Man Refuses to Keep Making Meals for His Sister’s 3 Kids Every Day for Free: ‘I Feel Like It’s Asking a Lot’

The man, 25, shared that his sister feels like he's "being a bad brother and uncle" in a Nov. 7 Reddit post

A man is unsure whether he’s being a “bad brother and uncle” after refusing to cook daily meals for his sister’s kids without compensation.

The man turned to Reddit’s Am I the A—--- forum on Nov. 7 to explain the situation to his fellow Redditors.

“My older sister (37F) has 3 kids under 10. I (25M) don't have kids yet but I'm a junior sous-chef and I cook a lot in my spare time,” he began.

“During some recent time off from work my sister asked if I could babysit her kids after school for three days. I said yes. I watched the kids. She paid me for it and I thought that would be it,” he continued. “But then she asked me what the kids ate with me after the week had ended and then she wanted to know how I got her kids to eat a full meal.”

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The man added that the kids are typically “picky eaters” who will “eat what they like off a plate” and then “leave the rest.”

He noted that he was able to get the kids to eat a wider variety of foods by blending “veggies and other good stuff into their dinner the first day,” hiding veggies “in plain sight” on the second day and serving certain foods in a “way they don’t get them normally” on the third and final day.

The Redditor said his sister and brother-in-law attempted to replicate the healthy recipes, but were unable to get them to eat.

“So she wanted me to make food for her kids every day,” he continued. “I asked if she was going to pay me for spending all that time and money and she told me I should do it as a way to help my nieces and nephews stay healthy. I told her it's a big ask. She told me I have the chance to really help and put my skills to good use for family.”

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“I feel like it's asking a lot because they expect me to make something every day for the kids. But my sister feels like I'm being a bad brother and uncle,” he concluded, asking Reddit if he’s the “a------” in this scenario.

The post has received more than 7,000 upvotes and almost 1,000 comments, with nearly all of the commenters siding with the original poster.

“Your sister is delusional. Look up the prices of meal prep services that would be equivalent to what she wants. Then add in your time. That's the value of your services,” one comment read.

Another person suggested that the sister may be in need of some cooking lessons. 

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“These are her children, they are her responsibility not yours,” they wrote. “What she should have asked is if you could give her some recipes or even cooking lessons where she pays for the ingredients. She is taking advantage of you.”

Yet another user pointed out that the children's pickiness might not actually have anything to do with the way the food was prepared. 

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“Her kids are doing what all kids do,” the Redditor wrote. “They say no to their parents because they’re comfortable and have been saying no with no real repercussions. You’re their uncle, but not as comfortable as a parent. They will eat what you tell them. As time goes by they’ll stop with you too. Your sister needs to learn how to make her kids eat.”

The observation was seconded by another user.

“All of this.” they wrote in response to the previous comment. "It's a power play with the kids. 90% chance that your sister could serve the food you made and they wouldn't eat it (unless she said you made it and then 50/50 on whether they eat it. And no ... you don't have to make food for free for your sister.”