A dinner at his mother-in-law’s house turned from calm to chaotic after a single awkward request. His sister-in-law (SIL) asked sweetly:
“Uncle, can you change the baby’s diaper?”
It wasn’t the first time she’d treated family like on-call babysitters. But this time, the husband decided he’d had enough.
He responded politely:
“No, I’m sorry, I don’t do that. I don’t change other people’s kids’ diapers if their mom or dad is around.”
The room went silent. His sister-in-law’s smile faded; she murmured, “Well…I feel selfish.” Trying to soften the moment, he smiled back: “Not trying to make you feel bad—just setting a boundary.”
Cue instant awkwardness. She got up, changed the diaper herself, and his wife later scolded him for “making her sister feel bad.”
What Happened Before That
According to the Reddit post, the SIL and her husband have a habit of delegating tasks whenever they visit — from asking the host to stock their child’s favorite snacks to assigning babysitting duties while scrolling their phones.
“I’ve got three kids,” the OP explained. “I packed for them, watched them, changed them. I’m not looking to be a secondary parent for this kid.”
The Internet Reacts
Reddit, as usual, didn’t hold back.
- u/starry_nite99: “NTA. She only felt bad because you didn’t play along with her guilt trip.”
- u/jasperjonns: “She called you ‘Uncle’ to make you feel obligated. Classic manipulation.”
- u/starship910: “She’s not used to hearing the word no. That’s why the tears came out.”
- u/RetiredNFlorida: “In the middle of dinner! Parents need to parent their own kids.”
- u/alphabetacheetah: “I’m a mom — no way I’d ever ask someone else to change my kid’s diaper when I’m right there.”
Even Reddit’s bot weighed in (as always), confirming the verdict: Not The A-hole.
BuzzVibeDaily Verdict
Boundaries at family dinners? Always messy — literally and emotionally.
The internet sides firmly with the uncle here. Parenting isn’t a group project, and helping is optional, not owed.
Our take: He’s not the asshole — just the only adult in the room willing to say no.
Engage With The Story
💬 What do you think?
Would you have just changed the diaper to “keep the peace,” or stood your ground like he did?
👉 Join the conversation and share your take
