Home / Lifestyle / Woman Escapes Unwanted Babysitting Duty After Firm Refusal
Woman Escapes Unwanted Babysitting Duty After Firm Refusal
16 Aug
Summary
- Woman's friend demands she babysit toddler for 4 days
- Woman initially agrees but later backs out, feeling anxious
- Friend tries to guilt-trip the woman but she stands her ground
On August 16, 2025, a woman was left in a difficult situation after her friend made an "audacious" request for her to look after the friend's 19-month-old baby for 4 days and 3 nights in October. The woman felt put on the spot and "ended up agreeing," even though she "really, really" didn't want to do it.
Logistically, it wouldn't have been feasible for the woman, as her work schedule and the toddler's nursery hours would have required her to take annual leave. The woman's friend is known to "bulldoze people into doing things for them," and as a self-described "people pleaser," the woman sought advice on how to back out of the arrangement a few days later.
After receiving supportive responses on Mumsnet, the woman firmly told her friend that she could not commit to the childcare. The "cheeky f***er" friend tried to guilt-trip the woman, but she stood her ground. Despite the friend's passive-aggressive social media post, the woman felt "intense relief" at having avoided the unwanted responsibility.
