A woman has fallen out with her sister after she banned her tween nieces from ever staying at her place again because they wrecked her apartment.
While her sister believes she is “overreacting,” the woman believes she was right to stand her ground and set some boundaries.
She took to the popular Reddit forum AITA to explain her situation in detail and ask for feedback.
“Last weekend, my sister asked if I could watch her two kids (ages 7 and 9) for the night because she and her husband had an event,” the woman begins.
“They usually behave well”
“I love my nieces and agreed, even though I live in a small one-bedroom apartment. I thought it would be fun, and they usually behave well.”
She said that everything started out fine. They watched movies, had snacks, and were all having a good time but it all changed the following day.
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“The next morning, when I went to make breakfast, things spiraled out of control,” the OP begins.
“They were running wild, and by the time I realized it, they had knocked over a lamp, spilled juice on my rug, and somehow managed to break my TV remote.
“I tried to calm them down and get things under control, but they kept running around and even started playing with my work laptop, which I had to snatch away before they could do any damage. I was frustrated and overwhelmed.”
“I need my apartment to stay in one piece”
When her sister came to pick them up, she explained what happened and that she didn’t feel comfortable having them sleep over again until they could be more careful.
“She laughed it off at first, saying, ‘kids will be kids,’ but I stood my ground. I said I love them, but I need my apartment and belongings to stay in one piece.
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I offended my sister by calling out her son’s iPad addiction — she is ruining his life “Now, she’s upset and says I’m overreacting. She told our parents, and they think I’m being too harsh and that I should just ‘kid-proof’ my place better next time.
“I’m feeling guilty because I know they’re just kids, but I also feel like my boundaries weren’t respected.”
In the many thousands of comments, the majority were squarely on the side of the aunty, believing her sister was in the wrong for letting her kids get away with such bad behavior.
“I would have been apologizing to OP, paying for damages, and grounding my children,” one user commented.
“OP should not have to defend herself! OP should not have to banish them – her sister should have handled it better.
“Nope, can’t babysit, sis. But call mom and dad! They’re far less harsh, and see if they kid proofed their house.”
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“The issue is your sister, not the nieces”
Some commented that even the most “feral” kids usually show more respect when away from their own homes.
“My boys are feral at home, but from the time they started walking, they have always been angels in other people’s homes. Sis needs to raise her kids better.”
And many also felt that the idea of ‘kid proofing’ your homes against tweens but frankly a bit silly.
“Age seven is old enough to know better and has been for years. Kid proofing is for toddlers and preschoolers.”
And finally, most of the commenters felt the issue was not the tweenage kids, rather their mum.
“The issue isn’t your nieces, but your sister.
“Keep your ground. Your parents can babysit if they think expecting respect is being too harsh.”
With one adding a possible solution: “I’d just offer to watch them at their place and let them run wild. When she complains, just say ‘kids will be kids’!”
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