17-year-old admits he doesn’t like his stepsister of the same age, his relationship with his mother becomes strained: “You’re putting me in a really awkward position”

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

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. Do you have a stepsibling? More importantly, if you do, do you like that? I don't, but I would imagine I wouldn't be too fond of them. They may represent the parent's divorce, their separation, the strained past, the pain of the present, and the fact that you have to live with a complete stranger in your home. Growing up with divorced parents isn't easy for anyone, and sometimes we forget the heaviness of the experience because it's so common. Remember, just because something is common, doesn't mean it's normal. It's a good reminder for everyone, especially if the person comes from a blended family, or they're experiencing some relationship issues that veer from the path of normal problems. 

In the story below, the protagonist is living with his stepfather and stepsister, as well as his bio mom. To his mom and stepfather's encouragement, he is forced into situations he doesn't want to be in. 

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  • 01

    AITA for putting my mom in an awkward position by telling her I don't like my stepsister?

    Cheezburger Image 10516529920
    via bowdenimages 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.

  • 02
    My mom got remarried when I (17m) was 12 and that was 3 years after my dad d d. Her husband Jonathan has a daughter "Cassie" who's the same age as me. I met Cassie for the first time like 4 months before my mom
    via u/StressPast2341

  • When you feel like there’s a toxic person in your life, it’s best to take them out. But the problem with stepsiblings is that you can’t. You just have to grow up so that you can move out, but age could be the ultimate glass ceiling. 

  • 03
    and Jonathan got married. Cassie and I got along okay when we first met but I never warmed up to her and I don't really like her. She always wants me to do stuff for her and when I do she's fine, though she never says thanks, but
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 04
    when I don't she gets mad. She's short and I'm tall so she'll ask me to grab stuff that stored too high for her to reach. Or she'll ask me to move stuff around in her room when she decides to change the layout. Other times it's her asking
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 05
    me to explain an assignment we both have for school or telling me I need to explain it to her friends or something. And like I say she gets mad when I say no. It doesn't matter why I say no, like
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 06
    I'm doing something (my own assignment) but she has slammed doors, asked me why I'm so
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 07
    difficult in a frustrated way, she's tried to drag me and make me help her or her friends.
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 08
    The other thing is she finds it morbid that I talk about my dad and have a photo of him in my room. She came into my room one time and told me I should
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 09
    put it away and we argued because I told her not to touch it and she got offended and asked why she was so bad that she couldn't even touch the photo.
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 10
    But her attitude made me think she might try to hide it or worse. And she has told me before it's so morbid to wish a de d guy happy birthday when I post stuff like that about dad.
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 11
    Her mom was never in her life. She's alive but didn't want to be a mom and I get that we have different experiences and feelings because of that but it frustrates
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 12
    Cheezburger Image 10516529664
    via Onfokus 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.

  • 13
    me that she's got her own experience and can't try to be. understanding. Then she calls me her brother but she talks to me that way.
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 14
    I mostly just accept that Cassie's there and a part of my mom's life now and that she cares about Cassie. But I don't. I don't love Cassie or like her or care about her and I don't call her my sister. I
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 15
    try not to be so obvious or a j about it and it's worked because I think Cassie thinks I care about her and my mom did but now I opened up to my mom.
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 16
    Jonathan doesn't really like Cassie going to parties with just her friends so my mom has always asked me to go when she does so Jonathan feels better about it. I
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 17
    have resisted a few times and my mom encouraged me to do it even if it didn't sound like fun and I give in because I love my mom. But Cassie wanted to go
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 18
    with her friends and one of her friends' parents to a cabin next month. Jonathan wasn't sure and Cassie said I could come to make her feel better. He liked the idea. Mom was on board. But I wasn't.
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 19
    I asked mom if we could talk just us so she brought me for milkshakes and asked me what was up. And I told her I didn't want to go with Cassie and her friends and I told mom I already
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 20
    did stuff for Cassie but it was incredibly forced on my part and I didn't want to be away from all my friends with her and her friends for a week. Mom said she thought we were close and I said
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 21
    I do my best to treat Cassie nicely but I don't actually like Cassie and I never have. Mom asked me what that meant and I described it more. I said I accept her
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 22
    Cheezburger Image 10516530176
    via Darren Greenwood 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.

  • 23
    presence but never felt close to her and never bonded with her and that I never really felt like protecting her or like she was my family. We talked for like two hours and then my mom told me
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 24
    I put her in a really awkward position because Cassie clearly doesn't feel the same even if she's not always the best at showing it. She told me Jonathan believed we were close too and
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 25
    he would not like hearing that I don't like or care about his daughter at all. And she said she's married to Jonathan and she loves Cassie which makes it awkward.
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 26
    My mom talked to Jonathan and said she didn't think it was a good idea for me to go on the trip. They fought about that decision and my mom has been a bit off with me since.
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 27
    Now I'm wondering if I should have just shut the f kept it to myself and let it and become obvious once we both
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 28
    went to college and I didn't make an effort to maintain a relationship with Cassie. AITA?
    via u/StressPast2341
  • 29
    C... 22h ago Edited 21h ago NTA You were just being honest. You are under no obligation to babysit someone your own age AND
    via u/Cute-Profession9983
  • 30
    her friends. It's telling that your mom never actually talked to you about upending your day to day life.
    via u/Cute-Profession9983

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family drama drama toxic family feud relationships lol love family stepsister reddit thread Reddit funny dating
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