Mom kicks 20-something-year-old daughters out of her house for ignoring their sick 7-year-old half-brother when they were supposed to be babysitting him: ‘They argued that I was making them act like they are the parent and placing responsibility on them’

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
May 8, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

There's been a lot of discourse online in conversations lately (including on this very site) about teens being made to be "de facto" parents and made to be responsible for their younger siblings. While this is something that happens, it doesn't mean that it applies to every situation where someone is asked to help out around the house or take care of a younger sibling. There is a shade of grey to everything. Being made to watch a young sibling once or even twice doesn't automatically mean that your parents are pushing you into being an "unwitting parent."

Besides, it's not like these daughters are teens who are being forced to do anything; they're adults who are living in their mother's home. There are some things you can get away with when you're an immature teenager. But by the time you're an adult, you need to get your pettiness straightened out. These daughters have certainly shown that not only have they not let go of their pettiness, but they also have a simple lack of caring and responsibility for a young kid, their own brother, whom they should be looking out for.

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  • 01

    "AITAH for giving my daughters one week to leave my house after what they did to their half brother?"

    I have two daughters. Both over 20. They graduated college and moved back in with me because they couldn't find a job. The house is my late husband's house Robert. For context: Their dad and I got divorced 9 years ago. I got remarried to Robert and had my 7 year old son Tom. The girls didn't have a good relationship with Robert. In fact, they hated him because of what their dad filled their heads about him. They lived with their dad (they chose to) before going off to college.
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    Robert passed away 6 months ago after a long battle with disease. It was just me and my son Tom. The girls' dad got remarried last year and the woman is basically a witch. That's why the girls stopped visiting there. They lived in rental apartment during college and their dad used to pay for rent but stopped after his wife fought with them. The girls couldn't get a job to pay for rent and asked if they could move in with me and Tom for a while. I, of course, said yes.
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    Although I knew how they felt about Tom. They moved in and they were nice to Tom but also distant. 2 days ago, I had an expected call and needed to leave the house. Tom was in bed all day because he was sick and I asked the girls to look after him for 2 hrs til I got back. I left quickly then an hour later, I got a text from Tom asking me to come home because he threw up again
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  • 05
    in his room. He said he called for his sisters to help but no one responded. I immediately tried to call them but both lines were busy. I did my best to come home earlier thinking the girls weren't at home, but turned out they were. One was downstairs the entire time, the other said she was using "kitchen appliances" that's why she couldn't hear Tom. I was going to believe them til Tom said he tried to text them but they didn't respond. I checked their phones after they tried to deny it and he w
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    I blew up at them both and called them pathetic. They argued that I was making them act like they are the parent and placing resposibility on them. I knew this wasn't about that. They hated Robert. Fine. That might be a little understandable. but Tom is a kid and he has no part in all of this to be treated like that. I knew they neglected him on purpose.
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    So I told them they have one week to move out and they started arguing and even crying saying I'm being too harsh on them, and acting worse then their dad's new wife. I said this wasn't up for discussion and now both of them are giving me the silent treatment. Basically making me feel guilty about the whole thing.
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    Maybe I've made a wrong decision. but seeing how they've neglected their brother merely out of resentment and hate makes me feel upset and quite concerned to have them around him.
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    Awkward_Title_3... 10h ago . As a mom of a blended family, I will say this... they are adults. He is a child. If they want to act like immature high schoolers than they can role play somewhere else. Your son is a minor... he is priority not adult women who need to grow up.
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    thirsty_kipsoiwet... . 10h ago If your daughters resent your late husband, fine he's gone. But taking it out on his innocent child crosses a serious line. What's to stop them from ignoring or belittling him again when you're not around? You're setting a boundary and protecting your son's well- being. That's your job as a mother.
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    katiege2 6h ago nah not the a-h e they're adults and ignored a sick kid on purpose tom didn't deserve that you did the right thing
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    Laz... • 10h ago Edited 6h ago . • Asking your adult kids to babysit their sick brother for a couple of hours when they are living rent free in your home is not parentifying them. It's asking them to help you out. They neglected him on purpose and in so doing lost their privileges. They have no one to blame but themselves. All they had to do was check on a sick 7 year old. It's so sad how people take their emotions out on innocent children. He did nothing to deserve that. NTA.
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    RegularCompany7... • 10h ago Your home, your rules. You made one request, that they watch out for a sick 7 year old while you were out of the home and that was too much. They sound terribly selfish, disrespectful and immature. I think living on their own will be a good lesson in responsibility.
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  • 14
    Common Tiger1526. 9h ago NTA. As the oldest child and cousin, I am particularly sensitive to situations where parentification is going on. That's not what's happening here. Asking TWO adults to watch a sick child for a couple of hours in the house they're living in for free is not parentification. They are gaslighting you.
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    SnowEnvironmental... • 9h ago I highly recommend you don't let them be alone with Tom over the next week. I wouldn't trust them not to say terrible things to him.
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family dynamics teens family drama stepmother aita AITAH infant kids teenagers blended family siblings stepchild moms family feud parenting family pregnant reddit thread parent raising kids Parenting Fail parents children
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