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Every parent and caretaker eventually draws a line about who gets to watch the kids, and most people respect that line without turning it into a fight. It’s one of the most basic responsibilities that comes with looking after children who can’t look after themselves.

But one woman’s boyfriend couldn’t understand why she refused to allow his friends to babysit the kids so they could go out to dinner.

Her boyfriend found his friends completely trustworthy, but she couldn’t stop thinking about all the awful things that could happen if she wasn’t careful enough.

Suddenly she was forced to weigh whether her cautiousness was responsibility or just paranoia.

Keep reading — Redditors had a lot to say about this one.

AITA FOR NOT WANTING MY BFS FRIENDS TO BABYSIT

I hear so many stories out there of horrible things happening by family members, family friends, and strangers but it’s mostly people you know.

But that didn’t prevent her boyfriend from arguing with her.

My boyfriend said, “Why can’t you just leave your nieces with my friends Johnny and Jrew,” and I was like, “I love them a lot but I don’t really want things to happen or if they don’t know how to take care of them. They are vulnerable, I really do not want to gamble on this.”

Her boyfriend somehow took her protective instincts personally.

My boyfriend got mad at me and accused me of accusing them of the terrible.

THE CHILDREN COME FIRST.

Her mind was already made up, and she didn’t intend to change it.

I am not leaving them with his friends. I am only leaving them with my mom, and if my mom can’t do so, I’m not going out for dinner.

I told him to watch the news and to read stories online.

I have absolute concern for them because they can’t defend themselves at all.

Sounds like this woman is actually a responsible caretaker, unlike her boyfriend.

What did Reddit have to say?

Maybe her gut is actually trying to tell her something important.

It’s also worth digging in a bit more about her own anxieties.

This commenter points out that there may be a time where she will have to entrust the kids with someone other than herself.

This user shares their philosophy on childcare.

This woman is right that children can’t protect themselves and that caution matters when you’re the adult responsible for them. Nobody should argue with that foundation.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a woman who finally blew up after years of being treated as the second-best sibling.

But refusing to leave her nieces with anyone on the planet except her mother is a standard so narrow that it stops being caution and starts becoming something she might want to examine more honestly.

Not every person outside her immediate family is a threat, and living as though they are puts a ceiling on her relationships, her social life, and eventually the kids’ ability to learn how to exist around other trusted adults.

Her boyfriend handled the conversation badly by making it about his friends’ honor instead of engaging with her concern. But her position leaves zero room for trust to develop with anyone new, ever, and that kind of rigidity tends to lead to isolation.

Maybe a good talk with a therapist should be her next step.