I (F25) just graduated with my Master’s degree last month. I’m the first in my family to graduate from college, let alone get a Master’s, so it was a big deal for me. I invited my whole immediate family, including my older sister (F32), who has two kids (5 & 3). She said she’d be there.

The day of my graduation comes, and she never shows up. No text, no call. Later that night, I got a message from her saying something came up and she “didn’t want to deal with dragging the kids to sit through a long ceremony.” I was really hurt I worked my butt off and just wanted my family there.

Fast forward a week later, she calls me up and asks if I can watch her kids for a full weekend so she and her husband can go on a last-minute couples getaway. I told her I wasn’t comfortable doing that and reminded her that she couldn’t even bother to show up to my graduation. She got super defensive and said I was being “immature” and “punishing her kids for something that’s not their fault.”

Now my parents are telling me I should have just watched the kids because “family helps family” and “kids shouldn’t suffer over adult problems.”

I still feel hurt and honestly don’t feel like doing her any favors right now.