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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want to babysit partner's nephews?

122 replies

zozooo · 19/02/2025 18:36

Me and OH have 2 kids ranging from a 16 month old and a 3 month old.

The family dynamics in OH side is very unusual to say the least.
OH says himself "it's a cold family" as in they don't really see each other or do family events etc.

Anyway he is close to 1 of his siblings and this sibling has multiple children with various people.
I find the sibling very strange in the fact that they have not attempted to make any kind of effort with me in the decade that I have been with OH.
I have maybe met them a handful of times.

Anyway the sibling has young children who are 2 and 4 and has now asked OH to ask me to babysit.

I find this quite rude and cheeky seeing as I have never even met these kids before (OH had met them a handful of times).

I am very fortunate that I work from home and hours that suit me and I can be at home with the kids, we have recently moved to a larger property so obviously this sibling expects us me to baby sit frequently and do sleeps overs so that they can go out clubbing.

I have told OH I'm not doing that as it's like using someone.

Baring in mind this sibling has only seen out kids two times, doesn't really make the effort.

OH has gone out of his way to see his nephews but isn't reciprocated by the sibling.

Of course I want my kids to have a relationship with their cousins but I think this sibling needs to make more of an effort.

I has told OH if he wants to babysit he can but not to expect me to get involved.

AIBU?

OP posts:
MissScarletInTheBallroom · 19/02/2025 21:38

What?

I assume he's not offering to pay you?

Naunet · 19/02/2025 21:40

Why is he asking for you to do it and not his brother? Tell your partner to do it. Cheeky, misogynistic sods.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 19/02/2025 21:40

MumChp · 19/02/2025 21:01

I would expect DH to babysit these kids. Not my job.

Why should her DH babysit them?

Mum2jenny · 19/02/2025 21:44

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 19/02/2025 21:40

Why should her DH babysit them?

Why should either the OP or her husband babysit the kids? The brother is taking the piss.

Naunet · 19/02/2025 21:46

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 19/02/2025 21:40

Why should her DH babysit them?

Because he's expecting OP to and arguing with her when she says she doesn't want to.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 19/02/2025 21:47

Mum2jenny · 19/02/2025 21:44

Why should either the OP or her husband babysit the kids? The brother is taking the piss.

Exactly. This is some of the cheekiest fuckery I have ever heard.

The man only has his children a couple of times a week and even that is too much for him and he needs to ask a near stranger with two under two of her own to help ease the heavy burden?

I think my response would be, "No, I won't babysit, but I will drive you to your vasectomy appointment if you like."

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 19/02/2025 21:48

Naunet · 19/02/2025 21:46

Because he's expecting OP to and arguing with her when she says she doesn't want to.

Well he needs to get in the bloody bin along with his cheeky fucker of a brother then.

Iloveacurry · 19/02/2025 21:49

Yep a CF. Would be a hard no from me as well!

healthybychristmas · 19/02/2025 21:50

MumChp · 19/02/2025 21:01

I would expect DH to babysit these kids. Not my job.

Her partner has his own children to look after!

Naunet · 19/02/2025 21:50

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 19/02/2025 21:48

Well he needs to get in the bloody bin along with his cheeky fucker of a brother then.

Agreed!

Pickledpeanuts · 19/02/2025 21:51

Surely if he isn't close enough to ask you directly, he's not close enough to ask you at all?

Why has this caused an argument with your OH? Surely if he's keen to help his brother out it should be him doing the actual helping?

readingmakesmehappy · 19/02/2025 21:52

Once a week when he knows you have young children of your own?! He can git tae fuck.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 19/02/2025 21:53

healthybychristmas · 19/02/2025 21:50

Her partner has his own children to look after!

Exactly. If he should be giving anyone a break from the daily grind of having two small children, it should be his actual wife.

Notthisagainyouidiot · 19/02/2025 21:54

Ha ha ha. So basically he's not been able to find a girlfriend who'll take over his childcare responsibilities, had a cast about and thought you'll do. Cheeky fucker . Just nope.

Pickledpeanuts · 19/02/2025 21:54

I think my response would be, "No, I won't babysit, but I will drive you to your vasectomy appointment if you like."

That response made me chuckle 😂

Takenoprisoner · 19/02/2025 21:54

You have a dp problem if he's arguing with you over this. You don't owe anyone babysitting. Tell him if it's means so much to him, he's welcome to it. Bet him to do it. I'll bet he lasts 2 hours

TagSplashMaverick · 19/02/2025 21:55

I have just told OH again under no circumstances will I babysit his nephews and it's caused a massive argument.

There is something seriously wrong with your partner and his family. This is fucked up.

Takenoprisoner · 19/02/2025 21:56

Does your dp ever look after his own dc on his own? if he did he'd know how bloody hard it is

Rightsraptor · 19/02/2025 21:59

I can't believe the cheek of some people.

Don't do any of it. These kids are at a very different stage of development from yours, you'll be run ragged. And for what? Looking after some quasi stranger's kids while he goes 'clubbing' aka getting other women pregnant and then he'll dump the resulting kids on you.

No, no, no

Puzzledandpissedoff · 19/02/2025 22:00

I have just told OH again under no circumstances will I babysit his nephews and it's caused a massive argument

That sounds worryingly as if your DH might have "volunteered" you for the job and is now angry in case a refusal reflects on him, but what's to stop him offering to do it himself if he wishes?

Interesting too that his brother's apparenly "tired" from driving the DCs about, but not so tired that he can't go clubbing ince he's palmed them off on you ...

sugarapplelane · 19/02/2025 22:11

Why are you being asked to babysit? Why isn’t he asking his Brother to babysit?
Does he think babysitting is womens work?
Tell him no. CF

S18 · 19/02/2025 22:17

I would never ask someone with a 3 month old to babysit. Babysitting kids you don’t know and of various ages is not an easy task.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 19/02/2025 22:19

sugarapplelane · 19/02/2025 22:11

Why are you being asked to babysit? Why isn’t he asking his Brother to babysit?
Does he think babysitting is womens work?
Tell him no. CF

Sod asking his brother to babysit. Why isn't he taking care of his own kids?

He can still go clubbing on any of the five nights a week when these kids don't actually live with him.

orangewasp · 19/02/2025 22:20

So it's DP's brother, he doesn't live with any of his kids
Surprise surprise. He doesn't live with them and now wants to outsource contact time out to you. What a piece of shit.

sugarapplelane · 19/02/2025 22:23

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 19/02/2025 22:19

Sod asking his brother to babysit. Why isn't he taking care of his own kids?

He can still go clubbing on any of the five nights a week when these kids don't actually live with him.

True, but IF he needs a babysitter ( for whatever reason) he should be asking his Brother, not Op.
Why is it always the woman that gets put upon?