AITA for not canceling my graduation trip to babysit my sister’s kids?
The original poster (OP), a 23-year-old female, recently graduated from college and planned a celebratory four-day road trip along the coast with several friends.
This trip was som**hing they had discussed since their soph**ore year, and everyone involved had saved money and made arrangements to participate in this final shared experience before life changes like moving away or starting careers.
Just two days before the scheduled departure, the OP's 32-year-old sister, who has three young children, contacted her in distress because her babysitter canceled for the weekend.
The sister needed the OP to stay home and watch the children so she and her husband could keep their planned anniversary getaway.
When the OP explained she could not cancel due to prior commitments, paid expenses, and high anticipation for the trip, her sister called her selfish and immature, with the OP's mother also insisting she prioritize family obligations over the trip.
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The central conflict for the original poster lies between her desire to honor a long-awaited commitment to her friends and her perceived obligation to prioritize her sister's urgent childcare needs, especially when pressured by her mother regarding family duty.
The OP feels justified in taking time for herself after completing college, which clashes directly with her family's expectation that personal plans should yield to immediate family support.
The core question is whether the OP was correct in standing firm on her plans, prioritizing her long-scheduled celebration and financial investment, or if the family emergency warranted sacrificing the trip for immediate support.
Readers must weigh the value of es**blished commitments and personal celebration against the demands of immediate family caretaking.
The Internet Sounded Off — and It Got Loud:
Support, sarcasm, and strong words — the replies covered it all. This one definitely got people talking.