Roommates Leaving 2-Year-Old Home Alone While Out to Eat: AITA Drama Unfolds

A 28-year-old woman moved in with her boyfriend and two roommates, and it started feeling less like “shared rent” and more like “shared risk” after the couple with the 2-year-old began leaving their kid home alone every time they wanted dinner out.

Every night, bedtime hits at 7 PM, and then the parents disappear for up to two hours, claiming they’re watching their son on a baby cam. The OP hates it because her own childhood memories include being left alone, and when she brings it up, her boyfriend acts like she’s making it a bigger issue than it is. Things escalated last night when the mom and dad took edibles, went to wait in line for a new Nintendo Switch, and the OP got a call at 11:30 PM to check on the kid.

Now she’s stuck wondering if her anger makes her the problem, or if staying quiet is what’s actually going to blow up the whole household.

Original Post

So I live with my boyfriend and our two roommates, one of whom is his best friend from childhood and his wife.

I’ve lived with the couple since January 2025. They have a two-year-old son who is super cute and sweet.

Any time they want to go out to eat for dinner, they wait until his bedtime (7 PM) to leave. The kicker is that they leave him by himself in the house while he’s asleep to go out and eat.

Sometimes they will be gone for almost two hours. They try to justify it by saying that they are watching him on the baby cam while they are out.

I don’t know if I should say anything since it’s not my child, and I don’t want to start drama in the house. Anytime I bring up a grievance to my boyfriend, he gets upset that I put him in the middle.

I’ve told him how it makes me feel when they do something like that, and his response is, “He’s not being neglected.” As a child, my parents weren’t there for me and left me at home more times than I can count, so it really upsets me that they can do it so casually without a second thought.

They left him last night; thankfully, I was upstairs asleep, but my boyfriend’s friend called me at 11:30 PM asking me to check on him since he was wrapped up in his blanket. I found out in the morning that they had taken edibles and gone to wait in line to buy the new Nintendo Switch.

So, am I the asshole for getting so upset over this or for not saying anything to the mom and dad? I just feel like I can’t express how I feel without putting myself in a situation where I can’t get out.

My boyfriend taking his best friend’s side or them getting angry and me getting kicked out of their house.

Child Safety and Parental Responsibility

Leaving a young child home alone raises significant concerns about safety and emotional well-being.

Children thrive on security and routine, and being left alone can create feelings of anxiety and abandonment.

Research indicates that children who experience instability may face long-term emotional and behavioral issues.

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The OP tried to bring up the nightly “baby cam babysitting” routine with her boyfriend, but he immediately put her in the middle of a fight she never asked for.

These findings underscore the importance of ensuring a safe environment for children and the responsibilities that come with parenting.

Parents must consider their child's developmental stage and needs when making decisions about supervision.

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When conflicts arise over parenting decisions, open communication is essential for resolution.

By fostering a dialogue focused on mutual respect, parties can work toward a compromise that considers everyone's concerns.

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When the couple left their toddler again after 7 PM, the OP’s discomfort turned into something sharper, especially after a 11:30 PM call and a sleepy kid wrapped up in a blanket.

Strategies for Addressing Parenting Conflicts

To effectively manage disagreements over parenting, individuals should prioritize understanding each other's perspectives.

It also echoes the question, should I ask my jobless brother to repay rent after losing his job?

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We'd love to hear your take on this situation. Share your thoughts below.

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The real gut punch was finding out they weren’t just running errands, they took edibles and waited in line for the new Nintendo Switch while their son was home alone.

So now the OP is weighing whether to confront the mom and dad directly, knowing her boyfriend could side with them and she might end up getting kicked out too.

In this situation, the safety of the young child should take precedence over the roommates' desires for a night out. The article highlights a concerning trend where the couple prioritizes their social life over the well-being of their child, raising serious questions about their judgment. Conflicts like these reveal a disconnect in parenting expectations, especially in a shared living environment.

The psychological implications of leaving a toddler unattended are significant, as it not only endangers the child's safety but also places an emotional burden on the other roommate. This predicament illustrates the importance of open communication; without it, the risk of misunderstandings and resentment only grows. Ultimately, collaboration among all household members is essential to ensure that the child's needs are not overlooked in favor of adult leisure activities.

The family dinner might be over, but the real question is whether the OP is about to pay the price for caring.

For another “who pays” blowup, read about refusing to contribute to a struggling family budget.