Teen Treats Family Vacation As A Time To Relax, Adults Are In Panic As Nobody Wants To Babysit

Each of us brings something special to our family. Maybe it’s The Guardian, always looking out for everyone’s well-being and making sure nobody feels left behind, or maybe it’s The Storyteller who preserves important memories and traditions.

Sadly, teenage Reddit user TheOriginalToaster became The Parentified Child. And she wasn’t asked to, either. The adults kind of decided for her that whenever they wanted to step away from their kids, she would be the one to fill in. However, on a recent vacation, the 17-year-old finally pushed back.

Family vacations can test you in ways you don’t even expect

Teen girl looking frustrated and overwhelmed, refusing to babysit multiple kids during a family vacation meltdown.

Image credits:  Zinkevych_D/Envato (not the actual photo)

But at some point, you have to draw the line

Text excerpt discussing a 17-year-old refusing to babysit multiple kids during a family vacation, causing adult meltdown.

Text about a 17-year-old refusing to babysit multiple kids during a family vacation causing an adult meltdown.

Teen refusing to babysit multiple kids during family vacation, causing adults to react with frustration and meltdown.

Text excerpt stating dislike for kids and difficulty handling four children aged 5, 4, 3, and 2 during family vacation.

Text excerpt discussing family dynamics and 17-year-old refusing to babysit multiple kids during family vacation.

Teen refuses to babysit multiple kids during family vacation, causing adults to go into meltdown over responsibility.

Two young children playing outside during a family vacation with a focus on babysitting challenges.

Image credits:  YuriArcursPeopleimages/Envato (not the actual photo)

Text describing a 17-year-old refusing to babysit multiple kids during a family vacation, causing adults to meltdown.

Teen refuses to babysit multiple kids during family vacation, causing adults to react with frustration and meltdown.

Teen refuses to babysit multiple kids during family vacation, causing adults to react with frustration and meltdown.

Text on white background about canceling reservation and frustration of babysitting multiple kids during family vacation.

Text post showing a 17-year-old refusing to babysit multiple kids during family vacation, causing adults to meltdown.

Woman in blue top listening intently during a family discussion about babysitting refusal on vacation.

Image credits: YuriArcursPeopleimages/Envato (not the actual photo)

As her story went viral, the teen clarified a few important details

Text post showing a person thanking others for support and answering questions in comments on family vacation babysitting issue.

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Image credits: TheOriginalToaster

Placing adult responsibilities on children can affect their well-being

Image credits: Prostock-studio/Envato (not the actual photo)

It’s perfectly fine to give children and teenagers chores, but teaching kids responsibility is one thing and making them caregivers is another.

According to psychotherapist Kaytee Gillis, LCSW, girls who survive parentification often exhibit:

• Over-responsibility and self-reliance;
• Difficulty with vulnerability;
• Perfectionism;
• Difficulty setting boundaries;
• A need to help or even “fix” others;
• Earlier sexual behavior;
• Being told they seemed “very mature” for their age;
• Need for approval;
• Difficulties with trust;
• Guilt and resentment;

That being said, “It is important to understand that parentification is not always done purposefully,” Gillis explains. “It is often due to a lack of awareness of the behavior, and an absence of understanding of how this dynamic impacts the child.”

The author of the post did say that in her family, the older generation was also expected to babysit their siblings and cousins when they were younger.

“However, just because it was not done maliciously does not take away from the impacts this experience has on survivors of parentification,” Gillis adds.

What the adults could’ve done better was take a step back, listen, and understand that the teen’s perspective was different than theirs.

People supported the girl for prioritizing herself

Screenshot of a Reddit discussion about a 17-year-old refusing to babysit multiple kids during a family vacation.

Screenshot of an online forum where a 17-year-old refuses to babysit multiple kids during a family vacation.

Reddit conversation about a 17-year-old refusing to babysit multiple kids during a family vacation dispute.

Screenshot of a Reddit discussion about a 17-year-old refusing to babysit multiple kids during a family vacation.

Screenshot of a Reddit discussion about a 17-year-old refusing to babysit multiple kids during a family vacation.

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Reddit discussion about a 17-year-old refusing to babysit multiple kids during a family vacation group meltdown.

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Reddit comment supporting 17-year-old refusing to babysit multiple kids during family vacation, praising boundary setting.

Comment from Reddit user Illustrious_Goldfish giving advice to a 17-year-old refusing to babysit multiple kids during family vacation.

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Screenshot of a comment rejecting babysitting multiple kids during family vacation, highlighting refusal and adult meltdown reaction.

Excerpt from a Reddit post where a teen refuses to babysit multiple kids during a large family vacation meltdown.

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Teen refuses to babysit multiple kids during family vacation, causing adults to react strongly and create tension.

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Teen refuses to babysit multiple kids during family vacation, causing adults to react with frustration and meltdown.

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