21-year-old woman refuses to move back to parent’s home after they betray her trust by giving childhood bedroom to her cousin, they tell her she’s overreacting: “Your cousin is the one who needs help right now”

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Mar 25, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

Hey there, people of the internet. Moving is one of the most stressful things to do in life. It's up there with divorce and getting married. It's a handful of work, planning, money, and organization that can take weeks to properly figure out. Depending on where you're moving, if you need to buy furniture or other amenities, if you can properly transport all the things you need, it's all just a big headache to try and avoid as much as possible. When you're moving out of your parent's home for the first time, things are easier. They can keep the stuff you don't want, and you don't have to worry about throwing out precious items that you may want one day. 

In the story below, the protagonist didn't get as lucky. The second she moved out of her parent's home, they immediately got rid of all her things, donated it so that her cousin could comfortably move in. Thank goodness my parents don't have a lot of other family living around them, so a situation like this seems highly unlikely. 

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  • 01

    AITA for refusing to move back home after my parents gave my childhood room to my cousin?

    "I went for a visit and my childhood bedroom was completely gone"
    via SolStock from Getty Images Signature / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    I (21F) moved out last year to live in an apartment near my university. It's a small place, and I have two roommates but it's in a great location and very affordable. Once I graduated my plan was to move back in with my parents after I graduated to save money while I look for a job.
    via u/Hotbeef4ever

  • I know that for myself, my parent’s home and attic is stuffed with my sentimental belongings, clothes I stopped wearing years ago, and even a giant teddy bear that was gifted to me when I was a small child. It’s important to hold onto these memories if you have the means. 

  • 03
    A few weeks ago, I went home for a visit and my childhood bedroom was completely gone. When I asked why they said they gave it to my cousin (24F), who's staying with them while she figures things out. The only thing that was the same as my bed frame and everything else was replaced. They didn't even tell me
    via u/Hotbeef4ever
  • 04
    they were doing this? They just told me how my cousin will be staying with them for a bit.
    via u/Hotbeef4ever
  • 05
    When I asked them about it they said they figured I didn't need the room anymore since I moved out but I told them I planned on coming back home after graduation like we'd talked about. My dad didn't even seem to care and told me that sometimes "Plans change." My mom said I could crash on the couch or share with my little sister if I needed to.
    via u/Hotbeef4ever
  • 06
    I told them my cousin should be the one who has to share if anything because it's my room??
    via u/Hotbeef4ever
  • 07
    I got really upset só I just left without anymore arguing. Later, I told them I wasn't moving back in at all and I will figure things out on my own. Now they're mad at me for overacting and only thinking about myself. My some. of my extended family hage said I'm being selfish because my cousin needs help right now, and I should just deal with it.
    via u/Hotbeef4ever
  • 08
    Cheezburger Image 10484934656
    via peterspiro from Getty Images / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 09
    But I feel like they made it pretty clear that I'm moving back and was hurt that they didn't even tell me. AITA?
    via u/Hotbeef4ever
  • 10
    EDIT: The reason for my cousin to move in was because where I live is a good region for the job she is trying to get!
    via u/Hotbeef4ever
  • 11
    Odd-End-1405 • 8h ago NTA Your parents have made it abundantly clear that they don't really care to have you back. That is their right, their house.
    via u/Odd-End-1405
  • 12
    But they don't get to say YOU are overreacting when they could not handle the situation like adults. Instead they sneak behind your back and get rid of YOUR things?! Who does that to their own kid?!
    via u/Odd-End-1405
  • 13
    They will be the first to cry whoa is me when you don't bring your children to see them 10 years down the line or jump in to help them in their old age. Don't let them use your future self.
    via u/Odd-End-1405
  • 14
    I would stay LC and hopefully you get a job in a hurry. So sorry your parents are so immature and cruel. Good luck on your upcoming graduation.
    via u/Odd-End-1405
  • 15
    maroongrad 9h ago INFO: Where did all your stuff go? If it's stored away safely, and cousin needed a place due to emergencies ASAP, then I'm 100% on your parents' side. Find a job before graduation and an apartment, that's the norm unless the job market then is terrible.
    via u/maroongrad
  • 16
    ETA: saw the post where they donated your books, posters, stuffed animals... As I have treasured books and a doll that my deceased grandma helped make the dress for, I'd be beyond furious. There was no call NOT to just box that stuff up for you to look at later,
    via u/maroongrad
  • 17
    Cheezburger Image 10484934144
    via Lan Zhang from Getty Images Signature / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 18
    donating it actually took more effort. That's what would have me frothing at the mouth...just disposing of my stuff, knowing that I had intended to come back, and had no idea I needed to pack them away!!!!
    via u/maroongrad
  • 19
    PrincessBella1 • 9h ago NTA Unless your cousin had something really traumatic happen to her, there was no reason to give her your room so quickly. They wanted to look like to good people in the family and now that you are refusing to
    via u/PrincessBella1
  • 20
    move back in, they are not looking so good. You should see if your aunt and uncle could house you and see how that makes them look.
    via u/PrincessBella1
  • 21
    mcmurrml • 9h ago Terrible they gave your stuff away without asking about what you wanted to keep. Just start looking for a job and plan on being on your own. See if you can find out where the stuff went to. Maybe you can get some of it back.
    via u/mcmurrml
  • 22
    itsallminenow • 6h ago The only two reasons they're annoyed by you deciding not to move back is because it tells the rest of the family that they chose to support your cousin at your expense, which makes them look bad,
    via u/itsallminenow
  • 23
    especially since most people probably haven't been told the real story about how you were ousted without even knowing what was happening.
    via u/itsallminenow
  • 24
    And When the story gets out about how they just dumped you out like an unwanted bag of trash, they'll worry that family or friends will think badly of them for treating their own daughter like that.
    via u/itsallminenow

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