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Am I being unreasonable to refuse regular childcare for my sibling?

99 replies

CottonBud111 · 12/06/2026 00:46

After advice not sure if i am BU and it is normal to expect this from family or if sibling is BU if so what can I do?

Context: sibling works long shifts - 14 hour days three days a week. They have childcare four days a week, the childcare starts 8am ending at 5pm for their 3 year old but working shift begins 7am and ends at half 9 at night. The child's dad does alternate weekends only. So sibling was in a temporary post and decided to get a car through work scheme, that post has now ended as was only temp so now has to accept this new job with these hours as other posts offered had less pay and the car company said it would put her below living wage so she cannot keep the car and has to pay a few thousand to get out of contract early. Why she even got a car worth so much in a temporary job I have no idea. Anyway, my gripe is that it has been falling on me to pick up the spaces in childcare.

Despite child's dad having them every other weekend she does not request these days. She always seems to end up working the day the childminder doesn't and expects me to have her child on that day for 14 hours, I have them the night before as child is only 3 and she starts work at 7am so this is to avoid lifting them early from bed. She often does not pick them up until 10.30pm/11pm saying she was talking or on occasion "forgot" i had their child but mostly expects the child to stay over again as it is so late. I also end up having to pick them up from the childminder at 5 on these 2 other days in which they either stay or go home at 11. If they stay she doesn't collect them until 9.30am in the morning despite me starting work at 9 and telling them this but as my work is from home they dont seem to care. I also cannot put the child to bed and have to keep them awake or they don't sleep if she is collecting them at 11pm. Usually I end up having the child 3 nights a week as a result, one 14 hr long day and from 5pm until bedtime or 11pm if getting collected.

When i say I cant have them as I just feel overwhelmed myself she will just say "why not" as will know it is my day off or that i finish work at 5pm so im free. I have my own dc who has SEN needs but is older and they are becoming annoyed that the other child is here so often and I also work. I recently dropped my hours because everything felt too much. I dont get paid for this or fuel money to collect them 20 mins each way or food. She is now even suggesting to register her child at my address for primary school so they can get a school bus in my area so I can keep them overnight more often and send them into school incase she's working.

The whole thing feels crazy. I feel like I cant say no as she wont have the money to pay back the car but in all honestly I really feel like its not my problem. She never has my child and 3 days a week just feels like alot is it normal to help family out this much on top of ur own job and child plus overnights?

Ive told her to request shorter days or set days when she has a childminder but has told me she cant and job requires long days and that she can't ask for set days either.

Aibu? How often do you look after your relatives? And how do I get out of this?

OP posts:
Larrythecatforpm · 12/06/2026 10:24

Just tell her from the end of this week (or next) you cannot do childcare anymore for her. Down to her & the kids dad to sort, otherwise you might as well move them in and bring them up yourself!

RubyPowderPuff · 12/06/2026 10:27

I agree, it's far to much. You need a firm no. If that's difficult, why not book a few fun things to do with your own DC? Then you can say, oh sorry, I can't do Friday night to Saturday ....

Do you have friends or family that would support you? Because the bigger question is, do you want to fall out with your sibling and deal whatever the consequences are? I assume you have a close relationship with your niece, if she spends so much time in your care.

pkt3chgirl · 12/06/2026 10:49

My friend. Your sibling made the choice of buying a car she cannot afford. I assume she is not paying you for all your time or food. You need to plan what you are going to say to her and tell her you had to reduce your hours to cope with all the extra work and now you have no money and all the extra work of another child.

You cannot continue and next month she needs to find a different solutions. Everything else after that out of your mouth needs to be a version of no I cannot do that or no I cannot continue this way.

Applecup · 12/06/2026 10:51

For a start when you do have the child do what suits you. And if that means they don't sleep when they are with their mum then tough. You are entitled to a life too.

Larrythecatforpm · 12/06/2026 10:54

Actually just turn round to her today and say your hours with work have changed so from monday onwards you can’t do childcare. The car is not your problem. She’s selfish doesn’t even seem like she cares about her child in all honesty. If she moans tell her to tell the childs dad the child needs to live with him.

CottonBud111 · 12/06/2026 10:58

RubyPowderPuff · 12/06/2026 10:27

I agree, it's far to much. You need a firm no. If that's difficult, why not book a few fun things to do with your own DC? Then you can say, oh sorry, I can't do Friday night to Saturday ....

Do you have friends or family that would support you? Because the bigger question is, do you want to fall out with your sibling and deal whatever the consequences are? I assume you have a close relationship with your niece, if she spends so much time in your care.

Yes I do have a close relationship with her but a 3 year old is still hard work and its the expectation to mind her. Quite often she only let's me know the week before. I ha e purposefully booked 2 weeks holiday in July and havent told her yet as im dreading her shouting at me that im being selfish or how will she manage. Im really not good at confrontation and in some ways I feel sorry for her. Not to drip feed but her other adult DC passed away 6 months ago and ik she's probably struggling herself but we all are and where. Its different she's out working and keeping her childminder days to herself. Sadly its just me and her and no other family which is probably why I have her so much i assume other families have lots of grandparents or aunties and uncles. But the way I see it is I would love a job doing long days I used to before my own DC and it paid more but ik I cant as I cant rely on her so I purposefully need to work from home and do 9-5 and take a pay cut as I have no choice. It feels like she's not sacrificing anything but I am and she's benefiting from it

OP posts:
WonderingAndOverthinking · 12/06/2026 10:59

The poor child being kept up until all hours and never knowing where they are going to be.

You are not being unreasonable. No more childcare.

AnneLovesGilbert · 12/06/2026 11:06

It feels crazy because it is. Only you can stop it and you know you need to. So she has a strop? What’s the worst that will happen? She tells you you’re selfish and mean and you owe her? It’s her child, her problem. Her car, her problem. Her job, her problem.

Not a single of the other factors you mention are relevant. And no to giving her notice! You’re not under contract to do her childcare for free with not a word of thanks or appreciation. Notice implies it’s a reasonable arrangement and it’s not!

Put your own child first for goodness sake.

Shinyandnew1 · 12/06/2026 11:09

None of the other stuff is relevant-she is completely using you. Stop being a doormat and stop this now.

Purplecatshopaholic · 12/06/2026 11:12

ThreeDeafMice · 12/06/2026 00:50

Learn to have boundaries.

Also, "no" is a complete sentence.

First post nails it.

CarerBurnout · 12/06/2026 11:15

You say that your sister only has you to help, but who do you have to support you? Unless your sister used to provide this level of childcare for you, and in your situation, you would surely appreciate it, then no, this isn't what families do.

Shinyandnew1 · 12/06/2026 11:16

Your sister sounds like she makes very poor financial decisions that suit only her and then expects you to mop up the mess caused!

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 12/06/2026 11:18

What's more important to you, avoiding conflict or avoiding being treated like shit?

SixAndJuliet · 12/06/2026 11:20

Bloody hell, that’s a hell of a drip feed that she lost an adult dc 6 months ago. That is hardly any time at all and she probably is struggling.

Whilst she is in the wrong, I think you need to have a proper face to face discussion with her and try and come up with something without withdrawing all support.

You do also need to tell her about the July holiday asap so she can put alternative plans in place.

glaciercherry · 12/06/2026 11:23

She’s taking the piss. Tell her you’re unavailable after the end of June so she’ll need to find an alternative from July. No exceptions.

If she hasn’t got an alternative by July then her child will just have to wait at school until someone comes to pick her up - make sure your phone is switched off at pick up time or that if she or DNs school call you at that time you do not answer. It’s not your responsibility.

You should not be using up your free time that it cost you financially to get raising her child so that she can work and earn money while you do her unpaid childcare.

MeganM3 · 12/06/2026 11:25

She’s lost a child? Her other child died recently, is that right? Well as a sister I’d help here with anything I could, tbh at this hard time. If I loved my niece as well then I’d accept it’s a bit inconvenient for me but help for now - it doesn’t have to be forever.

Slightyamusedandsilly · 12/06/2026 11:26

If you want to help sometimes, give her days you'll be available.

And also tell her she needs to start paying you.

kiwiane · 12/06/2026 11:27

So her ex has boundaries and ends up doing less childcare than you who has no obligation whatsoever!
When I first started reading I thought you were going to say that you fill in for a few hours after normal childcare ends but 14hours is far too long - I’d dread it.
You seem to care far too much about her finances and choices and put your own needs second; decide what you’re prepared to do and let her know now. I withdrew free childcare after years and I’ll warn you that there’s very little gratitude shown once you stop!

CottonBud111 · 12/06/2026 11:35

MeganM3 · 12/06/2026 11:25

She’s lost a child? Her other child died recently, is that right? Well as a sister I’d help here with anything I could, tbh at this hard time. If I loved my niece as well then I’d accept it’s a bit inconvenient for me but help for now - it doesn’t have to be forever.

But it is long term she's planning on registering her child at my address so she can go to school in my catchment area so yet again I can do more overnights and wrap around care. I could understand if she was lying in bed doing nothing or needed me to watch her for counselling. Its just a job, a job she should never of taken as a predominantly single parent. She will go and meet other men or friends on her days off which annoys me I feel like yes I can provide emotional support but isn't this a bit different?

OP posts:
DolefullySingingMotherfucka · 12/06/2026 12:04

Nothing will change until you change. It is an unfortunate fact that if you paint DOORMAT on your back and lie prone on the floor, you are going to get walked over.

CoffeeTeaa · 12/06/2026 12:06

She only works 3 days a week. The child’s dad can have the child on those days. If they’re in childcare, he can drop off and pick up. If your sister asks again, tell her to ask the dad.

Larrythecatforpm · 12/06/2026 12:06

CottonBud111 · 12/06/2026 11:35

But it is long term she's planning on registering her child at my address so she can go to school in my catchment area so yet again I can do more overnights and wrap around care. I could understand if she was lying in bed doing nothing or needed me to watch her for counselling. Its just a job, a job she should never of taken as a predominantly single parent. She will go and meet other men or friends on her days off which annoys me I feel like yes I can provide emotional support but isn't this a bit different?

Tell her not to register her child at your address. Child doesn’t live there. Tell her if she does you’ll ring the LA and tell them this. You need to come down hard, not reduce your hours and be la-de-la about it op. You even said it’s effecting your own child.

Friendlygingercat · 12/06/2026 12:26

As someone who is single and childfree by choice I have always strongly resisted providing childcare for relatives. I was once guilted into it by a neighbour (I did owe her a favour) into watching her child while she went for an interview.However there s something called "weaponised incompetence" and I made sure she never asked me again, I was determined I was not going to be her default childcare if she got the job. I am always conscious that my taxes subsidise people who have chosen to have children so they are already deeply in my debt.

Eviebeans · 12/06/2026 12:31

Tell her you can’t do it anymore and if she says why not say that you don’t want to. It’s best to be blunt and to the point as some people don’t pick up on cues or take a hint. I think she is one of them

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 12/06/2026 12:31

I have said no i do say no and my no gets shot down.

Then you're not saying no. You're saying "Oh go on then". You need to say no, and then keep saying no. You don't need excuses, you don't need a reason to say no, you just keep saying no.

"No, I won't be doing that for you." Repeat, over and over again.