Mom sells $20k worth of son's baseball cards without telling him, he cuts her off until she pays him back: 'She offered me $2,000 to “make it even,” which felt like a slap in the face'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Sep 21, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

Some folks might think that families share everything. That if it's in the family, it's yours. This can be true in a spiritual sense. Maybe you share a system of values or a moral backbone or a sense of togetherness. But that doesn't mean your sister can steal your necklace and sell it for cash without some amount of recourse. This is not how family helps family. Family helps family by swooping in during times of need and assisting where they can, with time, love, and sometimes a little financial help. But this has to be done with consent from both parties; you can't just go assuming that their money belongs to you. This is stealing, and it doesn't matter if they're your family members or not; it's wrong.

This even goes for parent-child relationships. Just because you raised someone doesn't mean you're entitled to all their assets in perpetuity. They still get to have the stuff that they own. Maybe you expect them to help you out as you get older, but again, this needs to be done with the consent of everyone involved. 

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  • A woman holds hundred dollar bills in front of her.
    via Sasun Bughdaryan

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

  • That's not what happened in this story, though, where a mom sold her son's valuable items to fund her husband's new truck. When the son eventually found out about this, he understandably had a lot to say. Read on to see what transpired in this family. 

  • Am I in the wrong for refusing to speak to my mom after she secretly sold my childhood baseball card collection?

    When I (28M) was a kid, my dad gave me his collection of rare baseball cards. I treasured them. When I went to college, I left them in storage at my mom's house. Years later, I found out she sold them to help pay for her new husband's truck. She never asked me.
    via u/Noelle_Koko55
  • Recently, I discovered those cards would now be worth over $20k. I confronted her, and she admitted it, but said I should be grateful because "at least it helped the family." She offered me $2,000 to "make it even," which felt like a slap in the face.
    via u/Noelle_Koko55
  • I told her I wasn't taking it and that our relationship is basically done until she acknowledges she stole from me. Now my siblings are calling me ungrateful because "she did what she had to at the time." AITA for refusing her payout and going low contact?
    via u/Noelle_Koko55

  • Commenters agreed that this was out-and-out theft.

    Longjumping_Shine... • 1h ago NTA. Tell her you'll tell the police if she doesn't pay you back. And actually do it if she doesn't. Might be able to get your money back.
    via u/Longjumping_Shine874
  • Mvfrn1 2h ago . NTA - I would tell her she owes you, at least, $10,000 and until she pays you back, you're done with her & her husband. I'd verbally let husband and family know she stole them from you. What she did is theft and she should be ashamed of herself!.
    via u/Mvfrn1
  • A man in his 20s looks upset.
    via francois serazin

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

  • goshyallaresoft • 1h ago NTA... but in addition, you should keep playing the sympathy card over the monetary value card. ive got a D*^* of marvel cards in plastic at my parents house. they arent worth much (maybe a grand all told), but my mom knows | WELL
    via u/goshyallaresoft
  • my heart would break if she burned them for warmth much less sold them for a brake job on newdaddy's truck. your mom s ks, dude.
    via u/goshyallaresoft
  • theDagman • 44m ago NTA. What she and her new husband did would be called grand larceny. It's a felony. And they would go to prison once convicted.
    via u/theDagman
  • Nolnteraction Nee... NTA 47m ago "she did what she had to at the time." Okay I want a house. What I have to do to get Founds is beat the sh out of you and take everything you have. You understand right?
    via u/NolnteractionNeeded
  • Due-Yoghurt4916 • 37m ago File a police report. She stole your inheritance. Sue Sue sue
    via u/Due-Yoghurt4916
  • Silvermorney 19m ago . Nta and stand your ground and honestly I'd go nc with the lot of them if I were you. She absolutely did not do what she had to what she should have done was tell her husband to take out a lone if he wanted a truck so
    via u/Silvermorney
  • much. What she did was rob you blind, take the easy way out and avoid taking literally any responsibility what so ever! Good luck op. UpdateMe!
    via u/Silvermorney
  • funfuture620 17m ago Never an end to family gaslighting.
    via u/funfuture620
  • . megamawax 17m ago She had to steal from you in order to pay for her new husband's truck? Nah. I can't stand parents who steal from their kids. Forget her. NTA.
    via u/megamawax
  • StraightAirline8319 54m ago • NTA if you provide a clear path for her to make it up. What exactly do you need from her and then ask her directly. For example if you need a written apology then ask for that. What she did was wrong morally and to you. Also to your father and his memory. She should have talked about it with you and thanked him and you.
    via u/StraightAirline8319
  • No-Fail7484 · 28m ago . She didn't steal them to survive she stole them to get her new guy a present. He should be ashamed also. Since you're above 18 it's a crime for both of them. She could go to jail/prison.
    via u/No-Fail7484
  • mmfn0403 • 24m ago "at least it helped the family." Her new husband is hardly your family, is he? I'd hold out for $20,000, myself. You probably won't get it, but personally, I'd be happy to cut off someone who stole from me.
    via u/mmfn0403
  • Cybermagetx • 20m ago Tell your siblings to stay out of it. If you have proof she stole them that was recent sleak with a lawyer on what you can do.
    via u/Cybermagetx
  • MarionberryPlus84... 7m ago • NTA. LOL her selling her son's property to buy her 2nd husband a truck is "what she had to do" and she should be GRATEFUL for this? And it "helped the family"? Please. Mom is a thief. I doubt reporting her to the police now will result in anything-- how can it be proven, what were they worth, how long ago was it, etc.
    via u/MarionberryPlus8474
  • davebrose · 6m ago NTA, had to do? Steal for new husbands truck? Yea f that lady. is wrong with her?
    via u/davebrose

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childcare teens aita stealing kids moms parenting dad cute kids reddit thread parent Reddit raising kids theft Parenting Fail parents children Parenting FAILS baseball cards
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