Entitled mom cusses out sister after she refuses to give her 6-year-old daughter prized doll from her toy collection as a birthday present: 'I've had this doll [through] the darkest time in my life'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Sep 10, 2024 6:00 PM EDT

Gift-giving can be a kind of love language when it's done right, but it can also prove to be a source of drama among family and friends alike. The kind of presents you receive or those that you request can be very telling and sometimes bring to the surface problems that you didn't know you had.

One thing that most kids have to learn is that they can't always get everything that they want, but this was something that one entitled mom did not want to enforce when her daughter requested a very specific birthday gift from her sister. The aunt had allowed her niece to play with one of the dolls from her toy collection, leading the 6-year-old to demand that it be given to her. Her older relative didn't want this as the doll had great sentimental significance, but she faced a strong reaction from her niece and sister. It's no surprise which side Reddit was on here.

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    Cheezburger Image 10401421824
    via Romina BM
  • 02
    AITA for refusing to give my niece what she wants for her birthday?
    via Lalabellum
  • 03
    Yesterday, we had a big family gathering, which meant my older sister (29) and her daughter (6) came over. For half of the day, everything was well and good. After lunch, my sister got tired, so I (27F) volunteered to look after my niece when my sister took a nap.
    via Lalabellum
  • 04
    Now, I have a collection of stuff animals and 20cm (7.8 inches for those in America) dolls, which I let my niece played with when her mother napped. Then my sister woke up, joined us, and we spent some more time together before she announced it was time for them to leave.
    via Lalabellum
  • 05
    This was when my niece pointed at the doll I was holding and said she liked him, and that she wanted me to give him to her. I told her that she could get any other doll and/or stuff animals that she wanted from my collection, just not this one. My niece got really upset and started crying, saying that her birthday was coming (it's next week), and she wanted that doll as her birthday present. Again, I told her I couldn't give him to her, explaining to her he was very important to me.
    via Lalabellum
  • 06
    I didn't tell my niece in detail about why he is important to me, because she's still too young to understand, but I will explain it here to give a clearer picture. I've had this doll for a long while now, back in the darkest time of my life, when nothing seemed to go right for me. I was advised to find an outlet, letting out my thoughts either in the form of writing or drawing. One of my drawings was the design for the doll in this post. I spent a lot of time with it, shading it, coloring it an
    via Lalabellum
  • 07
    My sister told me maybe it was time for me to let go of him. Again, I told them I could give my niece any other dolls and stuff animals she wanted, just not this one. My niece cried harder, and started screaming. My sister told me I was being an overgrown child, that I needed to act my age and stop clinging to a toy. It ended with her leaving with my still crying niece, telling me that I needed to prioritize my family over a doll. AITA?
    via Lalabellum
  • 08
    Creative-Passenger76 You might consider a sale place to hide him when they are visiting. Does your sister have a key to your house?
    via Creative-Passenger76
  • 09
    Peony-Pony ΝΤΑ My sister told me maybe it was time for me to let go of him. Again, I told them I could give my niece any other dolls and stuff animals she wanted, just not this one. My niece cried harder, and started screaming. My sister told me I was being an overgrown child, that I needed to act my age and stop clinging to a toy. It ended with her leaving with my still crying niece, telling me that I needed to prioritize my family over a doll. Maybe your sister needs to teach her child she can
    via Peony-Pony
  • 10
    Dry Mushroom7606 HIDE YOUR DOLL. Do NOT leave it unprotected in your house, or there's a good chance it will disappear for good. In fact, since you're staying with your parents, I would just put a lock on your door, and don't give anyone a key!
    via Dry_Mushroom7606
  • 11
    KaliTheBlaze NTA. Your niece needs to be taught that she can't have everything she wants, or she's going to grow into an absolute monster. Sounds like your sister already has her on that path. She can't just demand other people's things. That's never okay, and she's old enough to learn that not everything is hers for the taking. She also needs to be taught that other people's needs and wants have to be considered, too. She wants the doll because she likes it, but she doesn't have any kind of dee
    via KaliTheBlaze
  • 12
    GrymDraig NTA. You're under no obligation to give up anything to your neice, much less something that has so much meaning for you. It honestly sounds like she's spoiled, and your sister doesn't know how to tell her child no. Your sister is 100% an for telling you to act your age and stop clinging to a toy. Not only are her statements nonsense, but she's trying to shame you and emotionally manipulate you. The statement about you needing to prioritize family over a doll is also extremely hypocriti
    via GrymDraig
  • 13
    I sincerely hope you don't give in and that you take precautions such that your sister and her daughter don't get access to the toy when you're not present.
    via GrymDraig
  • 14
    CoraCecilia NTA. I love my grandson, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great- nephews. But part of being a loving adult in their lives is teaching them that they do NOT get everything that they want. A simple "no" should be enough for anyone, even a 6-year-old child. And they need to learn that screaming LOUDER will NOT change the answer. (That way leads to disaster!)
    via CoraCecilia
  • 15
    In this case, you have special reasons for wanting to hang on to the physical proof of the hard WORK that you did to crawl out of a dark place. That doll isn't just a toy -- it's a visible sign of just how strong you are! I don't even know you and I'm so proud of you for finding such a unique and creative way to process your emotions. You kindly offered to give the child another doll. She, being a child, balked and said "no." She has the right to say, "no." But that means that she gets NOTHING -
    via CoraCecilia
  • 16
    princessgirl069 NTA. Sister needs to teach daughter that she may not get everything she wants sometimes. I'm sorry you are having to feel this way about something so special to you.
    via princessgirl069
  • 17
    SufficientBasis5296 no. NTA Your sister is a selfish, thoughtless AH and raising her daughter to be the same. Neither of them have any right to demand anything of yours, and the fact that she obviously knows the story of this doll and still accuses you of being childish - the gall!
    via SufficientBasis5296
  • 18
    PumpkinPowerful3292 NTA - The entitlement of your niece and sister are off the charts here, now you know where your niece gets her abhorrent behavior. You should tell your sister just like she wouldn't give her daughter, you are not giving your support doll. Both are precious in their own way. Your little niece needs to learn the word 'no'. And that was a good as any place to start for her.
    via PumpkinPowerful3292

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aita doll reddit thread Reddit child birthday gift family sister mom
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