17-year-old son stops doing chores and refuses to be free babysitter for his 8 siblings after parents announce their having their ninth: 'I protested'

If you're the oldest sibling, you already know the unspoken rule that you're basically the built-in babysitter. Parents lean on you to help with homework, walk younger siblings to school, or keep them entertained so Mom and Dad can catch their breath for five minutes. It's not fair, but with one or two younger siblings, most teens can grit their teeth and get through it. But what happens when you're the oldest of eight, with a ninth on the way? That's the reality one 17-year-old is living, and he's had enough.

This teen says his parents expect him to handle everything from cooking weekday meals to laundry for the entire family, shuttling siblings to school and activities, babysitting, updating the household calendar, and even picking up takeout. It's a workload closer to a third parent than a high school student. When his parents announced yet another baby on the way, he finally snapped. He went on "strike," refusing to take on any of the extra labor that his parents had piled on his shoulders.

Now the house is in chaos, his parents are furious, and he’s being called selfish. But the teen insists he’s done raising children that aren’t his, and many online are taking his side.
via Getty Images For Unsplash+

^{Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.}
Advertisement
"AITA for protesting my parents having more kids by not doing as many 'chores' as I did before?"

via Elzeenzoo
via Elzeenzoo
via Elzeenzoo
Advertisement
via Elzeenzoo
via Elzeenzoo
Advertisement
via Getty Images For Unsplash+

^{Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.}
via Elzeenzoo
Advertisement
via Elzeenzoo
via Elzeenzoo
via Elzeenzoo
Advertisement
via Elzeenzoo
via Elzeenzoo
via Elzeenzoo
Advertisement
via Elzeenzoo
via Elzeenzoo
via Elzeenzoo
Advertisement
via Elzeenzoo
via Elzeenzoo
via Elzeenzoo
Advertisement
via Elzeenzoo
via Elzeenzoo
via Elzeenzoo
Advertisement
via Elzeenzoo
via Elzeenzoo