A woman working from home says her roommate expects free daytime babysitting—and now their shared apartment is full of tension.
Let’s break it down
The backstory and early dynamics
The 30-year-old woman lives with a roommate who has a toddler.
They split an apartment, but not parenting duties.
She works from home full time and follows a strict schedule filled with meetings, deadlines, and focused work blocks. Her job leaves little room for interruptions, and her income depends on staying productive during business hours.
At first, the living arrangement worked.
Then expectations started to shift.
The moment things shifted
Her roommate began asking her to watch the toddler during the day.
Not for emergencies—but for errands and personal time.
The toddler is loud, energetic, and unpredictable. Babysitting meant missed meetings, broken concentration, and falling behind at work.
She declined multiple times and explained why.
Her job simply couldn’t coexist with childcare responsibilities.
The final confrontation
Trying to be reasonable, she offered a compromise.
She could help occasionally, but not on a regular basis.
That response didn’t land well.
Her roommate accused her of being selfish and unsupportive. She argued that since they live together—and since she doesn’t have family nearby—a “good friend” would help more.
The fallout
The apartment atmosphere turned cold.
The roommate feels abandoned and overwhelmed.
The poster feels guilty—but also frustrated that her boundaries aren’t being respected.
Now she’s questioning herself: Is protecting her job unreasonable, or is she being pushed into unpaid childcare?
What Reddit Thinks
Verdict: Mostly NTA (Not the A-hole)
Most Redditors would side with the work-from-home roommate, saying childcare is the parent’s responsibility—not a shared household obligation.
Sample reactions:
- “NTA. Working from home doesn’t mean you’re available for babysitting.”
- “Helping occasionally is kind. Expecting daily childcare is entitlement.”
- “Your job pays your bills. That comes first.”
A minority might urge empathy—but even they agree boundaries are necessary.
A Final Thought
Living together doesn’t mean sharing parenting duties—but where should roommates draw the line between kindness and obligation?