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Internet supports boy, 18, for moving out of parents' home after 'teen dad' experience

The scenario was discussed in the popular Reddit group 'Am I The A**hole?' where it received almost 7K upvotes and close to 1000 comments

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The Internet is rooting for an 18-year-old boy who said he moved out of his parents' house because he can't take care of his younger siblings any longer. The scenario was posted by Original Poster (OP) u/AffectionatePeace999 in the popular Reddit group 'Am I The A**hole?' where it received almost 7K upvotes and close to 1000 comments.

In a Reddit post titled "AITA for moving out because my parents expect me to help take care of my little brothers?" the boy wrote, "My parents decided to have their kids in sets. There's me and my sister (16F) and our younger brothers (3, 6 months). They had me at 20, and I guess decided they wanted more. My brother is a good kid but him and the baby are a lot to handle obviously. This is where my current issue comes into play."

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'My sister and I were basically free babysitters'

OP describes how he along with his sister were given the responsibilty of taking care of their younger siblings. "Our parents told my sister and I once mom was pregnant with the youngest, that they wanted us to help more with taking care of them. Fair enough we both figured, but since then it's been a lot. Once we got back from school, we'd basically be babysitting our older brother until my parents got back from work or whatever else they were doing, then we had no time for anything besides homework before bed. This was most weekdays keep in mind. My entire senior year my sister and I were basically free babysitters, we could never do anything because we always had to help with the kids. When the youngest was born it got even worse. Mom was right back to work, and both our parents work like 60 hours a week, so we would basically switch to childcare duty as soon as school was done until someone got home around dinner. My sister likes to joke that she's had the teen mom experience, and I'm done."

OP continued, "I told our parents that I know taking care of my brothers is a condition of living here, so I'm out. In a week two friends and I are going to split a one bedroom dump. I work part time and that can be full time, I'm taking trade classes that I can take loans out for, I can do it." He concluded by saying, "The issue is everyone is pissed. My sister is pissed because she'll have to do more, parents are pissed because sister is pissed at them, and so on. Now I feel like I'm being selfish to do this."

'Not your kids'

Almost 1000 people left comments on the post, with all of them supporting OP. One user commented, "NTA - not your kids. I hate that parents put the younger children onto the older children bc they can’t afford childcare or don’t wanna take care of them. People should really stop having kids they’re gonna force on their older children."

'It is your parents’ job to raise all their kids'

Another agreed, saying, "NTA. Everyone should be mad at the parents, not OP. Older siblings can help with younger ones a bit, but it is your parents’ job to raise all their kids. They need to get their affairs in order."

'No is an answer'

A third user supported, "NTA. Be prepared for them to continue their outrageous demand remember No is an answer, you don’t have to explain. Also remember you don’t have to immediately answer the phone or respond to a text. You can wait until it’s good for you to respond."

'It’s not fair to you or your sibling'

A concerned user advised, "I think you’re NTA OP, but it may be time to have a difficult discussion with your parents about finances. They could be working hard because the family money situation isn’t good and you and your sibling looking after your siblings allows them to work longer hours to make more money. It’s not fair to you or your sibling, but that COULD be the reason why. I’m not saying it’s right, but at least it’s an understandable reason for having you babysit."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.