'AITA for refusing to be a 'free babysitter' for my sister because my mom thinks I have no social life?'

People with disabilities often have to brave social stigma to wade through the world, but sometimes the hurt comes from their loved ones.  

Recently, a teenager took to Reddit's popular "Am I the A*****e" forum to share that her mother thinks she should have accepted the offer to be a "free babysitter" to her sister's children because she has no real social life being paralyzed. 

Mother treats daughter a 'free babysitter' after her life-altering accident

The girl wrote on the AITA forum that she is 18 years old, paralyzed, and still in high school. Her mother is 45 and her 28-year-old sister has three children aged 10, 6, and 3.

She added that she ended up paralyzed from the waist down after she got into a car accident four years ago. "It has been hell having to learn a new way of life but I haven’t let that stop me. I am going to be going to a college out of state next year, and graduating in the top ten percent of my school if things continue as they are," the original poster (OP) wrote.

She further shared that her mother thinks she is now a free babysitter whenever one of her older brothers or sisters needs one. Her mother never consults her on these and expects her to drop plans at the drop of a hat.

"This past Monday, I told my parents about a Christmas movie extravaganza sleepover my friend has been planning. It’s gonna be three girls and we were planning on making brownies, and cookies, and watching really cheesy Christmas-themed romantic movies and just girl stuff. It was on Saturday and my parents said they had no problem with it," the OP shared. 

Teenager refuses to be a 'free babysitter' for her sister

The girl continued in the Reddit post that she was just about to roll out when her mother came and said her sister was on her way with her three boys. "Apparently she asked mom if I could babysit the other day and she said yes. Didn’t even bother telling me about it," wrote the teenager. 

However, she knew it was time for her to draw the line. "I said hell no because I already have plans. We fought and my mom ended up storming off because this one time I wasn’t backing down. I took the time and left. Turning my phone off when I got into my friend's car," the OP mentioned. 

She added, "Today when I got home I got called an immature a******. My sister was left without anyone to watch the kids during her husband's work Christmas party. I went back on my word (that I didn’t make). Mom told me that I should be grateful she gave me something to look forward to (babysitting) because I have no real social life being paralyzed."

"I just went to my room and cried. But now I’m wondering…am I the a*****e like they say I am because I refused to babysit and then left my sister in the lurch?" asked the teenager to fellow Redditors. 

Redditors side with OP's decision to not be a 'free babysitter' for her sister

Redditors thought the 18-year-old did the right thing by refusing to be a free babysitter, with many adding that her mother's behavior was unacceptable. 

One commented, "NTA. Your family members all suck. If your mom is that concerned about your sister having a babysitter, she can watch the kids herself."

Another Redditor, who is also paralyzed, wrote, "Nta. That paralyzed comment was a low blow and unacceptable. I would never babysit again. I've been paralyzed for 21 years and my social circle is small but tight. I really want to have a strong word with your mom. You didn't deserve any of that. I'd put your foot down and stop. Call cps if they leave them with you. Use their words against them."

"NTA. OP, this is abuse. They aren't treating you like a person. Your sister can't even be assed (asked) to talk to you about your availability to babysit her kids, she just thinks it's cool for your mom to say yes for you," a Redditor pointed out. 

One more remarked, "NTA. No social life huh? So what was the Christmas movie extravaganza sleepover you had planned and attended, that they knew you had plans for? Your sister needs to take responsibility for her own kids, and family are not automatically babysitters when she needs them."

Another person wrote, "NTA. OMG I’m so sorry your mother said that to you. Don’t believe it!!!!! If it’s possible try and spend more time with friends so you won’t have to listen to crap like that often. Sister can hire sitters like normal people do every day. You don’t have much longer til you are college bound and can get away from all of them. Can your father help you, surely he won’t appreciate that comment from your mother?" 

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