'He's just a kid': Enabler mom refuses to reprimand 13-year-old son who stole 12-year-old cousin's crutches 'as a joke'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Sep 3, 2024 3:00 PM EDT

Being 'just a kid' is a good defense against a lot of things. For instance, if a 2-year-old cuts their own hair with safety scissors because their teacher has bangs and they were trying to emulate them. Or when a toddler rips the head off of their dolls- it's not a sign of sociopathy, they're just a kid. But the 'just a kid' excuse has an expiration date. Sure, I'd love to say 'But I'm just a kid!' after my dentist tells me I really need to floss more, but I am indeed an adult, and in charge of my own dental hygiene. 

But it's up to the parents to find where that line is and enforce it, or else you'll be getting away with stuff forever. And we know what happens to a kid who gets away with stuff. They never stop. That's what happened in this story, and when their family members tried to set them straight, drama ensued. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10398419200
    via Annie Spratt
  • 02
    AITA for telling my sister 'he's just a kid' isn't an excuse for a 13-year old?
    via u/airPlaneProperty
  • 03
    My (26f) sister, Elle (36f) has a 13-year old son, my nephew, Tyler. Yesterday was my dad's birthday. To get the picture, it was me, Elle, our other sister, our aunt and uncle and our three cousins. The middle one of the three cousins, Grace (32f) has a daughter Brooklyn (12f). Tyler and Brooklyn were the only kids there. Brooklyn recently broke her ankle, and needs crutches for a few weeks.
    via u/airPlaneProperty
  • 04
    The kids were mostly in the living room, whereas everyone else was in the kitchen/dining room. I didn't think to check on them much because I thought 13 and 12 were old enough to know not to do something super dangerous like break a window, besides, the living room is pretty close to the kitchen. We heard something crash down the stairs, followed
    via u/airPlaneProperty
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    immediately by shouting. Everyone's first instinct was the rush into the room, and so we did. We saw Tyler and Brooklyn wrestling over one of the crutches on the couch, well Brooklyn was sitting on the couch and Tyler was standing behind the couch, if you can picture it. Brooklyn ended up falling backwards off the couch, and she started crying.
    via u/airPlaneProperty
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    Turns out, Tyler had thrown one of the crutches down the stairs into the basement and was trying to also get the other one thrown downstairs. After we made sure Brooklyn was not seriously hurt (she ended up being fine), Grace started asking Tyler things. like "what were you thinking? why would you do that? what's the matter
    via u/airPlaneProperty
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    with you?" I wouldn't call it yelling, but her voice was definitely raised. A few other people joined her, and Elle immediately jumped in front of them like a soldier, saying "no one is hurt and he's just a kid". I thought that was ridiculous because 1. Although
    via u/airPlaneProperty
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    Brooklyn ended up being alright, she COULD HAVE been hurt, and 2. A 13- year old? Really? A kid? That's a teenager who should know better. So I told her so, just a kid is something used for kids aged 11 and below. After that, it's not an excuse.
    via u/airPlaneProperty
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    Elle thought everyone overreacted, and she was I, especially at me. My god, really? And for anyone asking, I don't know why Tyler did that. Really, I don't. Maybe he thought it'd be funny or something. But since Elle is so I off I'm wondering if maybe that was a line not to be crossed. Or maybe I'm overthinking, because . Well?
    via u/airPlaneProperty
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    Frankensteins_Kid 17h ago. • nah NTA "Just a kid" is used when a 4- year-old smeared PB&J all over his body to know how sandwiches feel. Not when a teenager is purposely trying to harm an injured person.
    via u/Frankensteins_Kid
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    And I know why Tyler did that. Because his mom is an enabler who will not make him face the consequences of his actions. He probably knows his mom will come to the rescue and dismiss his misbehaviour.
    via u/Frankensteins_Kid
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    EsmeWeatherwax7a 17h ago • I don't know that "just a kid" has an absolute age limit. But for something like this? Taking away a mobility aid? Six year olds would know not to do this. Maybe he was trying to be funny, and if so he should get a very clear message about how not funny it
    via u/EsmeWeatherwax7a
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    way. Maybe he's a bully. I don't know, but mom trying to protect him from the consequences of his actions does him no favors. (The fact that EVERYONE thought Tyler was being a little should tell Elle something, but she seems motivated not to hear it.)
    via u/EsmeWeatherwax7a
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    Necessary_Alps_9000 • 16h ago NTA. A 13-year-old is old enough to know better than to mess with someone's crutches, especially when they're injured. "He's just a kid" isn't an excuse at that age, and your sister's reaction is enabling bad behavior. Brooklyn could've been seriously hurt, and it's right to call out irresponsible actions. Elle's upset because she knows you're right, but someone had to say it.
    via u/Necessary_Alps_9000
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    InevitableGood9458 17h ago NTA!! • Kids need guidance, and guidance happens through discipline. Making excuses for your kids is almost asking your kids to grow up entitled.
    via u/InevitableGood9458
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    Notafraidtosayit6 • 16h ago Tyler will eventually have a parole officer no doubt. Nta.
    via u/Notafraidtosayit6
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    Flat-Story-7079 16h ago • NTA, and this is why we have an issue with teen boys acting like 1. I would suggest entitled that you not spend a lot of time with your sister and her entitled son, for your own safety.
    via u/Flat-Story-7079
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    Outlander56 • 16h ago Tyler is a bully and is not to be trusted alone with anyone or anything. Your sister is headed for a ! awakening when Just A Kid kills the family pet. So very far from AT.
    via u/Outlander56
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    Free2Be2 16h ago NTA - You're wrong on the "just a kid" age though as 11 knows better. If you'd said 5 or 6, maybe. Still, not the AH. 13 yo seems like an undisciplined brat.
    via u/Free2Be2
  • 20
    Ok-Boysenberry-4994 16h ago . NTA. That was mean-spirited, not just 'a joke'. The mom was probably embarrassed by what her kid did, so she lashed out at everyone else to hide her shame. Don't give her a pass. It was a move: him for doing it, and the mom for sticking up for him.
    via u/Ok-Boysenberry-4994

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