Many parents believe that having multiple children will result in them babysitting each other, making it a convenient idea. However, in reality, it can be a complex situation as humans are complex beings and there are many factors to consider before assuming that this plan will work out.
A real-life example of how this idea can backfire is when a single father, who has an adult daughter and twin preschoolers, sought advice online about whether he was wrong for expecting his daughter to regularly babysit her twin siblings in exchange for free rent at his home. When she refused, he became upset, accusing her of behaving entitled.
More Info: Reddit
While having several kids just so the parents can have them babysit each other sounds like a good idea, it’s not the smartest idea in the long run
The situation is that the person who posted (OP) has a 20-year-old daughter who is studying and living in his home without paying rent. In exchange, she does some household chores and occasionally watches over his 5-year-old twin boys, when he is busy with work or wants to spend time with his girlfriend. According to the OP, this happens around 3 times a week and he is typically only away for a few hours. He believes that the twins are well-behaved and the task is simple.
This one parent had to learn that the hard way after he asked the internet if he was wrong to have his adult daughter regularly babysit his twin sons, her siblings
The 20-year-old daughter was OK with doing the daily chores, but was frustrated with having to babysit as it got in the way of her studies
However, the daughter brought up her concerns about the babysitting arrangement to her father. She felt that he was expecting too much from her with all the chores and babysitting. She said she was fine with cooking and cleaning, but the babysitting was overwhelming and interfering with her studies. This reaction upset the father. He remembered balancing school, paying bills, and taking care of her as a baby while he was still married to her mother. He felt that she was being entitled, and if he could do it, she should be able to as well. The daughter was not happy with this response and left the conversation to go to her room.
The dad’s sister also got involved and sided with the adult daughter, saying the dad should at least pay her for it, but he argued she’s already living rent and tuition-free
Afterwards, the father found out that his daughter had spoken to his sister about how she felt he was treating her. The sister called him in an attempt to mediate the situation and suggested that he pay his daughter for the chores she does. He disagreed, but acknowledged that comparing his own situation to hers was unfair as he had the choice to have children and that choice should not affect others. He maintained that, if she is living in his house rent-free and he is paying for her college, this should be considered as an allowance. However, he asked the opinion of Reddit’s r/AITA community to be sure.
The online community was having none of it, though, saying that the dad should not shove his responsibility onto his daughter, let alone even think that it’s OK to charge her rent
