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AIBU?

To not want to provide free childcare because I work part time?

144 replies

Babynut1 · 20/02/2019 08:51

I’m one of 3 siblings. After having my children, my childcare options were limited so I paid a fortune for nursery and went pt. In doing so my salary dropped by about £10K a year. It’s been tight but we manage.

My youngest goes full time in Sept. My niece is in the same class so I have her one morning a week and take her to preschool with my DD.

When they go full time, my niece won’t be coming up me as my sil will be dropping her to breakfast club and she’ll be going to after school club.

We’ve decided that I won’t be going back to work full time as I’d struggle with full time childcare in school hols and it means I’ll still be able to take and collect my children from school and take them to activities etc.

My sister and her husband both work full time and earn much more than us. She has a boy and a girl. Her eldest is in full time school. She’s never paid for childcare and doesn’t want to go part time. She’s on mat leave at the moment and her going back to work coincides with my youngest going to full time work.
She’s practically told me that when she goes back, I can help her out on my non working days.

I don’t mind helping out with school runs etc with her eldest as I’m going anyway. But AIBU not to want to have her baby on my non working days?

I’m not in the best of health, I have arthritis in many joints. I also feel like I’ve forked out a fortune in childcare over the past few years and sacrificed a lot to make things work for my family.

I plan on using my days off to do my housework, go to the gym, swimming and gentle exercise to help with my arthritis.

AIBU completely selfish for not wanting to loook after my sisters baby 2 days a week when she goes back to work?

OP posts:
WhatToDoAboutWailmerGoneRogue · 20/02/2019 08:54

YANBU or selfish. She chose to have those children, not you, so she needs to make provisions for them.

Intohellbutstayingstrong · 20/02/2019 08:58

YANBU. Stick to your guns.

MatildaTheCat · 20/02/2019 08:59

You know YANBU. Just tell her you have other plans. End of.

MigGril · 20/02/2019 09:00

I think maybe it's fair to say you'd be willing to do emergency back-up care in case of sick days, but no to regular child care. Your health is important and it's your sisters choice to go back to work full time.

LoisWilkerson1 · 20/02/2019 09:01

Nip this in the bud now. I'm in the same position, I've made sacrifices for my family not for others to benefit. I've seen people stay full time, advance their careers, get bigger homes etc while I'm stuck at home it's petty maybe but watching a baby for free is a big ask. Just say no.

MzHz · 20/02/2019 09:01

She’s practically told me that when she goes back, I can help her out on my non working days.

Well, you can actually tell her that you absolutely won’t be her free childcare service! Didn’t see her stepping up for YOU when you were paying through the nose.

“Sis, somewhere along the line you appear to have decided or assumed that I’ll pick up your childcare responsibilities, I need to correct that assumption now so that you have plenty of time to resolve this issue. I have my own children to look after, I have my own limitations and the decision I’ve taken is to work part time so I can managed my own family, I’m not able or willing to take on any more than I have to”

Fluffyears · 20/02/2019 09:03

Not your problem. She’s a cheeky fucker just deciding this for you.

formerbabe · 20/02/2019 09:03

Yanbu. You will be facilitating her earning. Suggest she goes part time and does pick ups while you go back full time?!

Flicketyflack · 20/02/2019 09:04

Say no!

You can elaborate with your reasons but you don't need to.

We all make choices in life and you are not there to prop her up. Helping out occasionally is not the same as facilitating her life. Grin

MzHz · 20/02/2019 09:04

Bugger that with emergency back up on sick days! That is what parental leave is for! Op has her own family that she won’t want to come down with similar illnesses.

Favour yes, expectation no.

RogueV · 20/02/2019 09:04

YANBU

Say no

AuntMarch · 20/02/2019 09:07

My mum has told me she is going to do a day for me- and I'm worried it's too much commitment. I'd never dream of asking!

finn1020 · 20/02/2019 09:11

God no, dont do it unless you want to. Or is she planning on splitting her wages equally with you for the days she expects you to do childcare?

MissEliza · 20/02/2019 09:11

Please nip this in the bud now. You don't have to elaborate on the reasons. I've heard to siblings sharing the childcare but never one doing it for the other with no reciprocation.

FinallyHere · 20/02/2019 09:16

I deleted my first draft replay to echo the wise words of @MzHz which are just perfect.

Jackshouse · 20/02/2019 09:16

Tell her that you won’t be available to do childcare for her ASAP. Text her now.

I would text her now and say you just realised that she may have been suggesting that you look after the baby but obviously she won’t be expecting you give her free childcare anyway so you must have mistaken but that you definitely wouldn’t be able to do childcare for anyway.

Freshstart40 · 20/02/2019 09:20

No way OP don't do it. I'm a SAHP due to cost of childcare and have had a few full timers try and take advantage. We make sacrifices and live on a budget to facilitate this. You also don't have to justify what you do on your days off. Even just relaxing watching your favourite show. It's YOUR time.

EvaHarknessRose · 20/02/2019 09:20

You need to tell her now, yanbu, but she needs to make decisions accordingly. Be clear ‘dsis just checking as you said something the other day about my days off - I love dn to bits but won’t be able to be auntie childcare from x as I have other plans - just being clear to make sure you are not assuming I can.’

JRMisOdious · 20/02/2019 09:23

No of course you’re not. She must make her own, independent arrangements.

MissEliza · 20/02/2019 09:24

Don't offer emergency cover either.

AuntieStella · 20/02/2019 09:24

You need to make it very clear to evwryine how much you are looking forward to having a bit of time back, after the long years of full-on nose-to-nose toddler care.

If they still have the nerve to ask you, you tell them that too, and say that you wouid of course do what you could to help them if (for example) their CM has to have a brief unexpected closure or something else truly exceptional. And say how much you sympathise - you're just coming out of the expensive/demanding years and you wish her the best in finding suitable arrangements (offer nursery, CM recommendations at this point, if you have any)

eddielizzard · 20/02/2019 09:25

No, you can't help on your days off! What a fucking cheek!

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Papillon45 · 20/02/2019 09:28

YADNBU I’ve been in a similar situation, where I was a SAHM and family and friends meant I would be happy to be their free childminder. I left my 30k+ job as my long hours combined with my husband’s long hours made family life very difficult. Like you I also have health problems that we’re greatly improved by giving up work. Now my children are at school I work part time in a school so that I don’t have any issues with childcare. This means a serious reduction in pay, which I am fine with as me and my family have a better life because of it. However, I’m not ok with using it to regularly subsidise family and friends who want the best of both worlds and expect everyone else to step up and be their childcare (the people I’m talking about are professionals and have plenty of money to pay for childcare). I’ve even had the parent of a classmate of one of my children tell me that I should look after her kids in the summer holidays for free because it’s so hard to find childcare. Our kids aren’t friends, have never been to our house and I don’t really know the Mum either.

I agree with other posters. Nip it in the bud, if possible try and do it tactfully as she’s family, but absolutely don’t do it!

Tobebythesea · 20/02/2019 09:29

Be very clear now so that her or her partner can look at childcare options.

ThreeAnkleBiters · 20/02/2019 09:31

YANBU! I'd be very willing to help in emergencies but not act as an unpaid nanny to my well off sister! You're taking a pay cut and working part time. You'll have enough time to get the house work done and not much else. That may be more free time than your sister gets but that's her choice to work full time.

She has more money thsn you would you ever just tell her 'you can start paying my council tax because you have more free cash than me?'

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