“She Burst Into Tears And Begged Me To Help”: Woman Threatens To Call CPS On Sister-In-Law
Babysitting can be a tough job. You always have to think on your feet, have quite a bit of an energy reserve, and have enough patience to manage two people’s emotions: your own and the child’s you’re looking after.
That is why no one wants this task thrust upon them without their consent. And if that happens, there’s bound to be conflict there.
This is what happened in the story below. The woman kept getting the responsibility of taking care of a small child pushed onto her plate without warning. That’s until she got sick and tired of it. Scroll down to see what she did and if the Am I the [Jerk] community agreed with it.
Taking care of a child is not a walk in the park. It can be demanding on both physical and emotional levels
Image credits: Allan Mas (not the actual photo)
That is why thrusting childcare responsibilities on other people without their consent is a bold move that is bound to backfire. This is exactly what happened in this situation
Image credits: Gustavo Fring (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Keira Burton (not the actual photo)
Image credits: childabandonment
The author dealt with the situation by the book
Image credits: fauxels (not the actual photo)
This story seems to be the perfect example of standing up for yourself when your boundaries are being crossed. At first, the author tried to solve the situation through conversation. She talked it out a few times and made her position known. She even asked her half-brother for support in communicating her needs.
Then, when it didn’t work, she moved on to handling it more head-on and established what consequences will follow if her boundaries are not respected. In other words, the perfect response to someone who will not take no for an answer.
Saying no to people might be tough, but one has to stand their ground
Image credits: Monstera Production(not the actual photo)
When it comes to dealing with people that simply have to have their way, there are a few tips that professionals give to help you manage their requests. One is to say “no” firmly and kindly. Don’t even get into explaining why you said no—some might use it as a chance to argue your decision. Just say it and stick with it.
If they respond to your answer by voicing negative feelings, you can acknowledge them. Say “I know you are in a tough spot, but there is nothing I can do to help you.” If the persuasion persists, it is time for you to voice your feelings. Say that their requests are making you uncomfortable and you would like to change the topic of conversation. If that doesn’t work, you might need to consider limiting your contact with that person.
People in the comments asked for a few clarifications regarding the situation
Many agreed the woman did the right thing by complaining about the behavior
I so hope I'm wrong, but considering that it is her daughter and not her and Enzo's child, I think that she sees her daughter as a hindrance in her life and wants to see as little as possible of her.
Or she can’t cope with Alice and the new baby and is taking the opportunity to get rid of Alice a couple of times a week rather than spend time with her. If OP doesn’t call the CPS then Enzo needs to actually sit down with her and get her to talk about why she keeps abandoning her daughter. Maybe she needs help, either a nanny or a therapist but it seems like he’s not concerned enough about why she’s doing this.
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She just dumps the poor kid in the hallway and leaves? And the kid's father knows about it and does nothing? Hell yes she should have called CPS a long time ago.
The stepdad is OP's brother. The bio father of Alice is not in the picture.
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NTA. Steph is a neglectful parent; Enzo is enabling her. OP has the right idea in calling the police the next time. Unless they and CPS get involved, it's only a matter of time before this story will have a tragic ending.
I so hope I'm wrong, but considering that it is her daughter and not her and Enzo's child, I think that she sees her daughter as a hindrance in her life and wants to see as little as possible of her.
Or she can’t cope with Alice and the new baby and is taking the opportunity to get rid of Alice a couple of times a week rather than spend time with her. If OP doesn’t call the CPS then Enzo needs to actually sit down with her and get her to talk about why she keeps abandoning her daughter. Maybe she needs help, either a nanny or a therapist but it seems like he’s not concerned enough about why she’s doing this.
Load More Replies... She just dumps the poor kid in the hallway and leaves? And the kid's father knows about it and does nothing? Hell yes she should have called CPS a long time ago.
The stepdad is OP's brother. The bio father of Alice is not in the picture.
Load More Replies... NTA. Steph is a neglectful parent; Enzo is enabling her. OP has the right idea in calling the police the next time. Unless they and CPS get involved, it's only a matter of time before this story will have a tragic ending.
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