When My Sister Expected Free Childcare, I Found a Respectful Way to Speak Up
When I agreed to help my sister with childcare “occasionally,” I truly meant it. I love my nephews, and I wanted to support her whenever I could. But that simple offer quickly spiraled into something else entirely.
Because I work from home and don’t have children, she assumed I was always available. My quiet mornings soon turned into pre-dawn doorbell rings and two sleepy little boys in pajamas on my doorstep — no text, no warning, no discussion.
At first, I brushed it off. It was family, after all. But “once in a while” turned into every day. My home office became a playroom. I rearranged my schedule, prepared breakfasts, soothed tantrums, and juggled video calls while cleaning up spilled juice and finding missing dinosaur toys.
My sister would pick the kids up later in the afternoon, cheerful and refreshed — often coming back from a workout or lunch with friends. She never seemed to notice that my own time and energy were running out. Every time I tried to bring it up, she’d smile and say, “You work from home — you’re flexible,” as if that meant I had endless hours to spare.
Then one morning, after yogurt spilled on my laptop and I missed a client call that cost me an important project, I sat there in tears. I realized that my kindness had quietly turned into an obligation — and I couldn’t keep pretending everything was fine.