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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:
thepariscrimefiles · 16/06/2026 18:34

As nobody in your house seems to treat you with any respect, I'd stop putting myself out to provide childcare. I don't think that you are being unreasonable.

You didn't deliberately drop your step-son in the shit with his boss as you didn't know that he had lied about being ill so you answered his boss's question in good faith.

Bumbelinaaa · 16/06/2026 18:39

Considering you lost him his job, you probably do owe him this favour.

But you clearly don’t like him, so tell him no to any further childcare and just the bullet and divorce his dad.

Ethelspagetti · 16/06/2026 18:39

Latenightreader · 16/06/2026 18:00

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

Agreed. The son who lied is to blame and not her. I think there is a toxic relationship between them and he knows they’ll do anything for him. I think boundaries need to be implemented and for you to do less for him. You shouldn’t be cancelling plans for your son to go out with his girlfriend. You need to take a massive step back.

AnonyMumAuDHD · 16/06/2026 18:39

Given the millions of threads started by this poster I would suggest that OP leave her partner. She is clearly unhappy and deeply resentful of the impact DP’s DS and DGC is having on her life. Tell them you have had enough and set new ground rules - or leave.

AnneLovesGilbert · 16/06/2026 18:42

He called you a bitch, don’t do him any favours.

Farmwifefarmlife · 16/06/2026 18:42

Sounds a messy situation and not likely to get any better! I’d be packing my bags and waving goodbye to the lot of them!

TheBlueKoala · 16/06/2026 18:42

@RiskyRain Leave them all. Way too messed up.

offtodreamland · 16/06/2026 18:49

I'd be thinking realistically about whether this relationship is good for you. It sounds depressing and no way to live. If you do stay, I'd set some boundaries and mean it or else your partner and his bratty son will continue to insult you and take advantage of you (and they'll probably resent you deeply for standing up for yourself every time you do). Honestly, I'd probably have left a long time ago.

ThisOneLife · 16/06/2026 18:52

youalright · 16/06/2026 17:52

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

He “cost” himself his job by lying.
Nothing to do with OP.

RandomMess · 16/06/2026 18:54

Oh I thought you were also babysitting this Monday coming.

I would just decline all babysitting requests from now onwards.

Loulou4022 · 16/06/2026 18:58

Blimms · 16/06/2026 17:55

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

I was just about to say the same! I thought I’d got Deja vu!

Bristolandlazy · 16/06/2026 19:03

Loulou4022 · 16/06/2026 18:58

I was just about to say the same! I thought I’d got Deja vu!

It's a different problem today, I thought the same initially.

Pinkflamingo10 · 16/06/2026 19:12

I feel sorry for this baby

handsdownthebest · 16/06/2026 19:14

RiskyRain · 16/06/2026 18:19

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.

Edited

Where are her parents in all this?

Pinkdayss · 16/06/2026 19:15

What is in this relationship for you?
He's not your son and this is not your grandchild IMO, and yet his father can go on a stag, he wants to go out, and yet it is you, the only woman about who gets stuck giving up AL, not able to see your friend and getting caught for babysitting.

Is this really the future you want?
I'd be rethinking my future if i were you.

You sound like skivvy aupair for the lot of them.

Notasbigasithink · 16/06/2026 19:19

youalright · 16/06/2026 17:52

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

Errr no!!!!
HE cost himself his job by lying and a terrible lie at that by saying his heart was the bloody problem! Absolutely nothing to do with OP whatsoever and this child needs to grow up and start taking responsibility for himself and his son ffs!

Ghht · 16/06/2026 19:21

I don’t understand the absolute hostility of this thread.

Op, do Friday because you pre-agreed it. Ask DH to put the baby in childcare for the day if he’s now working (if you really don’t want to do it).

ThisOliveKoala · 16/06/2026 19:22

youalright · 16/06/2026 17:52

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

My thoughts exactly 🤣🤣🤣. Imagine my mum telling work I pulled a sickie…wow. It would never happen.

WinterBlues26 · 16/06/2026 19:24

Stop babysitting until he starts treating you with respect. If DH gets annoyed then DH can babysit. If both get really really annoyed then it might be time to ditch them both.

Zanatdy · 16/06/2026 19:25

I wouldn’t given how rude he’s been to you no. He can celebrate with his gf with netflix and a takeaway, and baby too.

PyongyangKipperbang · 16/06/2026 19:26

ThisOliveKoala · 16/06/2026 19:22

My thoughts exactly 🤣🤣🤣. Imagine my mum telling work I pulled a sickie…wow. It would never happen.

Well it doesnt read like she rang them up and dobbed him in, more like she was asked how he was and she said "Oh he is fine" "Hasnt he been ill recently" "No, he;s doing well", without realising that he had chucked a sickie.

If he works in a local shop or pub or somewhere that they know her as his step mum, it could easily happen.

Soreenmaltloaf23 · 16/06/2026 19:29

youalright · 16/06/2026 17:52

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

His lies lost him his job!

DissappearForAWhile · 16/06/2026 19:31

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Easier said than done. DH has to help too Regardless of stag parties etc. DS has to look out for his kid too even though it must be difficult on such young parents.

MyOtherProfile · 16/06/2026 19:32

This reply has been deleted

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

Thanks, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me.

Stella1366 · 16/06/2026 19:33

youalright · 16/06/2026 17:52

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

He shouldn't have told porkies. Stupid boy.

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