A woman posted on social media asking for advice on a difficult situation involving her brother’s children. She described how her brother asked if his three kids could stay at her home for a weekend, as he and his wife needed a break. However, the visit turned into a nightmare as the kids broke things, scribbled on walls, and ignored boundaries. When the woman reported the damage to her brother, he laughed it off and did not offer to help clean up or replace anything. The woman refused another visit from the children when her brother asked again, leading to a disagreement with her parents.
The woman’s parents got involved in the situation, urging her to be the bigger person and help out her brother by allowing his kids to stay at her place. However, the woman was still traumatized by the previous visit and did not want to deal with another similar situation. She turned to social media for advice, asking if she was wrong for refusing to have the children over again. One user responded by stating that she had no obligation to care for her brother’s children, especially given her previous experience.
Another user suggested that the woman’s parents could take in their grandchildren for the weekend, or that the woman could stay at her brother’s place instead. The idea was well-received by others on the platform, with one user calling it a genius remedy to the situation. Some users expressed the opinion that the brother and his wife should work on controlling their children’s behavior before expecting others to watch them. The woman sought advice from a psychologist on the matter, highlighting the importance of discussing child care arrangements and not assuming that family members are always available to help.
Etiquette expert Lizzie Post also weighed in on the issue, stating that it is unreasonable to assume that family members will always be willing to care for each other’s children. She emphasized the importance of discussing child care arrangements and not overburdening family members with childcare responsibilities. It was noted that every child care arrangement is unique and should be approached with open communication and consideration for all parties involved. The woman’s request for advice on social media sparked a debate about family dynamics and responsibilities when it comes to caring for children within the family unit.
