Parenthood doesn’t erase the need for adult connection, but it sure does complicate it.

One tired couple found themselves hurt when their child-free friends kept extending offers for nights out, while refusing to acknowledge the difficulties of finding a babysitter.

Keep reading for the full story.

AITA for being bitter that our child-free friends won’t babysit so we can actually do the things they keep inviting us to?

My wife (30f) and I (32m) have a one-year-old daughter. We love her more than anything, but the reality is: we’re tired.

Life revolves around naps, diapers, snacks, and bedtime. We haven’t had a real night out in what feels like forever.

We’re running on fumes and really missing adult connection and couple time.

These new parents can’t help but compare their lives to their childfree friends.

We’re still close with two longtime friends, Jack (33m) and Sarah (32f), who don’t have kids.

They’re financially comfortable, socially active, and constantly out doing cool, fun things—bars, new restaurants, day trips, pop-up events.

They invite us pretty regularly, and while we appreciate being included, most of the time it’s just… not feasible. Their plans never include kids, and we don’t exactly have a roster of sitters on standby.

It’s starting to weigh on their mental health.

And here’s where it gets frustrating.

We want to go. We want to join them, drink margaritas, eat food someone else cooked, wear something that isn’t covered in banana puree.

But we can’t, because we don’t have reliable childcare and they won’t offer.

These new parents think their friends could be great babysitters for their daughter.

They clearly like our daughter. When they come over (which they do every now and then), they interact with her.

They play with her, read books, run around with her. She loves them.

So it’s not like they’re uncomfortable with her, or don’t know how to handle a toddler.

A couple weeks ago, they invited us to check out a new Mexican restaurant they were really excited about.

So finally, the new parents decided to just come out and ask.

And for once, instead of just saying “we can’t make it,” we straight-up asked: “Would you be willing to watch her for a couple hours so we can go?”

It was honestly a vulnerable moment for us—like, hey, maybe this time we could make it work if you helped out.

But their friends’ blunt reaction caught them off guard.

They immediately said no. No hesitation. Just shut it down.

That hurt.

They keep inviting us to live a life we can’t access anymore, and they have the ability to help us experience one small piece of it again—but they won’t.

They don’t think they’re asking for too much here.

We’re not asking for weekly childcare. We’re not asking them to give up their freedom.

But they could have given us one night.

So yeah, I’m bitter. I’m tired. And I’m hurt.

I know they’re not obligated to help, but I also thought close friends might want to—just once—so we could have a break.

It wasn’t about bad friends — it was about unrealistic expectations.

What did Reddit make of all this?

These new parents might be overcomplicating a few things.

What these new parents were suggesting didn’t make a lot of sense. 

Many parents manage to find an affordable babysitter, so why can’t they?

This fellow parent has a few suggestions.

Missing margaritas hurts, but expecting friends to cover childcare crosses a line they never signed up for.

Friendship isn’t a babysitting contract.

If you liked that story, read this one about grandparents who set up a college fund for their grandkid because his parents won’t, but then his parents want to use the money to cover sibling’s medical expenses.