A mother and her boyfriend are at odds with her son after he asks for money to watch his step-siblings during a family emergency. The boyfriend punishes the son, leading to a heated argument and accusations of favoritism. Read on to find out who is wrong in this complicated family situation.
Blending families: Mom and boyfriend navigate parenting 4+ kids

Boyfriend prioritizes stepson over son, causes tension in household.

Son demands payment for watching step-siblings, causing family tension.

Son asks for payment to babysit step-siblings, boyfriend refuses.

Mom sides with boyfriend after son tries to exploit family emergency

Son’s silent treatment after punishment, AITA for taking boyfriend’s side?

Should son be punished for asking to be paid for babysitting?
A mother takes her boyfriend’s side after her son asks to be paid for babysitting his step-siblings when he has to skip a workday. The son argues that his stepbrothers aren’t his responsibility and that he lost money by skipping work. The boyfriend harshly scolded the son and punished him by taking away all his electronics and canceling his birthday months away. The mother sided with her boyfriend, causing a rift between her and her son. Read on to find out if the mother is in the wrong and if the punishment was too harsh. In the comments, people share their thoughts on the situation and offer advice on handling conflicts between blended families.
Mom takes boyfriend’s side over son’s missed work, cancels birthday. YTA.

Son lost money, was punished, and left to babysit without compensation. YTA.
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/156cef27-519f-46f6-95fc-f0a2f76550a1.png)
Mom’s boyfriend’s kids are not his step-siblings. Protect your son.

Teen misses work to babysit step-siblings, gets punished. YTA.

Neighbor paid me for an easy day, your son deserves better

Son lost wages babysitting for step-siblings, mom favors boyfriend. YTA. ♂️

Son asks for payment after missing work, gets punished. YTA.

Mom’s boyfriend causes conflict by not paying for childcare

OP’s overreaction leads to strained relationship with son

Commenter calls out mom’s behavior and predicts consequences.

User calls out entitled behavior of boyfriend and OP.

Commenter calls out mother’s poor parenting decisions and lack of support for her son.

Commenter calls out mother’s AH behavior, boyfriend not family.

Mom’s boyfriend is not the stepdad. YTA for forcing son.

Commenter calls out parent for exploiting working-age child

Commenter calls out bad parenting with harsh YTA judgement

Mother allows boyfriend to punish son and refuses to pay him. YTA.

Commenter calls out OP for being a**hole, cancels son’s birthday.

Commenter calls out mom’s unfair treatment of son’s request.

Ouch! When family drama gets too real

Son feels like an indentured servant to boyfriend’s family. YTA.

Boyfriend’s extreme punishment causes family tension and resentment

Mom’s boyfriend refuses to compensate son after medical emergency – YTA.

Parent cancels son’s birthday over unpaid babysitting. YTA.

Commenter calls out OP for prioritizing partner over child. YTA
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/51d19a89-ccde-459f-bdca-190ed3c49419.png)
Commenter calls out parent for taking boyfriend’s side

Mom takes boyfriend’s side, leaves son in a bind

Mom prioritizes boyfriend over son’s well-being. YTA.

Commenter calls out OP for being TA.

Mom prioritizes boyfriend over son’s well-being, faces consequences.

Son not a babysitter. Pay him for missed work. YTA

Son asks for money to babysit, mom takes boyfriend’s side

Commenter warns mom of permanent damage to relationship with son.

Mom favors boyfriend over son in babysitting dispute

Son’s job taken away for step-siblings, mom sides with boyfriend

Mom refuses to pay son for babysitting step-siblings. YTA.
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/0446f039-cb9e-498f-9988-85b916e73b1b.png)
Step-kid feels attacked by step-dad’s reprimand. Valid teachable moment? ❌

Son loses money and birthday for forced babysitting. YTA.

Mom’s boyfriend causing family drama and loss of wages. YTA.

16-year-old innocent, rest of family sucks. ♂️
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/9f357ae4-cdd3-4c00-ae4a-b1cfb4769e48.png)
Son requests fair payment for babysitting – YTA for not compensating.

Harsh judgment! What led to this comment?

Commenter calls out OP for being an a**hole

Son doesn’t consider step-siblings as family. ♂️

Mom plays favorites, son forced to skip work, YTA

Mom refuses to pay son for missing work to babysit

Commenter deemed the a-hole for asking stepdad to pay up

Son punished for asking reasonable question about step-siblings. YTA

Mother’s unfair punishment causes son to feel unwanted and unappreciated

Commenter criticizes mother’s boyfriend for punishing son’s favor

Son loses money and job, but gets punished for asking?

Unfair punishment for asking to be paid for babysitting

Son loses work money, mom takes boyfriend’s side. YTA.

Commenter calls out mother’s poor parenting in babysitting dispute

Mother sides with boyfriend over son’s request for emergency pay

Commenter calls out mom for taking boyfriend’s side over son.

Personal presence is crucial
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/e95cec99-9940-436b-86a5-fb236208f107.png)
Commenter calls out mom for not taking responsibility.

Commenter criticizes mom for prioritizing boyfriend’s kids over her own.

Mom’s boyfriend forces her son to miss work: YTA risks relationship

Commenter condemns mom’s favoritism towards boyfriend, predicts strained relationship.

Commenter warns OP of consequences for prioritizing boyfriend over son

User calls out mom for being the a**hole in situation.
