It takes a village to raise a child. New parents often rely on the help of family, friends, and neighbors while they navigate a fresh chapter in their lives.
This mother may have taken that help a little too far.
Her sister was expected to pay for several of the mother’s baby’s expenses despite being younger and nearly broke.
The sister took to the internet to ask if she was wrong for no longer wanting to chip in to help.
This is what happened:
Background
The poor sister, or the original poster (OP), is 24. Her older sister is 26 and just had a baby. OP describes her as “Wealthy. Not like a millionaire, but she has a lot of money to spend and a lot of money saved.”
OP states that she is “poor, not homeless, but most [money] goes to bills, rent, I’m living in a trashy apartment, two jobs, you get it.”
How does OP help out her sister?
OP was thrilled about the new addition to their family until her sister started asking her to help out financially by paying for things like food and diapers a few weeks after the baby was born.
At first, it was okay. OP says, “[Obviously] she just had a baby, and she’s my sister, so I help her, no questions asked.”
Is that all OP does for her sister?
As time went on, OP’s sister started asking for more help from OP. OP was covering her sister’s baby expenses continually, saying, “When she needs more, I get more.”
OP says she also babysits for her sister when she or her husband can’t watch the baby. When this happens, OP has to take time off from work and does not make any money.
What happened?
At a family event, OP’s sister showed off her baby’s expensive nursery. Looking around at the lavish canopy crib and new decorations, OP asked, “Hey, why am I paying for baby essentials while you’re buying all this for her?”
How did OP’s sister respond?
OP’s sister got defensive after OP’s nursery quip. According to OP, “She doesn’t want her kid to have a boring ‘babyhood.'”
Still confused about why she was funding the baby’s necessities, OP doubled down on her original question, asking, “If you have money for all this technically unimportant stuff, why am I paying for all this?“
What was OP’s sister’s reaction after being asked again?
After OP asked her question again, her sister left the room. “Everyone’s looking at me like I grew another head. I get whispers, nasty looks, my mother saying I’m horrible for not wanting to help my sister, and I just go.”
Does OP continue to pay for the baby’s things?
Less than two days later, the sisters get over it, and OP goes back to watching her sister’s baby and paying for the baby’s things.
Despite pretending to get over it, OP is still frustrated. Her sister doesn’t pay her to babysit, and because she’s paying for the baby’s items and rent, she has to work twice as many hours as she did before.
Then, OP spoke up again
One day, after babysitting, OP decided to try speaking up again. When her sister got home, she said, “I can’t do this anymore. I’m stressed out with my jobs and rent is due soon. Unless you can pay me some money back for all this, I can’t do it.”
Was OP’s sister receptive to her feelings?
OP’s decision to stop babysitting and paying for her child was not taken well by her sister. She got angry and said, “If [OP] doesn’t care about her kid, [OP] can leave.”
“It didn’t even take 24 hours for me to get multiple texts and calls, all calling me names, saying I’m a horrible sister. A week later, and I’m still getting sarcastic and rude messages from my sister. I’m stressed out, and my brain is in scrambles,” says OP.
Was OP wrong for putting her foot down? Here’s what the internet had to say:
This situation is baffling
“I don’t get it. The sister is married. She had the baby. It’s her responsibility. I thought this was some situation where the baby was in dire circumstances.
“I guess it must be some kind of cultural thing? In any case, I would be done, outside of birthday presents and the like.
“As for babysitting, if you are not working and you want to, fine. Otherwise, no. Anyone who has an issue can take up your slack.”
OP is a doormat and has low self-esteem
“You are [not wrong], but you are a doormat. Giving to people who have more than you while you struggle is not an admirable trait. It’s a low self-esteem trait. Every day, you should practice in front of the mirror saying the word NO.
“Don’t try to reason with people like her. They don’t care about you. Only about how they can use you. Stop babysitting, too. Love yourself more.”
There is no reason why OP should be buying these things
“There is no reason your sister and her husband cannot get the things needed for their baby themselves. They can even have them delivered. There is also no reason why you should feel like you have to purchase these things since they can afford it and you can’t.
“Stop buying the baby supplies. Also, you should stop having to give up your life to babysit. They are using you and taking advantage. It is time for you to say no and put your money towards your needs.”
OP is only enabling her sister
“You literally put your own financial security at risk. She is married and chose to have this baby.
“Your idea, no questions asked. Seriously?!
“Your sister is a user. You bent over backward. How could you not expect to be taken advantage of at this point?
“Take some responsibility.
“Also, you are continuing to let this happen. Go to therapy. You let this happen.”
This article was written and syndicated by What the Fab.
This wealthy sister is the reason her poor brother is still broke
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Were her reasons understandable? Decide for yourself.
The sibling money drama continues
Who says family feuds over money can’t start before you’re officially family?
One woman was expected to put down her own credit cards for her brother’s wedding vendors under the guise that she would be repaid. When she wasn’t, she canceled every single vendor.
Who was wrong? Here’s exactly how it went down.
Is OP’s sister actually rich?
Is OP sure that her sister is actually wealthy? She may want to read this story and decide.
Despite making more than four times his fiancée’s income, this rich man demanded that all household expenses be split equally.
After being informed that the couple would have to downgrade their luxury lifestyle as a result, he exploded with rage and then made a shocking confession.
You won’t believe what he admitted next.
Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
