Mom tries to force 19-year-old daughter to give up her $300 vintage tracksuit to 12-year-old niece because she 'really likes it,' daughter refuses and is iced out by the whole family: 'She stole it from you'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Nov 1, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

Odds are, you have a prized possession. It doesn't have to make sense to anyone else, but you have it. Maybe it's a pen that you got on your 8th-grade trip to Washington, DC, that reminds you of your first best friend. Maybe it's a necklace that your grandmother gave you right before she passed. Or maybe it's something that you saved up a lot of your own money to pay for, and you would guard it with your life. Bonus points if it's irreplaceable, like an heirloom or a vintage item. 

You make sure that you know where it is at all times, and you wouldn't lend it out to just anyone. But what if somebody forced you to? Or rather, took it from you under the cover of darkness and threatened not to give it back to you. You would probably be pretty upset with that person, whether you were related to them or not. If it were your own parent, who is supposed to be looking out for you, you might have a really hard time getting over it. 

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  • A mother looks at her teenage daughter disapprovingly.
    via Unsplash+ (Curated Lifestyle)

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

  • That's what happened in this story, where a mom took her daughter's prized possession, a vintage tracksuit she paid a pretty penny for with her own money, and threatened not to give it back to her. She wanted it for her grandchild and wasn't willing to pay the price for it. Read on to see what happened in this story.

  • Am I in the wrong for not giving my 12-year-old niece my $300 vintage tracksuit for free?

    I want to say first and foremost, I am so sorry for formatting or grammatical error. Okay, let's get started. For context: My Mother isn't my biological mother, but has treated me as her daughter for my entire life and my sister IS her bio daughter.
    via u/StructureAlive5289
  • A couple days ago, my Mom snuck into my (F19) room while I was sleeping and stole my vintage tracksuit that I paid around 300 dollars for and gave it to my niece (F12) to take to school and wear. I found out that she was even wearing it later in the day because my Mom told me she would "pay me back" for my tracksuit because my niece "really liked it". I
    via u/StructureAlive5289
  • immediately got upset and told her that it was not hers to give away, nor did I consent to her having it. My Mom got upset until I put my foot down and said that I paid for the suit with my money and it was not hers to tell anyone else they could have. Later that day, I asked my niece for it back and she tried
    via u/StructureAlive5289
  • to lie and say that she didn't have it as it was actively on her floor in front of us. When I pushed for it, she made a face and reluctantly pulled it out of her bag like I was a teacher asking for her phone or something. For hours after, everyone in the house avoided me like I was being selfish for not giving up a 300 DOLLAR PIECE
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  • (that no one else helped pay for) to a middle schooler for no reason besides the fact that she "really liked it". Mom kept asking about the tracksuit and asking if I'd be willing to give it away and I said no, and redirected her to the website of where she could get one that wasn't like mine but from the same brand, even offering to help her get her one for Christmas.
    via u/StructureAlive5289
  • Later, My sister went out drinking and texted me, threatening me over a jumpsuit. She threatened to "call HER Dad" (my dad) and snitch on me for having tattoos and a boyfriend (because apparently I'm not an adult woman in college who can do those things), she said I was selfish and
    via u/StructureAlive5289
  • ORDERED me to give her the jumpsuit (to which I said no). She said I was trying to "play them" for not giving up my clothes to her (even though all throughout my life, she and Mom take clothes that were mine and give them to her kids without even asking me). After a long list of threats, she told me to remember that she came
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  • first and that she matters more. She told me that Mom wanting to buy it herself took away from MY SISTER'S money (because she doesn't have a job and asks Mom for money), then called me "broke" and a "leech". I checked out of the conversation after that and she eventually gave me a half assed apology. AITA?
    via u/StructureAlive5289
  • TLDR: My Mom stole my 300 dollar tracksuit out of my closet while I was asleep and tried to give it away to my niece. After I took it back, My sister blackmailed and tried to bully me over it that she wanted me to give my 12 y/o niece for free and everyone tried to act like I was selfish for not giving up something NO ONE ELSE helped pay for.
    via u/StructureAlive5289
  • A mother looks at her teenage daughter disapprovingly while she hugs her knees.
    via Unsplash+ (Curated Lifestyle)

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

  • kalequinoa • 18h ago NTA, but store it somewhere safe, because your sister, your mom, or your niece, or all three, are going to destroy it to get back at you.
    via u/kalequinoa
  • Normal-Resource3... 18h ago I suggest you go into your mother's room and see if there is anything you like. Then let your sister know when you will be at her house to complete your shopping spree.
    via u/Normal-Resource3
  • bythebrook88 · 18h ago (because she doesn't have a job and asks Mom for money), then called me "broke" and a "leech". Projection. It's always projection.
    via u/bythebrook88
  • Elegant_Anywhere... . 18h ago Nta even if it was a $10 track suit. It's your shit to choose to give away, or not. Move the outfit into an under- bed lock box or keep in the trunk of your car and lie and say you "gave it away! She can find it at the 2nd hand store if she wants it so bad. But now it's not my problem.
    via u/Elegant_Anywhere_150
  • eleanorw123.18h ago NTA. she stole it from you. it's yours. it's $300. she's acting entitled.
    via u/eleanorw123
  • Individual_Ad_9213 • 18h ago NTA. It sounds like your family needs some lessons on boundaries and respecting what belongs to other family members. Your poor niece is being raised to believe that she's entitled to everything that she likes; this is setting her up for a lifetime of unhappiness.
    via u/Individual_Ad_9213
  • T_Sealgair 18h ago NTA, But I'm curious what a 300 dollar vintage tracksuit looks like.
    via u/T_Sealgair
  • anthropoloundergr... 18h ago NTA. You said so yourself, your mom stole something worth $300 from you, and now your whole family is trying to bully you into letting your kid sister keep it.
    via u/anthropoloundergrad
  • nikkesen 18h ago • NTA what a bunch of entitled twits. Seriously, they have no respect for you or your boundaries. Hell, even if it had been a gift, it's yours. Family has nothing to do with it; they're greedy and entitled. You said "no" when asked and last I checked "No." qualifies as a complete sentence.
    via u/nikkesen
  • runningwiththeslugs 18h ago • NTA. And get a good but cute storage trunk. Because I've seen this story brought up on this site time and time again, always ending the same way: the items get stolen never to be seen again. I swear, and then these moms always wonder why their kids never visit them later in life.
    via u/runningwiththeslugs
  • Rowan-The-Writer 18h ago • NTA. Uno reverse that shit real quick on your sister. She's the leech, she's the parasite, she is the broke vermin. Utterly pathetic, she is. Has to rely on your mother for money, and has to resort to blackmail and threats to try to get her way. Disgusting. creature.
    via u/Rowan-The-Writer
  • Picture-Select ⚫17h ago Just how old is your sister that she lives with your mother, and her 12 year old daughter, and doesn't have a job? And how do you fit in this genetic line-up?
    via u/Picture-Select
  • . No-Assignment5538 17h ago NTA. She stole from you. Don't sugar coat this: she is a thief. Make that very very clear to everyone involved, even in an age appropriate way, the 12 year old - because a 12 year old is more than old enough to know it is
    via u/No-Assignment5538
  • wrong to take someone's stuff and that it is also wrong to then gift that stolen item to someone else. Take control of the narrative here. Think about cutting these people off as much as possible. start making a plan to get as far from them as you possibly can..
    via u/No-Assignment5538
  • Jazzlike_Mud4896 · 18h ago . NTA, if they have done this before i'd go no contact. it sounds like your still living at home which i get, rent is so expensive. The other thing though is does your dad know what's going on? they are acting like
    via u/Jazzlike_Mud4896
  • evil stepmother and sister from cinderella.... i have a feeling in your dad would be pissed, and if not....when you are able to move, go. you can meet people who you can make a chosen family.
    via u/Jazzlike_Mud4896
  • Grymflyk 18h ago . Are you fucking kidding with this question? Maybe if you read your TLDR out loud it will make more sense to you. She did do all the things you said and you somehow think you are the asshole?!!!
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  • Come on, the answer in your head is the right answer and you are NTA. You were absolutely right to stand up to both you mom and sister, that took a lot of guts. Sis sounds a little cray if you ask me, I'm surprised and pleased that she actually mustered up an apology. I hope you mom
    via u/Grymflyk
  • doesn't have a pattern of taking your things without asking, I think that is so wild it boggles my mind. I wonder if sis understands what "playing them" means, that was a totally incorrect use of that phrase since you were the one that was being taken advantage of here, not them.
    via u/Grymflyk
  • Ok-Management-9... • 17h ago When my husband and I were dating, his mom would go in his room and grab laundry (unsolicited-he kept telling her to stop) because she "needed to add more to her load to make it full”. Problem was, he never got all his stuff
    via u/Ok-Management-9157
  • back. She would keep what she wanted and give stuff to his younger brother. That shit stopped when I saw her wearing things I bought him... nuts what people do sometimes
    via u/Ok-Management-9157

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tweens Babies teens aita stealing kids teenagers moms parenting vintage shopping dad cute kids reddit thread parent Reddit raising kids vintage Parenting Fail parents children Parenting FAILS
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