishap with her children.

The now-viral Reddit post recounting the situation, titled "AITA for telling my sister I am never babysitting for her again," has been upvoted 12,000 times since it was shared on June 28. Redditor @Dogloverforeverr shared the post to the subreddit "Am I the A**hole," saying he's a 37-year-old single man who is "child-free."

The original poster (OP) has two dogs who are "German Shepherd mixes," and he relayed that they are "very well behaved and super nice." The man's "niblings," or his nieces and nephews, who range in age from 2 to 13, love the dogs.

The man has four sisters, and they have a total of 10 kids altogether. He babysits the children "a lot," and he does it for free while working from home. He admitted he's "pretty much always available to watch the older" kids as he can work while they are in the apartment. When they need him to take care of the little kids, he just moves his schedule around slightly.

The Cost of Kids

Taking care of a child is costly, as all parents are aware. However, that number has recently increased for many. According to Care.com's Cost of Care Survey, 63 percent of parents say the cost of childcare has cost more over the last year. In addition, such expenses are more of a concern for 59 percent than in previous years as well.

The cost of taking care of kids is on the rise, and in 2022, 51 percent of parents said they spend more than 20 percent of their income on childcare. In addition, 72 percent spend 10 percent or more on it as well, which is an increase from pre-pandemic data in 2019.

The typical cost of childcare for every type is more expensive than before the pandemic as well. For example, the childcare for one child in 2021 was $694 a week on average for a nanny, which is an increase from $565 a week in 2019.

One Rule: No Chocolate

Yesterday, four of the man's nieces and nephews were at his place, and two of them are 3 and 5, while the older ones, who are 7 and 8, are siblings.

"I have just one super strict rule at my house: No chocolate," the man explained. "It's deadly for dogs, I don't like it anyway, and kids can easily go an afternoon without it. The 7 and 8 [year olds] obviously brought chocolate with them and shared [it] with [the] 3 and 5 [year olds]. I was in the kitchen making them drinks, they were in the living room. My dogs were sleeping on the balcony."

Their uncle came into the room, and there were "chocolate crumbs everywhere." The OP asked the kids who had the chocolate, and the older kids admitted that their mom had given it to them and that they "always" have some, but they usually just eat it secretly.

The OP concluded: "When my sister came to pick them up a few hours later, I told her what happened, and she said that her kids are big enough not to make a chocolate mess. I told her I'm never babysitting for her again. She is furious and says I overreacted. Another sister of mine agrees with her. My mother thinks I am wrong for putting my dogs before the children."

The man revealed in a comment to another user he gives the children "plenty of snacks," but only the kind that doesn't harm dogs.

"I know a few crumbs won't kill them," he said. "But a piece of chocolate every now and then can cause damage. Also, kids just forget where they put their food sometimes. The 3 [year old] once left their granola bar under the couch (I have no idea why Lol), and the dog brought it out and ate it later. That's why I only allow snacks that won't harm the dogs."

Redditor Reactions

Over 2,000 comments poured in, and people are completely siding with the OP given the circumstances. In addition, Redditors were quick to place blame on the kids' mom. "NTA [not the a**hole], and what a nice life lesson she teaches her kids 'if you don't like the rules, just lie.'"

Another comment, which received 9,800 upvotes on its own, voted NTA as their verdict. "Additionally, I would not babysit children that are taught to lie to me," the Redditor said.

One user reasoned the OP had "one simple rule," and the man's sister "broke it and made her kids hide it! They also clearly aren't big enough to not make a chocolate mess since there were crumbs on your floor."

People called out the man's sister, and one such user admitted they wouldn't do the woman "any more favors," adding, "NTA. I can't understand what she thinks she will win from this? You had one rule, and she's proven that she doesn't care at all about your feelings regarding your dogs' safety."

Another thinks it's the man's sister who is at fault and not her kids. "She owes you a huge apology," the Redditor said. "She taught them how to be sneaky. You are right, it wouldn't kill them to go a little while without chocolate."

The danger the chocolate posed to the dogs was also mentioned by some Redditors. "NTA. Will the kids die from not eating chocolate for a day? No," a user said. "Could the dogs die from eating chocolate? Yes. It's a simple request that anyone getting free babysitting should have no problem accommodating."

Newsweek reached out to Redditor @Dogloverforeverr for comment.

Kids Going Viral

This isn't the only viral post involving kids.

The Internet bashed a dad who kept his 10-year-old daughter a secret.

A mom was dragged after calling a woman a "child abuser" for cooking her son frozen food.

In addition, the Internet slammed a father who bought a car for his stepson instead of his biological kids.