‘Projection? I think yes’: Cousin accuses woman of ‘ruining’ her life because of her success in life and family, despite her cousin being the root cause of a strenuous history of familial feuding

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Jun 13, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

Growing up can be awkward, especially in a female body that is constantly under a microscope by family and society. Women are taught to compete with one another instead of uplifting each other, so it only makes sense that certain female family members might take it upon themselves to deem you their target. This isn't to say that the action of doing so isn't wrong, but it is a very unfortunate, normally occurring thing. The last thing you want is the people who should be looking out for you, making your life harder—but all it takes is some self-love to remind yourself that you deserve more than maltreatment.

The woman who posted this next story explains that her cousin has always hated her. She constantly made the woman's life hellish and never failed to kick her while she was already down. Over time, the woman found herself. The cousin, however, struggled in more ways than one, including losing her baby prematurely, and now blames the woman for "ruining" her life. The woman holds infinite amounts of empathy for her cousin regarding the child loss, but refuses to accept the blame for her life taking a turn for the worse. Then, the woman's father finally defends her from the cousin's major meltdowns. Scroll to read.

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  • "She's always had this bizarre obsession with being in competition with me..."
    via Obie Fernandez for Unsplash

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • "AITA for ‘ruining my cousin’s life’ by existing, being pregnant, and allegedly stealing her baby name?"

    So, I (18F) have always had weird drama with my cousin Casey (23F). For some reason she's always had this bizarre obsession with being in competition with me, while loving my older sister (24F) like she's God's favorite. No idea why, I gave up trying to figure it out years ago.
    via lily-gee
  • For context, she lived with us from middle school up to now because of family issues, and even then she treated me like a punching bag. Called me a
    via lily-gee
  • worthless P S, ugly, and tried to make me feel like nothing. And unfortunately, it worked for a while. I hid under baggy clothes, avoided people, and had zero confidence.
    via lily-gee
  • Fast forward to junior high, I started finding myself. Made some friends, got a lil' style, learned makeup from my sister, and got into my 90s baggy
    via lily-gee
  • clothes but cute era. Casey hated every second of it. Claimed I was "copying her" (she wore baggy hoodies and sweats with crocs EVERYDAY).
    via lily-gee
  • It got worse when I got a boyfriend he was 16, I was 15, and she tried to steal him by telling him her body was better than mine and he would
    via lily-gee
  • love seeing her up under her clothes. My mom had to intervene multiple times while my dad kept telling me to "let it go, she's been through a lot." Spoiler alert: she's been "through a lot" her entire life according to everyone.
    via lily-gee
  • I graduated high school early at 16 with honors and college credits. She hated it and called me a dumb who wouldn't get far... she didn't even come to my graduation meanwhile she dropped out of college twice. Projection? I think yes.
    via lily-gee
  • What made it worse was I found out I was pregnant in November, and Casey immediately started telling family I didn't know who the father was, that it could be multiple men, and even told my
    via lily-gee
  • dad the father was over 31. Mind you, I've been with my boyfriend for 2 years at this point. When no one believed her messy a, she tried to take the attention off of me and got pregnant herself. ( she admitted to this) But sadly she miscarried in February.
    via lily-gee
  • We were all there for her. I even wore baggy clothes so she wouldn't feel triggered seeing my bump. Still, every time I had a craving or talked about my pregnancy, she made it about her. Would literally cry at the dinner table because "it should've been her." Dramatic, right?
    via lily-gee
  • Cheezburger Image 10515648000
    via Ihor Rapita for Unsplash

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Then when I announced my baby's name, she went and got a custom blanket made with the same name, her due date, and the day she miscarried, claiming I "stole" it. When the name was my MOMS mother name who she has no relation to, she's my dad niece. (I kept the name also.)
    via lily-gee
  • Today's episode: We're planning my baby shower, talking about decorations and food, when she loudly scoffs from the living room "no one cares." We ignore her. We said the baby's name again here she go: "A name you stole from me." I rolled my eyes cause why're you still on this.
    via lily-gee
  • I'm showing my mom a pic of a custom car seat cover I ordered, she storms in with her own baby stuff she bought before the mumbling "hopefully I don't steal her ideas." Like... I have most of her things already I don't want your ideas? once again I ignored her and my mom told her she loved them.
    via lily-gee
  • Once she sees me not caring she then went full-on explode mode. Accuses me of copying her, being jealous, needing to "heal" before I bring a baby into this world, and randomly brings up the hormonal hygiene struggles I've been having lately. (That she over heard me talking about like w ?)
    via lily-gee
  • We left to the backyard where my sister was and this woman FOLLOWED US OUT SCREAMING. Saying we treat her worse than her own parents did
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  • (big lie, my parents have babied her for years while she treated me like dirt). My dad eventually came upstairs from the basement because she was so loud, asked what was going on, and for once, instead of coddling her... he went off.
    via lily-gee
  • He straight up said: "Casey, FOR GOD SAKE I love you but what is your problem? You pick fights constantly, you play victim, and you're not in middle school anymore. If you want to stay here, you need to get your act together I can't keep doing this with you or you picking with a teenager who has done nothing to you.
    via lily-gee
  • She was shell shocked. Stormed to her room, packed a bag, and left. Later, she texted me this. "You've won. I can't fight you anymore. You've always ruined my life even when I was with my parents. You were always the favorite and I always hated you. YOU RUIN EVERYTHING FOR ME."
    via lily-gee
  • And now... I feel kinda bad. I didn't respond and no one's heard from her since.
    via lily-gee
  • Particular_Disk_9904 Ummm I would strongly advise you to go LC or NC with this loony bin. She needs professional help and her jealousy sounds strong and has been years in the making. I would not trust her alone with the baby let alone you, I would not be surprised if she got violent in my opinion. Stay far away from her OP
    via Particular_Disk_9904
  • No-Media-1098 Dad needed to put his foot down like 15 years ago but at least he's finally done it
    via No-Media-1098

Tags

family dynamics family drama aita baby names pregnancy reddit story family feud entitled people karma baby name entitled family pregnant reddit thread Reddit cousins entitled people
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