Man wonders if refusing to babysit sister's kids after being called 'too lazy' was wrong

Sometimes, family dramas can simply drive us up the walls. The people who we presumed to be our close ones can at times get on our nerves by being judgemental or unreasonable. So, when we retaliate to those judgments, the drama just blows up bigger. That was the case for this 27-year-old man—who goes by u/smellycatandthebat on Reddit—when he refused to babysit his sister's kids. The man asked if he was wrong that he got back at his sister who called him "lazy" and people favored his decision.

Giving a little introduction about himself, the man said that some "accidental good financial decisions" that he made a few years ago gave him some sort of financial freedom. He was in a position where he did whatever he loved in his own time rather than working for an organization. He owned a small electronics shop where he sold and fixed electronic devices and he didn't need to be at his shop all the time. So, due to his flexible work hours, he often babysat his sister's kids while the little ones were sick or when his sister was on a business trip.

During a family gathering, when everyone was asked about their work, this man mentioned his small business. Out of nowhere, his 34-year-old sister added, "Yeah, by running a business he means being very lazy and sleeping until noon, sometimes chilling out in the store and playing video games or watching movies all day while some of us had to work hard for their success!" Of course, the man had it easy in life as he went to trade school and "got lucky with business decisions," while his sister studied and worked hard to make money. However, he felt that this was no reason to insult him as he had immensely helped by watching her kids. "Oh, don't forget that I am also a full-time free babysitter, but I decided to quit and focus on being lazy!" he replied to his sister's comment.

Not taking his response seriously, a week later, the man's sister asked him to take care of her son who seemed to be sick. He simply replied, "Don't you forget that I quit as I am way too lazy to watch the kids," and abruptly ended the call. This did not sit well with his sister who insisted that he was so selfish for refusing to babysit. Also, the man's mother supported his sister saying that she had no help to watch the kids and that he put her in a tough position. "I am not hurt because of the 'truth,' I know I am lazy. It hurts that she acts like watching her kids has been nothing," wrote the 27-year-old. He did not avoid his sister or her kids, but simply couldn't agree to babysit anymore. So, he sought help from the internet asking if he was wrong and over a thousand responses poured in.

"She (sister) should have thought about that before she decided to unleash what she really thinks of you. Not your problem," reassured u/Amar_Akbar_Anthony20. "She can hire a sitter like the vast majority of other parents. Too bad all her education and hard work didn’t teach her not to look a gift horse in the mouth," pointed out u/C_Manjuscula. "Other than her being completely disrespectful for how helpful you are with her kids, you have your own life to live how you like and her kids are not your problem. She can't expect you to be a permanent free childcare option who's on call 24/7, and needs to handle things like every other parent," commented u/PandaLand447.