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70
Father Leaves His Kid With Exhausted Roommate, Then Throws A Fit When Told No
Having a roommate who’s willing to help you out is truly a blessing. But sometimes, people take that blessing and push it way too far. And the moment you call them out on it? Suddenly, you’re the bad guy. The outrage, the guilt-tripping, the drama, it all kicks in like clockwork.
One person shared how he got roped into an eight-hour babysitting session by his roommate and was “paid” with a $6 pizza. Naturally, he refused to help again. When he firmly reminded the couple that their child wasn’t his responsibility, things got tense. What followed was a serious wake-up call about setting boundaries and demanding basic respect.
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A man shared how he babysat his roommate’s child for free and also got thrown up on by their cat
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Parents don’t have superpowers, and they shouldn’t be expected to handle everything on their own
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As a parent, there are a few things you need to understand, accept, and eventually make peace with. Dr. Katie Stirling, a seasoned Clinical Psychologist, gently reminds us, “Be real about the struggle.” It’s easy to chase the illusion of perfect parenting, but doing so only adds pressure. Being honest about your limits doesn’t make you weak, it makes you aware. The struggle is real, and it’s okay to say it out loud.
Parenting is no joke, it’s one of the hardest jobs out there. Imagine trying to operate on low or no sleep while juggling responsibilities. Research shows that 71.91% of parents don’t get enough sleep at least three nights a week. It’s not just tiredness, it’s emotional weight. Eight out of ten parents report increased stress and guilt when they’re sleep-deprived. And a whopping 95.33% end up delaying bedtime just to reclaim a slice of personal time.
Then there’s the endless stream of tasks that come with caring for a baby: feeding, soothing, cleaning, repeating. And most parents aren’t just doing that, they’re working, managing homes, and juggling everything else. It’s a lot, and it doesn’t stop.
Here’s the truth: a healthy baby needs a healthy parent. That doesn’t just mean physically. It means mentally, emotionally, and spiritually too. You can’t pour from an empty cup, no matter how much love you have. So start by checking in with yourself. Are you surviving, or are you living? The answer will guide you.
Giving yourself some “me time” helps you recharge and face your responsibilities with renewed energy
Image credits: svetlanasokolova / freepik (not the actual photo)
Learn to tap out when you need to. That’s not quitting, it’s resetting. Stepping back to rest, even for a little while, gives you the strength to step back in fully. Ten minutes in silence, an hour away with a book, or just breathing in fresh air, small things go a long way. And remember, needing a break doesn’t make you a bad parent. It makes you a smart one.
Incorporate physical activity where you can. No need for a fancy gym session, just a walk around the neighborhood can work wonders. Move your body to shift your mood. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s presence. When your body feels better, your mind starts catching up too. Sometimes, that walk can bring clarity no conversation can.
Self-care is different for everyone. For one parent, it might be a podcast and hot tea. For another, it’s ten quiet minutes scrolling memes in the bathroom. It’s not the what that matters, it’s the why. Do it because you deserve peace, not because you earned it.
Try meditating, even for five minutes a day. Guided or silent, sitting or lying down, it doesn’t matter how you do it. What matters is giving your brain a quiet space to land. You’ll be surprised how much calm can come from stillness.
Also, don’t forget your partner in all this chaos. Sometimes parenthood makes couples feel like coworkers on a shared shift. But connection matters. Laugh together, vent to each other, and be honest about your needs. You’re a team, and teams check in. Parenthood doesn’t have to be lonely when you’re in it together.
And if you need help: ask. Whether it’s a friend dropping off dinner or a colleague watching the baby for ten minutes, accept it. Support comes in all forms, and none of it makes you weak. In this particular story, the author’s roommate took his kindness for granted. It’s a reminder: help should be appreciated, not expected. So, what are your thoughts? Has someone ever pushed your kindness too far? Share your story, we’re listening.
People online were not pleased with how the author’s roommate completely disrespected his time
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What do you think ?
Robin Roper 8 months ago
OP was used. The roommate is a total AH and OP should never agree to watch the child again. Poor kid.
Jill Nunes 8 months ago
Wow really the comment above from jacklynNicole saying just because he lived with the kid to he should be willing to watch her. If you read the part about they were all roommates but had a kid after the fact. He had just gotten off a night shift and was going to sleep when he got back after and the dad totally new what he was doing and was going to do it over and over again I bet. If you want some one to watch your kids be respectful and don't be AH because if you take advantage like this guy did you won't have help in the future. Some people would have called CPS and others would never ever babysit again. If he had asked for longer time in text message or offer something in return then possibly might have been okay. 8 hours is so disrespectful and bad Dad move I hope his wife gives him a good cussing out
Amy Elliott 8 months ago (edited)
Seriously. They're also ignoring the OP had just worked a night shift and that 8 hours took their entire sleeping time.
Load More Replies...
Sue Ellen Bowen 8 months ago
After OP called the dad and got nowhere, he should have called mom and asked her to contact her husband and tell him to get his rear end home.
Clara Stallworth 8 months ago
Unless the roommate was in a serious event such as an accident or illness, he should've given OP the courtesy of calling him back after the two hour mark had passed, and he DEFINITELY should've given OP a proper payment on top of a $6 pizza! NTA for sure!!
Ravioli 8 months ago
I feel like the wife could do better than having to live renting with a third person and working full time while her husband is unemployed. I mean, what is her husband bringing into the relationship? He is broke and his personality is obviously not great, not a great father either, unless he is the sexiest man alive and fornicates like a jackhammer, he is just dead weight
KatSaidWhat 8 months ago
Not ESH here - living with someone else's child does not make you an automatic babysitter.
Mark Childers 8 months ago
He knew exactly what he was doing. I lived with a couple once. It was a nightmare. If I had an issue with anything, they ganged up on me. They also tried to nickel and dime me to death. Then they decided that I was in their way. Things did not end well. I don't ever recommend for a single person to live with a couple, and this includes roommates who have their SO's around too much.
Kathy Brooke 8 months ago
Wow! That's incredibly dangerous. If I were the wife I'd tear him to shreds for putting the child at risk by leaving him with someone who'd been up all night and needed to sleep. Imagine he'd sat down and dozed off! He absolutely shouldn't agree to do any more child minding. No way he is fit for that responsibility after a night shift!
Baba Caine 8 months ago
I wonder how much this sahd make on his online TTRPG job ?while his wife works full time and most probably looks after the kid at end of work
LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
I don't stream, but in my 20s I was BIG into tabletop gaming. I had an entire Warhammer 40k army (complete with leopard spots painted on each unit's pauldrons, LOL.) Tabletop gaming is an EXPENSIVE hobby. You have to buy the figurines themselves, then primer, paint, paintbrushes, etc., and depending on the game/stream, you might have to buy terrain and props and so on. So unless husband is making TONS of money streaming, he might actually be bleeding money. And that's just the finances part - tabletop gaming also takes up a SH!T TON of TIME. Painting. Painting some more. Setting up the terrain. Then the games themselves sometimes (...usually) take HOURS, especially if people start arguing over rules. I'm 43 now and I cannot even IMAGINE still being into tabletop gaming if I were a parent to a young child. Remembering my TT gaming escapades of my 20s, I imagine that Daddy is doing very little childcare, if any, once the wife is home.
Load More Replies...
Rashika Kansra 8 months ago
OP was definitely used..good for u 4 saying no. But another point, I would k**l my husband if he left my child with someobe else. not saying OP would but this is how kids can get hurt or worse! How do they know the adult left with the kid won't hurt them? Not worth it!
Robin Roper 8 months ago
OP was used. The roommate is a total AH and OP should never agree to watch the child again. Poor kid.
Jill Nunes 8 months ago
Wow really the comment above from jacklynNicole saying just because he lived with the kid to he should be willing to watch her. If you read the part about they were all roommates but had a kid after the fact. He had just gotten off a night shift and was going to sleep when he got back after and the dad totally new what he was doing and was going to do it over and over again I bet. If you want some one to watch your kids be respectful and don't be AH because if you take advantage like this guy did you won't have help in the future. Some people would have called CPS and others would never ever babysit again. If he had asked for longer time in text message or offer something in return then possibly might have been okay. 8 hours is so disrespectful and bad Dad move I hope his wife gives him a good cussing out
Amy Elliott 8 months ago (edited)
Seriously. They're also ignoring the OP had just worked a night shift and that 8 hours took their entire sleeping time.
Load More Replies... Sue Ellen Bowen 8 months ago
After OP called the dad and got nowhere, he should have called mom and asked her to contact her husband and tell him to get his rear end home.
Clara Stallworth 8 months ago
Unless the roommate was in a serious event such as an accident or illness, he should've given OP the courtesy of calling him back after the two hour mark had passed, and he DEFINITELY should've given OP a proper payment on top of a $6 pizza! NTA for sure!!
Ravioli 8 months ago
I feel like the wife could do better than having to live renting with a third person and working full time while her husband is unemployed. I mean, what is her husband bringing into the relationship? He is broke and his personality is obviously not great, not a great father either, unless he is the sexiest man alive and fornicates like a jackhammer, he is just dead weight
KatSaidWhat 8 months ago
Not ESH here - living with someone else's child does not make you an automatic babysitter.
Mark Childers 8 months ago
He knew exactly what he was doing. I lived with a couple once. It was a nightmare. If I had an issue with anything, they ganged up on me. They also tried to nickel and dime me to death. Then they decided that I was in their way. Things did not end well. I don't ever recommend for a single person to live with a couple, and this includes roommates who have their SO's around too much.
Kathy Brooke 8 months ago
Wow! That's incredibly dangerous. If I were the wife I'd tear him to shreds for putting the child at risk by leaving him with someone who'd been up all night and needed to sleep. Imagine he'd sat down and dozed off! He absolutely shouldn't agree to do any more child minding. No way he is fit for that responsibility after a night shift!
Baba Caine 8 months ago
I wonder how much this sahd make on his online TTRPG job ?while his wife works full time and most probably looks after the kid at end of work
LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
I don't stream, but in my 20s I was BIG into tabletop gaming. I had an entire Warhammer 40k army (complete with leopard spots painted on each unit's pauldrons, LOL.) Tabletop gaming is an EXPENSIVE hobby. You have to buy the figurines themselves, then primer, paint, paintbrushes, etc., and depending on the game/stream, you might have to buy terrain and props and so on. So unless husband is making TONS of money streaming, he might actually be bleeding money. And that's just the finances part - tabletop gaming also takes up a SH!T TON of TIME. Painting. Painting some more. Setting up the terrain. Then the games themselves sometimes (...usually) take HOURS, especially if people start arguing over rules. I'm 43 now and I cannot even IMAGINE still being into tabletop gaming if I were a parent to a young child. Remembering my TT gaming escapades of my 20s, I imagine that Daddy is doing very little childcare, if any, once the wife is home.
Load More Replies... Rashika Kansra 8 months ago
OP was definitely used..good for u 4 saying no. But another point, I would k**l my husband if he left my child with someobe else. not saying OP would but this is how kids can get hurt or worse! How do they know the adult left with the kid won't hurt them? Not worth it!
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