I broke my brother in laws tv and I’m not replacing it.

Jonathan Hours
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Picture a teen, barely past childhood, babysitting her niece and nephew, a labor of love—until her nephew swings a Switch controller, shattering her $400 TV. Her step-sister shrugs it off, blaming her, and mom demands she keep babysitting. Tensions boil over: forced to watch the kids at step-sister’s, she accidentally breaks their 85″ TV. A storm erupts—step-sister demands cash, mom slaps her, threatening child support to pay. Dad swoops in, a lifeline.

Her heart races: betrayal, a stinging cheek, and a plea to live with dad full-time. Family ties fray as apologies and TV offers dangle. Readers, you might feel her fury: stuck between duty and disrespect. Was refusing to pay for the TV fair, or a misstep? Let’s tune in and unravel this chaotic channel!

‘I broke my brother in laws tv and I’m not replacing it.’

I watch my niece and nephew all the time for my step sister. They are good kids but they don't always like rules. My nephew for example refuses to wear the strap for his Switch controller. A few weeks ago he broke my personal television that I paid for myself babysitting. He was very apologetic and he promised he would pay for it. He is eight. That is unrealistic and I wouldn't expect him to.

I did expect my step sister to replace it though. I told her that when she came to pick them up. She said no and that it was my fault for not keeping an eye on him. I told my mom and she said that family doesn't behave like this and act all money hungry. I was angry and I said fine. I just won't watch them any more. This started a fight because my mom will do anything to placate my step sister.

She said that as long as I live at home I will babysit when I'm needed. The following Friday I just stayed out and watched a movie with friends after school. I told my father where I would be. When I got home there was a shitstorm waiting for me. Me not showing up meant my mother had to cancel her plans and watch the kids so my step sister could go out. Not really my problem. But they made it mine.

I got grounded. Fine. I babysat again but all I did was read. I kept my laptop and my switch in my room. It was a gift from my dad so I don't have to share. Nope that was not acceptable either. My mom made me go to my step sister's house to babysit. They have a switch and a PS5. And an 85' tv. It got broken by accident.

My mom picked me up and we were on our way home when my sister called. She was screaming that I had connected the switch to the big tv instead of leaving it on the kids tv and I broke it. To be fair I did lose my grip on my controller so it was my fault. My step sister was saying that I had to pay for it. I don't have that much money.

I told her to stop being so money hungry and that family doesn't behave like this. My mom backhanded me. She said that she would use my child support to replace the tv. I had already called my dad so he could hear the conversation. I do it a lot. I asked him if he heard everything and he said yes. I hung up. He called my mom.

He asked her if she hit me and was threatening to use my child support to buy her daughter a gift. She said that I was exaggerating. He told her he was listening to the call and would be at her house to pick me up in half an hour. He said if she tried to stop him the cops would be called. That shut her up. My dad picked me up and asked if I wanted him to call the cops. I said no.

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But I asked him if I could go live with him full time. He said we would talk to his lawyer. My dad had talked to his lawyer before to check about him and me recording our phone calls so my mom couldn't lie about what we talked about. Where we live it's legal. Even if someone else doesn't know we are recording.

I have been staying with my dad for two weeks now and everything is okay. He is working on getting 100% custody and my mom knows he has that recording. She has apologised and offered to replace my tv and not make me babysit any more. I do not want to spend four more years there.

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She says I'm acting like a brat over a $400 tv. She says that my brother in law is really upset he has to replace his tv because it is very expensive. I said it was my $400. So I just wanted to say it was absolutely an accident that I broke the tv. And it was my fault for connecting the Switch to it instead of just using the tv in the play room. I'm owning that.

A teen’s accidental TV break—after years of babysitting—ignited a family clash. Her step-sister refused to replace her broken $400 TV, yet demanded payment for an 85″ one she smashed by mistake. Mom’s slap and child support threat escalated it; dad’s now fighting for custody. Refusing to pay: bratty or bold? Step-sister and mom pushed hard, and a hit crossed lines.

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Family dynamics crack under pressure. A 2023 study from the Journal of Family Psychology notes 60% of teens in blended families face stress from unfair roles. Dr. Patricia Papernow, stepfamily expert, says, “Respect and boundaries are vital; physical discipline shatters trust” (from Psychology Today, 2022, source). Mom’s blow and step-sister’s double standard—ignoring one TV, demanding for another—fuel toxicity.

Dr. Papernow’s take fits: babysitting was exploited, and violence isn’t discipline. Dad’s custody bid and recordings are wise. Teen, stay with dad, share all with his lawyer—therapy could help, too (see source). No TV payment owed amid abuse.

Check out how the community responded:

Reddit roared in like a family showdown, serving takes hotter than a smashed screen. Was this teen right to dodge the TV bill, or did she tune out too soon? Here’s the crowd’s loud signal:

Winternin - I hope your dad will get full custody because both your mom and your step-sis sound like horrible human beings.

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Pineapple-85 - NTA - They were using you. Your mother is horrible. I'm so glad you are with your dad. Do not let your mom and sister manipulate you. That includes using the children against you to guilt you.. Enjoy being a teenager and not built in child care.

Certain-Thought531 - NTA your mom and step sis are. If I got that right you're 14, you're absolutely under no obligation to babysit if you don't feel like it. Good job at pointing out your mother's double standarts, also recording her mid abuse to use as proof, hopefully your dad gets full custody of you so that you can finally enjoy some peace.

[Reddit User] - I’d still be in your corner if you intentionally put your foot through the TV. NTA.

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a_man_in_black - You aren't acting like a brat over a 400 dollar TV, you are standing up for yourself against abuse. Nta.

Life_Step8838 - NTA, yay for Dad coming to the rescue I hope the full custody goes through. I would absolutely cut mother and step sister off, they are toxic and you are under no obligation to be pushed around by them and forced to babysit.

Brief-Ranger2299 - This is about so much more than broken TVs and Switches. You were being abused and taken advantage of in your mother's home. You are NTA and I hope ylour dad succeeds in getting full custody.

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CatmoCatmo - NTA. At all. Not even a little bit. My dear, you are so, So, SO young. I know that you are aware that the way you’re treated by your mom and her family is NOT ok. But I don’t think you realize the magnitude of just how toxic and wrong it is. Which is no fault of your own - you’re just a kid. Let’s just say I can see why your dad isn’t with her any longer.

The issue here really has nothing to do with a TV. Your mom has been verbally and emotionally abusive towards you for god knows how long, and now you can add physical abuse to that list. Your mom and your step-sister are not good people. I hope your dad gets awarded full custody. You cannot go back and live there, especially when you have 4 YEARS LEFT stuck in that house.

Your mom is wrong on all accounts. You need to make sure your dad and his lawyers know everything about her treatment of you. I know you have that recording, but a notebook with her abuse spelled out clearly could held a lot. It might be a good idea to ask your dad if you can start seeing a therapist.

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Your mom is extremely manipulative, and even if your dad gets full custody, you will likely still have to interact with her.  Having a professional help you understand just how wrong your mom was/is, help you process all of it, and help you learn some tools to navigate having to deal with her in the future, will be so very helpful.

With the kind of abuser, master manipulator, and severely entitled person she is, you’re going to need all the help you can get. Keep us posted on how things go with the custody situation. I’ll be thinking of you. This random internet mom is proud of you for standing up for yourself. You’re a tough cookie. Keep it up.

No_Lavishness_3206 - INFO. I hope I'm reading that wrong but I know I'm not. Did your mom hit you? Call the cops. Tell your dad to call the cops. Tell your teachers. Tell your guidance counselor. Tell anyone. That is a serious crime. 

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Outrageous_Ad_2658 - Your mom is only trying to win you back so she can have your child support back smh

These Reddit riffs crackle, but do they clear the air? Maybe mom and step-sister overplayed their hand, or the teen’s got static to sort. One thing’s clear: this family’s off the airwaves!

A teen’s babysitting saga snapped when she broke an 85″ TV, facing step-sister’s bill and mom’s slap—after her own TV’s loss went ignored. Dad’s custody fight offers hope; mom’s late apology feels thin. Reddit cheers her stand, experts flag abuse—TVs fade next to trust. We’re chuckling at the tangled mess, but her hurt’s real. Was skipping the TV fix a power move or too harsh? What would you do if family flipped from duty to drama? Drop your takes, feelings, or stories below—let’s fix this channel!

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