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Relatives Plan To Trap Woman As Free Babysitter During Holiday, She Hits The Eject Button ASAP
Childfree woman in gray loungewear sitting on bed, checking phone next to open suitcase, reflecting on vacation escape.

Relatives Plan To Trap Woman As Free Babysitter During Holiday, She Hits The Eject Button ASAP

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Family vacations should be all about sunny beaches, lazy mornings, and arguing over where to eat dinner. In reality? They’re a wild mix of sand in awkward places, too many people crammed into a few rooms, and somebody always “forgetting” their wallet.

There’s the cousin who hogs the bathroom, at least one meltdown per week, and an aunt who needs a “quick favor” that lasts 3 hours, or 2 weeks, in some cases.

One Redditor decided to cancel her holiday after finding out her relatives were trying to trick her into babysitting their kids for 2 weeks while they enjoyed their vacation. Oh, fun!

More info: Reddit

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    Childfree woman enjoying peaceful outdoor picnic while relatives and children play nearby during vacation getaway.

    Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    One woman decides to cancel her annual family vacation after finding out her relatives want to use her as their nanny

    Childfree woman escaping family vacation duties as relatives try to turn her trip into daycare responsibility.

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    Childfree woman escaping family demands to babysit during vacation, maintaining personal freedom on holiday.

    Childfree woman sitting on bed, frustrated and looking at phone, next to open suitcase while packing for vacation.

    Image credits: EyeEm / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    The woman and her extended family go on a vacation every year, but in the past years, many kids joined the crew

    Childfree woman sets boundaries as relatives try to make her vacation into daycare duty during family trip.

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    Text on a white background reading I cancelled my hotel and flights as I lost interest in the holiday after multiple people tried to convince me I was in the wrong.

    Text on screen describing a childfree woman facing pressure from relatives to take on daycare duty during vacation.

    Two young girls sitting on cushions in an open car trunk filled with travel luggage on vacation trip.

    Image credits: Holiak / Freepik (not the actual photo)

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    The woman finds out that her relatives are planning to dump their kids on her and enjoy the holiday while she babysits

    Text excerpt about a childfree woman facing family conflict as relatives try to make her take daycare duties on vacation.

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    Childfree woman enjoying vacation, avoiding relatives’ attempts to turn her holiday into daycare duty and free nanny service.

    Image credits: anonymous

    The woman doesn’t want to babysit on vacation, so she cancels her trip and is accused of “ruining the holiday”

    The OP (original poster) and her extended family had a tradition of going away together every year. I’m talking grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, the whole clan. But as the years rolled on, the kid count started multiplying fast. And apparently, with more kids came more secret plans.

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    Right before the vacation, the OP discovered that some family members had decided she was the designated babysitter. The plan? They’d dump the kids on her every morning, disappear for “grown-up fun,” and reappear right before dinner, looking suspiciously well-rested.

    Now, our OP is childfree, which by the way, is a lifestyle, not a job title. She was totally fine helping out for an evening or two, but giving up her beach cocktails and spa naps for 2 weeks of unpaid daycare? Yeah, no thanks. And when she refused, things got icy fast. Suddenly, she was selfish, heartless, and ironically, childish.

    Her relatives started a whole guilt-trip parade, so the OP ended up canceling her vacation, because two weeks of family drama and toddler tantrums wasn’t her idea of relaxation. But the family went without her, and apparently, refusing unpaid childcare “ruined” the holiday. Not the scheming or the entitlement. Nope, it was OP’s fault.

    I get it, every parent needs a break, but that doesn’t mean not having kids automatically means you’re everyone else’s backup nanny. Expecting someone to give up their vacation to babysit simply because they have more free time is entitlement at its finest.

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    Childfree woman sitting alone outdoors in hat and casual clothes, escaping relatives turning vacation into daycare duty

    Image credits: EyeEm / Freepik (not the actual photo)

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    Entitlement is when someone decides the people around them owe them time, things or favors, no questions asked. It’s sneaky because it often gets dressed up as “tradition” or “helping out.”  And vacations are the perfect breeding ground for entitlement – suddenly you’re the chauffeur, chef, or babysitter because “you’ve got the time.”

    Your best move? Don’t play along. When someone tries to hand you a responsibility you never wanted, just toss it back. But be aware that they probably won’t give up so easily. They’ll try to guilt-trip you and make you feel bad for saying no. Just like the OP got branded “selfish” for not wanting to be the family babysitter.

    But think about it – who was really being selfish here? I would have to say it’s the parents who schemed to dump their kids for two weeks while sipping cocktails guilt-free. And that’s projection for you – when someone takes their own feelings, flips them around, and tosses them onto someone else like a hot potato.

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    Projection is basically the family version of re-gifting – someone doesn’t want to deal with their own flaws, so they wrap them up, slap your name on the tag, and hand them to you like it’s a thoughtful present. Suddenly, the cousin who never lifts a finger is calling you lazy, or the aunt who dodges responsibility is suddenly outraged that you don’t care about family.

    So, what do you think of this story? Is the poster a jerk for cancelling her trip? Drop your thoughts and comments below!

    Netizens side with the woman, saying she is not a jerk for backing out of the family trip

    Comment on a forum criticizing relatives expecting a childfree woman to act as nanny during vacation, expressing refusal to accept daycare duty.

    Screenshot of a Reddit comment supporting a childfree woman avoiding daycare duty on her vacation from relatives.

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    Comment expressing support for childfree woman avoiding unwanted daycare duty during vacation with relatives.

    Text conversation screenshot showing a comment about not wanting to be a babysitter on vacation, highlighting childfree woman escape.

    Comment text advising a childfree woman to set boundaries and avoid unpaid babysitting duties during vacation with relatives.

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    Comment on forum post about childfree woman escaping vacation duty while relatives expect daycare help.

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    Screenshot of a comment defending a childfree woman escaping relatives trying to turn her vacation into daycare duty.

    Comment from online forum discussing childfree woman hitting escape button as relatives ask her to watch kids during vacation.

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    Screenshot of a forum comment discussing a childfree woman avoiding daycare duty on vacation from relatives.

    Comment discussing a childfree woman refusing to provide daycare during a family vacation to avoid being taken advantage of.

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    Childfree woman refusing to babysit relatives’ kids, protecting her vacation from daycare duty and family pressures.

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    Comment about childfree woman refusing to be free babysitter on vacation, blocking family members for daycare duty.

    Screenshot of an online comment stating a clear opinion in a discussion about a childfree woman’s vacation boundaries.

    Comment defending childfree woman, rejecting relatives' attempt to turn vacation into daycare duty, emphasizing boundaries and self-care.

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    Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a childfree woman refusing to babysit relatives' children on vacation.

    Text post from anon sharing advice on handling relatives trying to assign daycare duty during a childfree woman’s vacation.

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    Monica Selvi

    Monica Selvi

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    Hi! I'm Moni. I’m a globetrotting creative with a camera in one hand and a notebook in the other. I’ve lived in 4 different countries, an visited 17, soaking up inspiration wherever I go. A marketer by trade but a writer at heart, I’ve been crafting stories, poems, and songs, and creating quirky characters since I was 7.

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    Monica Selvi

    Monica Selvi

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Hi! I'm Moni. I’m a globetrotting creative with a camera in one hand and a notebook in the other. I’ve lived in 4 different countries, an visited 17, soaking up inspiration wherever I go. A marketer by trade but a writer at heart, I’ve been crafting stories, poems, and songs, and creating quirky characters since I was 7.

    What do you think ?
    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Even if OP had kids. It's still inappropriate to rope her into babysitting yours. Family sounds awful. Getting blocked is a gift.

    Ellinor she/they/elle
    Community Member
    3 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    NTA. Some people genuinely don't understand that we don't want kids BECAUSE we wouldn't want to be in the situation where you have to refrain yourself to do stuff because you have to take care of your kids. So of course we don't want to become "appointed nannies", that's precisely what we want to avoid !

    Paul C
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sounds like some people in OP's family need reminding "your kids, your problem". Why would anyone give up their holiday to be a baby sitter all day, especially without being paid? Probably best to block all those complaining, or tell them that they should organise a rota amongst those with children so they each get some time off.

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    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Even if OP had kids. It's still inappropriate to rope her into babysitting yours. Family sounds awful. Getting blocked is a gift.

    Ellinor she/they/elle
    Community Member
    3 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    NTA. Some people genuinely don't understand that we don't want kids BECAUSE we wouldn't want to be in the situation where you have to refrain yourself to do stuff because you have to take care of your kids. So of course we don't want to become "appointed nannies", that's precisely what we want to avoid !

    Paul C
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sounds like some people in OP's family need reminding "your kids, your problem". Why would anyone give up their holiday to be a baby sitter all day, especially without being paid? Probably best to block all those complaining, or tell them that they should organise a rota amongst those with children so they each get some time off.

    Load More Comments
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