22-year-old living at home refuses to share room with father's girlfriend's 10-year-old daughter despite girlfriend insisting: "We even have a spare room"

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Jun 3, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

Welcome back people of the internet. I never had to share a room in my life, except one year during college. That one year was enough for me, sharing a room breaches on every kind of comfort. It's nearly inhumane to make two people breathe each other's air in the most vulnerable and safe space for them. 

A bedroom is a sanctuary, it's where you can be yourself, laugh, cry, scream, talk on the phone, dance and sing in the mirror. Someone else witnessing those things, or just being around them at all can be jarring. At least I only had to do it for one year, and would never do it again. Luckily at the time I was very busy, and also got along well with my roommates. You pretty much have to. If you don't, things won't go so well for you down the line. 
 

In the story below, the protagonist is a young woman who lives with her father. He started dating someone who has children, and they're all coming to move in. Despite there being an extra room, the girlfriend insists that her 10 year old share a room with the protagonist. She puts her foot down.

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  • 01

    AITA for not agreeing to share my room with my dad's girlfriend's daughter?

    "I'm supposed to give up my privacy to share it with a fourth grader"
    via Dean Drobot / Canva

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

  • 02
    So, I (22F) still live with my dad by choice. My mom passed away when I was 5, and it's just been the two of us ever since. He never dated anyone until now, and
    via u/unrealisticb***

  • I wonder what will happen in the end. She has every right to not want to share a room with a fourth grader who she barely knows. But on top of the ridiculous expectation that they'd share a room, she even says there are other options that the girlfriend just doesn't want to do. 

  • 03
    honestly, I'm proud of him for finally opening up again. His new girlfriend seems nice enough and I want him to be happy.
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 04
    She has three kids: a son (18M), an older daughter (29F) who doesn't live with her, and a younger daughter (10F). Recently they've been spending more time at our house, and now they're officially moving in.
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 05
    For context, we live in a 3- bedroom house. My dad has the master bedroom, I've had my own room my entire life, and the third bedroom is currently a guest
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 06
    room, home office, and storage combo. We also have a spacious basement and an attic, both mostly filled with old stuff, some of it my mom's, but nothing that can't be moved or reorganized.
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 07
    I'm a full-time uni student and I also work part-time at a restaurant. I get a small monthly allowance from my dad (classic Indian dad behavior lol), but I still make my own money and
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 08
    support myself as much as I can while I study. I even paid him $50 in rent, which is the most he'd let me give. I tried offering more, but he refused. So I'm not freeloading. I pull my weight.
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 09
    Here's the issue. My dad told me that the 10-year-old would be sharing my room. As in, I'm supposed to give up my privacy, routine, and personal space to suddenly share it with a fourth grader.
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 10
    And here's the thing. She's not a bad kid, but she's loud, high- energy, and constantly wants attention. She talks nonstop, touches things without asking,
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 11
    and doesn't really understand boundaries yet. She'll go through my drawers, try on my stuff, and barge in even when I'm clearly doing schoolwork or trying to nap. She's very clingy with me.
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 12
    too, probably because I'm the closest in age among the women in the house, but it's draining.
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 13
    I tried being patient and nice, but I'm already struggling to juggle school, work, and life. Sharing a room with someone who wakes up early, makes noise, and
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 14
    doesn't understand personal space would seriously affect my mental health and productivity. Also, my dad actually agrees with me. He knows it's not fair to ask
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 15
    Cheezburger Image 10512411648
    via Alena Ozerova / Canva

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

  • 16
    me to give up my space, and he's been trying to talk to his girlfriend about putting her daughter in the guest room. instead. He also suggested that her son take the basement or
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 17
    attic, and her son is completely fine with that. In fact, he likes the idea of having the basement to himself and said he could even turn it into his own space. So it's not like anyone's protesting except his mom.
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 18
    But she still insists that her son needs his own room and doesn't want her son in the basement for reasons I honestly don't understand. She's not hearing
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 19
    anyone out, including my dad. Meanwhile, I'm just expected to step aside and give up the room I've had all my life like it's no big deal.
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 20
    I didn't ask for this new setup. I'm trying to be supportive, but I also didn't expect to be pushed aside in my own home just because my dad is starting a new chapter. I don't hate the little girl, not at all,
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 21
    but I also don't think it's fair for a 22yr old university student with a job to be rooming with a 10yr old who doesn't respect boundaries or understand what quiet time means.
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 22
    FAMILY
    via hidesy 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.

  • 23
    It's not a minor inconvenience. It's a huge shift in my day-to-day life. So... AITA?
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 24
    UPDATE!!!!!!!!……………………………………………………………!!!!! few hours later hello guys I wanna start off by saying thank you for the advices you all gave me I wasn't able to comment on all of them but I read them and some comments
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 25
    actually pointed something out "My dad's girlfriend wants me out" and the ones that told me to sit down with my dad and talk to him privately just us
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 26
    I did so this morning we went out for breakfast, and I told him I don't feel comfortable sharing my room. I don't want to share my room. I told him I'm not taking the attic and basement either listen my room was mine since I
    via u/unrealisticb***
  • 27
    was a baby, so why would I want to give it to someone else .He was a bit hurt about this since I didn't actually tell him how I really felt about this whole ordeal.
    via u/unrealisticb***

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