‘It wasn’t a toy’: Introverted man refuses to lend his late uncle’s vintage guitar to the energetic 11-year-old neighbor, Max, leading to tense confrontation with boy’s mother, who claims he is preventing the opportunity to ‘foster his creativity’

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Sep 29, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

You may wish to be the person who makes every kid's dream come true, whether that means helping them become creative artists, committed ballerinas, or talented musicians…However, this man is not Walt Disney, and thus his apartment is not the place where 'All dreams come true'...So when this 29-year-old man's young neighbor approaches his door with a passionate request to borrow the man's vintage guitar, he feels a sense of guilt and obligation to fulfill this request. He wants to allow this 11-year-old neighbor to unleash his creativity and form a love for music that comes with learning to play the guitar…

However, his guitar was a gift from his late uncle and holds great sentimental value, so leaving it in the hands of an energetic (and not very responsible) 11-year-old kid, does not seem to be the best solution to ensure it's kept in its best condition. So, with slight guilt and hesitation, he refuses to lend out his familiar heirloom, despite never actually playing it. What he thought was met with understanding, rapidly led to an intense and entitled interaction with the boy's mother, knocking down his door one random afternoon, demanding he let her son borrow the guitar and stop 'gatekeeping' him from establishing his own creativity…We did not see that one coming…
 

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  • The tense interaction creates an extremely uncomfortable environment within the building. A guitar, an instrument that’s meant to bring people together, has indeed done the exact opposite. Is he being selfish for not allowing anyone to enjoy his guitar while it sits dormant in his dark dresser, or is it important to teach this impressionable boy and his entitled mother that they can't simply get everything they want at the drop of a hat?


     

  • 01
    "I wasn't really at ease giving it to a kid, because Max is...careless"
    via valua-vitaly

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    AITA for refusing to let my neighbor’s kid borrow my old guitar, even though it just sits in my closet?

    I'm (29m) a quiet, introverted guy working from home. I don't have kids and honestly never planned to become a parent so my face-to- face contact with kids is limited and simply friendly waves passing one another in the hallway of my high-rise.
    via Appropriate_Meal9493
  • 03
    My neighbor above has an 11-year-old boy, say his name is Max, and he's a hyper kid, curious and actually very nice.
    via Appropriate_Meal9493
  • 04
    The other afternoon I was lugging groceries and Max walked past and caught a glimpse of the corner of my guitar case protruding from the closet.
    via Appropriate_Meal9493
  • 05
    He grinned broadly and immediately exclaimed he could play it. I chuckled and reminded him it wasn't a toy.
    via Appropriate_Meal9493
  • 06
    He then implored me to lend it to him, "just a week," as he wished to learn.
    via Appropriate_Meal9493
  • 07
    It's vintage, I also agree with you there, yet it's dear to me. It once belonged to my deceased uncle and he used to practice with me back when I was still a teen.
    via Appropriate_Meal9493
  • 08
    I rarely practice these days, yet with this one, it feels as though I get a part of him back.
    via Appropriate_Meal9493
  • 09
    I wasn't really at ease giving it to a kid, because Max is careless.
    via Appropriate_Meal9493
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10557721088
    via gettysignature

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 11
    I kindly said no and that it matters a lot. He looked sad but didn't prod.
    via Appropriate_Meal9493
  • 12
    However, later that evening his mom approached my door. She said Max had been very upset and that I should "foster creativity among kids rather than gatekeeping."
    via Appropriate_Meal9493
  • 13
    She went as far as insinuating that because the guitar "just sits idle" | should let him play with it.
    via Appropriate_Meal9493
  • 14
    I stood my ground and said no, that it wasn't a question of use or dust but of memory and value.
    via Appropriate_Meal9493
  • 15
    She stormed off angry, and since then, when I see them, I get cold stares.
    via Appropriate_Meal9493
  • 16
    Am I selfish if I deny a child an article of considerable value because it may influence him?
    via Appropriate_Meal9493
  • 17
    Crafty-Asparagus2455 you are supposed to fell bad that she doesnt get him a guitar to play? Why isnt she fostering his creativity? Its not your job.
    via Crafty-Asparagus2455
  • 18
    Cheezburger Image 10557726208
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  • 19
    eagerreader007 NTA. Children need to have boundaries and learn they can't have everything they want!
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  • 20
    Far-Government5469 H I no! Creativity should be fostered, sure, but you don't give an 11yo something expensive, that's just asking for trouble. The guitar that kid earns for himself is the only guitar he won't accidentally destroy.
    via Far-Government5469
  • 21
    Book Of Mormon Project It's your guitar, you can do with it what you wish. If someone wants to do something else with it then you are entitled to say "no" and they are not entitled to a reason. "I just don't want to" is enough, they should accept it and move on.
    via BookOfMormonProject
  • 22
    Disastrous-Thing-985 What is wrong with these entitled people. I cant't possibly imagine years ago, when I was coming up, pressuring an adult to share with me. How obnoxious. Definitely N an AH. No shame in your refusal. it's actually an important
    via Disastrous-Thing-985
  • 23
    lesson for these folks. My son spent nearly a year working at 15 to buy his guitar. Earning it was a really proud accomplishment. It's probably for the best they're not speaking to you for now.
    via Disastrous-Thing-985
  • 24
    MoomahTheQueen Don't play the mother's game of guilt. The kid asked and was refused. End of story. You've done nothing wrong
    via MoomahTheQueen
  • 25
    IntelligentCitron917 Tell her that there are always cheap or free guitars bring given away. Yours is neither and being a family heirloom is not up for discussion either. You are under no obligation to give anything to anyone. Especially Karen
    via IntelligentCitron917
  • 26
    EllivethBrinn NTA. It's your property with deep sentimental value, not a public library instrument. The mom's entitlement is wild.
    via EllivethBrinn
  • 27
    Melodic-Dark6545 NTA. For them it's a guitar, for you it has sentimental value. So it really doesn't matter if you don't play it, what it matters is what it means to you The one responsible to "foster creativity among kids" is Max's mother, not you. So now she can buy buy a guitar from Max
    via Melodic-Dark6545

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guitar neighbors favor heirloom not-in-use FAIL askreddit parenting lend borrow entitled guilt trip Reddit Story Time Parenting Fail valuable children entitled people apartment creativity
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