AITA for refusing to babysit my dad's fiancée's kids during their wedding?

[@aec9174]

NTA. Mom isn't looking for a "bonding" experience for her kids - she's just looking for a free babysitter. Not your responsibility.

[@zhmw]

If they can afford a wedding, they can afford a babysitter, a professional and trained babysitter for her kids. Someone who knows children's first aid and CPR and what to do if a child chokes or throws up or breaks a leg, etc. Also, someone trained in how to handle sibling rivalry and knows what to feed them for lunch, etc. A 17 year old, an only child, is no doubt not trained in Child CPR and doesn't know how to handle 3 children, so it's worth hiring a professional babysitter or nanny during the wedding. And when this 17 year old is 18 and graduates from high school, I hope she's accepted in an out-of-state college at least 2-3 states away from home.

[@darianroscoe1017]

NTA. I think it's time to let dad know he chose his new family over him and just pack up, find a relative, a grandfather, aunt, uncle or friend to live with until your 18th birthday. Just do it and don't even tell hiim.

[@JackieSkellington]

Sometimes step, blended, and extended are like Chex Party mix when they grow up together and feel like a family - but sometimes it's just "our parents are marrying, we're not instant siblings." My Mom passed and my Dad remarried when I was grown, so I had a "step" mother and we got along fine but she didn't raise me!

[@NeversurrenderMM66]

NTA. OP is a family member, just like the little steps. They are all guests. Let the dad pay for a professional babysitter so so can enjoy the party. I do hope OP tries to get to know the kids, but on his terms.

[@Boomette53]

Fiancée: “Oh, a 17 year old stepchild? How exciting - what a wonderful source of free labor!” I think OP should interact with his new step siblings. But this his dad’s wedding too. He should be able to participate in the festivities. Maybe even bring a date. He shouldn’t be assigned babysitting duty. Forcing this kind of responsibility - especially as a money-saving tactic - is not going to aid in family bonding. Future stepmom should make arrangements for a paid professional to wrangle her kids, if they’re unable to behave themselves without constant supervision,

[@gene8172]

Have them hire a sitter. If you go to the wedding or the reception and the sitter doesn’t show, turn in your heals in Ana about face and go do something else for the rest of that day and let her handle her own children.

[@christinepuliselic5340]

She seems to be a controlling person. He's best to leave. Dad is about to become an ATM/doormat.

[@tonya--7704]

Don't you have any roll in the ceremony like at least a groomsman or usher or something? She should have her mother watch the kids.

[@cynthiaoconnor7185]

Say "ok" but only if my going rate of $10/hour per kid ($30 per hour), with a 10 hour minimum.

[@randomas8634]

I'd rather see they get an actual babysitter for that, and he can be the cool fun older brother that pops into and out of their life like cotton candy. Cause at that age, thats realistically the best they can expect.

[@brmam1385]

NTA

[@joew9842]

You have an opportunity to enrich your life with new relationships. That being said I understand that you may want to set boundaries on the babysitting. TBH refusing the babysitting for the wedding as a once off though shows you are still pretty much a child yourself.

[@sspacegghost]

weddings are stressful - help out....