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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To refuse to babysit on Friday after giving up my day off today?

84 replies

RiskyRain · 16/06/2026 17:51

I've been with my partner for about 16 years.

He has a 17 year old son who has lived with us FT since he was about 6 as his mum lives abroad and contact is very sporadic. He had has a heart condition and had heart surgery at 14 and she didn't visit once because it was hectic as it was close to Christmas (11 days) and she had other her children to look after and after that he sort of gave up with her and their relationship because she made him feel like an inconvenience.

2023 was a tough year for him as he’d lost most of his friends due to the surgery and recovery so he was miserable especially dealing with the trauma of the surgery as we did know about the heart condition but it was always managed with medication until it had rapidly worsened and he needed the surgery.

He attempted suicide and was referred to camhs who were useless, he started a new school for year 10 and is now doing much better. DH is obviously protective over him and has let a lot slide. Now he's not a bad lad but he's mouthy.

He started dating a girl at the end of 2023, when he was 15 and she was 13 which I was weary of but dh said it wasn't a big deal as they were only a school year apart. She wasn't going to his school though, they met online.

Long story short, he ended up getting her pregnant and the baby was born last year (they were 14 and 16) the baby is now about 15 months old and ds got his GCSEs and is in year 12 at a sixth form college. DH made it clearly he didn't want the fact he had a baby to impact his education (or baby's mums) and funded everything for him pretty much and now pays for childcare a few days a week as well as having him himself.

I am at my wits end with DS though just lately as he vapes even though he shouldn't due to his heart, we've told him multiple times but he says he's fine but he then plays on his condition by saying he's too tired and he doesn't go to college sometimes because Again he's tired or can't be bothered

Now the issue, he recently broke up with his gf which hit him hard as they were together for over 2 and a half years, they were argujg a lot and I think it was they were both stressed because of exams (GCSEs for her and AS levels for him). On Sunday I found out he’d been lying about having chest pains and being in hospital to his boss and dropped him in it by saying he was fine as I didn't know he lied. He called me a bitch and still hasn't gone and spoke to his boss. He had a shift yesterday too and didn't turn up.

I booked AL for Monday and today and had plans with a friend but DH had to go into the office today and asked me if I can have our grandson (as he was meant to) in the end I agreed as it's not worth the arguments, however I ended up cancelling plans with my friend. DH is away for the weekend on a stag do and DS asked me to have grandson on Friday night so he can celebrate his gf completing his GCSEs, I said yes and this was before they broke up. He's saying they're sorting things out so still wants to but not sure if I should after giving up my day off today and his behaviour in the past few days.

WWYD?

OP posts:
youalright · 16/06/2026 17:52

Well considering you cost him his job its the least you can do

Loveaproductiveday · 16/06/2026 17:54

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

ItIsGreen · 16/06/2026 17:55

youalright · 16/06/2026 17:52

Well considering you cost him his job its the least you can do

Are you the feckless waster who can't fathom how to use a condom?

Blimms · 16/06/2026 17:55

You posted this a day or two ago. Are you hoping for different answers?

Error404FucksNotFound · 16/06/2026 17:56

youalright · 16/06/2026 17:52

Well considering you cost him his job its the least you can do

He cost himself his job.

PeachySmile2 · 16/06/2026 17:56

If you had already agreed to it, yes, you should follow through. Even if his plans have changed. If DS or DH try to drop baby on you last minute again, say no. Your family dynamic is so bizarre.

RetiredFromExplaining · 16/06/2026 17:56

youalright · 16/06/2026 17:52

Well considering you cost him his job its the least you can do

He cost himself the job. Do you cover for your kids when they lie about why they’re not at work?

He has responsibilities and should make sure he fulfills them - workings, school, childcare.

Loveaproductiveday · 16/06/2026 17:56

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Loveaproductiveday · 16/06/2026 17:57

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RiskyRain · 16/06/2026 17:58

Blimms · 16/06/2026 17:55

You posted this a day or two ago. Are you hoping for different answers?

I didn't post this question the other day. Im not asking if I was unreasonable that I told his manager the truth in this thread.

OP posts:
Latenightreader · 16/06/2026 18:00

youalright · 16/06/2026 17:52

Well considering you cost him his job its the least you can do

The only person to blame is the one telling lies about his health, and it is not the OP.

youalright · 16/06/2026 18:02

RetiredFromExplaining · 16/06/2026 17:56

He cost himself the job. Do you cover for your kids when they lie about why they’re not at work?

He has responsibilities and should make sure he fulfills them - workings, school, childcare.

I absolutely would then i would have it out with them in private

RandomMess · 16/06/2026 18:03

I would draw your boundaries and say you aren’t doing anymore babysitting until he starts respecting you and his time. Same to your DH tbh.

Does DSS have an exam on Monday?

GreatOffWhiteFalcon · 16/06/2026 18:03

But it's the same situation and a very similar question - should you support him or not, and you clearly think you shouldn't have to. Do you want people read it all twice, or are you hoping some new people will read it this time?

RandomMess · 16/06/2026 18:03

Surely his ex can have the baby Monday as she has finished her exams?

Iocanepowder · 16/06/2026 18:05

You already posted about this

Iocanepowder · 16/06/2026 18:06

RiskyRain · 16/06/2026 17:58

I didn't post this question the other day. Im not asking if I was unreasonable that I told his manager the truth in this thread.

Pretty sure there was a whole discussion about it in the thread where posters were telling you not to babysit.

RetiredFromExplaining · 16/06/2026 18:06

youalright · 16/06/2026 18:02

I absolutely would then i would have it out with them in private

So "How is Jr? I hope he's OK".

"Sure, he's great."

Not exactly dropping him in it.

ItIsGreen · 16/06/2026 18:06

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Minnie798 · 16/06/2026 18:10

Honestly, I'd have covered for my ds with his boss and then let loose with him at home for telling lies. Tbh I am glad my ds hasn't been trying to juggle a job with sixth form though. Which some people on mn will disagree with. Your step son also has a young child in the mix. So if I was his parent ( especially with all the history, its messy) Id still be focussed on guiding/ parenting him. 17 year olds still need that imo. Time for dh to step up and stop letting things 'slide'.
In terms of the babysitting, you did say you would do it. So I'd probably keep that separate from the other stuff .

RiskyRain · 16/06/2026 18:19

RandomMess · 16/06/2026 18:03

Surely his ex can have the baby Monday as she has finished her exams?

DS wants me to babysit on Friday night not Monday so they can celebrate her finishing her exams. DH is away for the weekend and I did agree but that was until DS has been behaving how he has been and I already gave up my day off today (id booked AL for yesterday and today) when I had plans with my friend so I could look after grandson so DH could go into the office
I didn't post this to ask if I shouldve covered for ds or not.

OP posts:
Darragon · 16/06/2026 18:20

Why are you posting the exact same thread again? Didn't you like the responses last time? Why do you think you'll get different responses this time?

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 16/06/2026 18:27

I honestly think your relationship has run its course. You seem fed up with them all, and I don’t think it’s surprising. No one is behaving well, everyone is expecting you to facilitate them.

Have you rearranged the day you planned to meet friends? Can you meet them Friday instead?

daughterfromhell · 16/06/2026 18:32

You’d already agreed to the babysitting for Friday so I think I’d still do it. That’s a separate issue from your husband offering childcare and then dumping it on you.

PyongyangKipperbang · 16/06/2026 18:34

"No sorry, I had to have him on Monday so I cancelled my plans and have rearranged them for Friday"

I very much doubt he is going out with his ex GF, more likely just out with his mates.