Dear Prudence,
I am a stay-at-home mom to a toddler, and I am currently pregnant. My neighbor pays me a few hundred a week to take care of their baby. I am currently exhausted and stressed out over the situation, all because of my sister.
She has three elementary-aged children and depends on me to pick them up from school. The deal was I would do this if my sister would come over on the weekends the kids are with their dad and deep-clean my house. My sister has done this twice since she met her new boyfriend, and the last time was half-assed at best. I can’t handle six children every day, on top of my the new baby on the way.
I have repeatedly told my sister she needs to honor the deal or find other child care. She makes promises and does not follow through. The last time, I told her I wouldn’t be picking up the kids, and she would have to deal with the consequences. I stuck to my word and let the school call my sister and her ex for the pick-up. It screwed up their work schedule, and they had to pay a fine three times. My sister was furious with me and dragged our mother into the argument. My mother thinks I am being too hard on my sister and since their kids are easy, I am making a mountain out of a molehill. I need some back up here. What should I do?
— Too Much