Children living with stepparents have become quite common in America. Research shows that around 30% of kids will live with a stepparent until they reach adulthood. Some find it easy, others may have a harder time, but one thing is for sure: the biological parent turning the child against the step family is never good.
When this mother turned her daughter into a spy, a step-uncle decided he didn’t want to babysit her anymore. While his brother-in-law argued that cutting her off like this didn’t solve the problem, the uncle saw more risks than positives. Still, he asked for advice about what to do online.
An 11-year-old became her mother’s spy in her father’s and stepmother’s house
Teen girl sitting on couch looking at phone, expressing reluctance about refusing babysit sister’s stepdaughter.
The uncle was caught in the middle of the drama, but decided he didn’t want to babysit his sister’s kids anymore
Text excerpt discussing refusing babysit sister’s stepdaughter due to concerns about having her in the house or alone.
Text describing family tension over custody, with a focus on refusing to babysit sister’s stepdaughter.
Text describing family conflict and refusing babysit sisters stepdaughter after second marriage ended.
Text explaining a family conflict involving refusing babysit sisters stepdaughter due to privacy concerns and locking bedroom doors.
A young couple sitting on a couch looking frustrated and upset while refusing to babysit sister’s stepdaughter.
Text about refusing babysit sisters stepdaughter, mentioning locking up medications and family snooping concerns.
Text discussing changes in Abbie’s personality and her rudeness around Nick’s family refusing babysit sisters stepdaughter context.
Text discussing a family conflict involving refusing to babysit sister’s stepdaughter and changing family relationship claims.
Young man in his 20s feeling distant, reflecting on refusing to babysit sister’s stepdaughter and lost family bond.
Young man sitting indoors looking stressed and frustrated while refusing babysit sister’s stepdaughter at home
Text expressing refusal to babysit sister’s stepdaughter due to trust and safety concerns in a family setting.
Text excerpt discussing therapy and consequences related to refusing babysit sisters stepdaughter and family conflicts.
Refusing babysit sisters stepdaughter, person declines weekend babysitting request despite no prior plans.
Text excerpt about refusing babysit sister’s stepdaughter, discussing attitude and behavior challenges.
Text excerpt about refusing babysit sisters stepdaughter with a discussion on consequences and relationship tensions.
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1-92.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=““Snooping In Private Areas For Her Mom”: Teen Crosses Every Boundary, Family Doesn’t Know What To Do - 17”>
The mother in this story seems to engage in parental alienation behaviors
Parental alienation, or when one parent manipulates and undermines the other, is more common than people might think. Advocacy group Alienated Parents estimates that about 13-15% of children of divorce experience parental alienation. A 2016 study found that 13.4% or more of parents say they have been alienated from at least one child.
Parental alienation has the potential to ruin the relationship between a parent and a child. What’s more, it can do irreparable damage to a child’s mental health. Kids often face confusion as they are made to believe they have to choose between two parents. They also might experience a lot of hurt from believing falsehoods about their parent.
The parent, in their own right, experiences helplessness and a lot of emotional turmoil as well. In extreme cases, they might even have to deal with grief, as the alienation may result in little to no contact with their child in the long run.
However, not all alienation techniques result in estrangement . Some strategies just drive a wedge between a parent and a child. Some researchers and experts still consider them serious family violence, as they are harmful for both the child and the alienated parent.
On the other hand, alienating behavior from a parent rarely occurs in a vacuum. Susan Heitler, a family psychologist with over 40 years of experience, says that something triggers the alienating parent to act this way.
“In most cases, the alienating parent is acting on feelings of hurt related to the divorce , which are not about the kids,” she explains . “Or that parent more than likely has an undiagnosed personality disorder that they’re inflicting onto other family members.”
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2-56.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=““Snooping In Private Areas For Her Mom”: Teen Crosses Every Boundary, Family Doesn’t Know What To Do - 18”>
Sometimes courts rule in favor of the alienated parent, even granting them full custody of the child
Parental alienation is not recognized as a diagnosable mental health condition. That applies to both the mental health and legal fields. Both the courts and mental health experts agree that some parents may engage in parental alienation behavior post-divorce, but also emphasize that it’s hard to pinpoint it exactly.
The courts don’t see parental alienation as a crime or a form of violence against a child or family. Still, parents can and do report parental alienation behaviors to the judge if they impact custody arrangements.
The first thing parents should do is gather any evidence they have that alienating behaviors might be occurring. Conversations, photographs, videos, texts, and so on can be helpful in proving that a parent is trying to alienate their child from another parent.
It can be hard to prove that alienation is happening because there have been instances of false allegations. So, courts take such claims with a grain of salt. If they consider something suspicious, a judge might order assessments by a social worker, a psychiatrist, or a psychologist.
There have been cases in the past when judges ruled in favor of the alienated parent. In 2023, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice decided on a “blackout period” for the mother who was alienating her pre-teen daughter from her father. For four months, the girl lived with her father, attempting to repair their relationship.
In another case, the court reversed custody from the mother to the father, leaving her with weekly visits only. In both cases, the mothers accused the fathers of intimate and physical violence against the children, but the court didn’t find any evidence to back up these claims.
Apparently, the kid was being rewarded for snooping: “A Switch 2 for some of the photos she sent her mom”
Online forum discussion about refusing babysit sisters stepdaughter due to potential risks and family concerns.
Reddit user discussing concerns about court actions and alienation in a refusing babysit sisters stepdaughter custody dispute.
Screenshot of a discussion about refusing babysit sisters stepdaughter and legal actions being taken in a comment thread.
Reddit discussion about refusing to babysit sister’s stepdaughter and concerns over child’s behavior and consequences.
Online discussion about refusing babysit sisters stepdaughter amid custody and family conflict issues.
Commenters sided with the uncle, urging him not to spend time alone with her until this all blows over
Comment explaining why refusing to babysit sister’s stepdaughter is justified due to potential risks and false claims.
Comment warning about refusing babysit sisters stepdaughter, advising caution and recording interactions if alone with her.
Screenshot of an online comment discussing refusing to babysit sister’s stepdaughter in a family dispute thread.
Reddit comment discussing refusing babysit sisters stepdaughter amid concerns of manipulation and family conflict risks.
User comment warning about refusing to babysit sister’s stepdaughter to avoid false allegations and protect oneself.
Comment discussing refusing to babysit sister’s stepdaughter due to concerns about safety and family conflicts.
Comment saying no to babysitting, advising to stay away and avoid unsupervised time, related to refusing babysit sisters stepdaughter.
Screenshot of a forum comment advising that refusing babysit sisters stepdaughter is optional and to be kind when explaining.
Online forum comment explaining why refusing babysit sister’s stepdaughter is justified due to problematic child behavior and personal boundaries.
Comment advising against risking life by refusing to babysit sister’s stepdaughter due to false accusations risk.
Comment discussing responsibility and boundaries in refusing to babysit sister’s stepdaughter amid family issues.
Comment warning about refusing babysit sisters stepdaughter due to concerns of inappropriate claims and safety risks.
Screenshot of an online comment discussing refusing to babysit sister’s stepdaughter in a heated conversation.
Screenshot of a forum comment discussing refusing to babysit sister’s stepdaughter due to protecting oneself from harmful behavior.
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