Uncle Not Prepared For Call He Receives From Sister-In-Law After Babysitting Niece: 'So Irresponsible'

What began as a fun night of tea parties and playing with Lego bricks has spiraled into a family dispute that has left an uncle fearing he won't be allowed to babysit his niece again.

The 39-year-old man, who goes by SouthlandMax on Reddit, babysat his 9-year-old niece while his brother and 31-year-old sister-in-law (SIL) had a date night.

'My preciousss'

While playing, the uncle jokingly slipped on one of her toy rings and whispered, "My preciousss," imitating Gollum from "The Lord of the Rings."

When his niece didn't recognize the reference, he was surprised, given their family's shared love for sci-fi and fantasy. To introduce her to the classic, he made popcorn and they watched "The Fellowship of the Ring."

"She loved it," the uncle told Redditors, particularly the hobbits, elves and magic, and eagerly asked to see the next film. After putting her to bed, he thought the evening had gone well.

Stock image: Man arguing with woman on sofa. Voyagerix/iStock/Getty Images Plus

The next morning, however, he received an angry call from his SIL.

She accused him of being, "So irresponsible", for showing their daughter, "Sex, incest and heads being hacked off," the OP told Redditors.

Confused, he pointed out that none of that appeared in "The Lord of the Rings."

The misunderstanding became clear when his brother explained that his wife had confused the film with "Game of Thrones," a series notorious for its adult themes.

Despite clarifying the difference, the SIL insisted he wouldn't be allowed to babysit again.

The frustrated uncle noted that his niece had previously enjoyed "Star Wars" films without issue and had never been scared by fantasy content.

"She loves dragons and aliens," he wrote.

"Her favorite doll is Grogu and she absolutely did not find anything scary."

Many Reddit users siding with the uncle.

"My son is 9 and we saw "The Fellowship..." two years ago," a supporter replied to the OP.

"I warned him about 'scary' scenes and he was cool with it."

Another critic wrote, "I think your brother needs to consider finding a way to make his wife listen instead of acting like an irate closed-minded crazy person."

Other users were more understanding of potential mix-ups, with one person recalling that they once stopped their father from playing "Django Unchained" for their young niece and nephews.

"He said he thought it was a kids movie about a lizard," the person added.

"He was thinking of 'Rango'."

Disputes like these often arise when family members have different perspectives on what content is suitable for children.

According to Home & Family, one way to avoid these conflicts is through clear communication and active listening. They recommend structuring conversations and turning off distractions to make sure everyone feels heard.

Parenting expert Nicole Beurkens also advises discussing expectations with family members before leaving children in their care.

In her podcast, What To Do When Extended Family Members Disagree With Your Parenting, she suggests approaching disagreements with respect and focusing on the child's well-being.

The OP has yet to comment in the Reddit thread. While his niece enjoyed their movie night, whether he'll be trusted to babysit again is uncertain.

Newsweek has contacted SouthlandMax for comment via Reddit.

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