27-year-old refuses to let mom move into his apartment after selling her house and giving money to 24-year-old brother: 'She said I was punishing her'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Nov 22, 2025 9:00 PM EST

Favoritism often comes at a price.

Treating everybody fairly can be a struggle for parents with multiple children, even as they grow up and start to spend less time comparing how many presents they each have under the Christmas tree. Even in adulthood, it can seem like equal treatment is a dream that is never going to be realized.

Also, there are plenty of moms and dads who have no qualms about treating their kids differently in terms of the behavior and benefits that they receive from them. In certain ways, this can become more pointed in adulthood, where the stakes are higher and the gifts tend to be pricier. The problem with openly favoring one child over another as they get older is that the one who feels like they have not been given as much attention has the ability to push away a parent in a way that they couldn't when they were young.

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  • an older woman wearing glasses rests her head on her hand as she looks out the window
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

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

  • One man felt the need to do this after his mom requested that she move in with him and his fiancée after her landlord raised her rent. She had recently sold her home and given the money to her younger son so that he and his girlfriend could buy their first house.

    Her older child refused to let him move in with her, citing the fact that he felt there was not a lot of space in their apartment. His mom was upset and his brother disapproved of his choice, and he wanted to know if his opinion was valid. 

  • AITJ for refusing to let my mom move in after she gave my brother her house?

    I (27F) rent a two-bedroom apartment with my fiancé. My mom (56F) recently sold her house and gave the proceeds to my younger brother (24M) to help him buy a place with his girlfriend. Now her landlord is raising rent and she wants to move in with me.
    via Evaraababes
  • a man and a woman sit on a chair together next to a window, laughing at a tablet the man is holding
    via Vitaly Gariev

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

  • I told her no, that I don't have space and I don't think it's fair when she clearly chose to prioritize my brother financially. She cried and said I was punishing her for "helping family." My brother says I'm being cold and heartless since she "has nowhere else to go."
    via Evaraababes
  • I feel guilty, but I also don't think I should upend my life when she had options and gave them away. AITJ?
    via Evaraababes
  • a pile of cardboard boxes, one marked 'kitchen', sit in an empty white room with a blocked off fireplace
    via Faruk Tokluoğlu (Unsplash+)
  • Zestyclose-Height-36 ntj, brother has funds to house her.
    via Zestyclose-Height-36
  • Vegetable-Section-84 She can move in with Her Son You can block all unfair entitled Build yourself and your own excellent life Your real family and friends will be on your side Blood doesn't make the family love does NTA
    via Vegetable-Section-84
  • bakeacakeyum NTJ. Your mother has somewhere to go. She can move in with her son.
    via bakeacakeyum
  • Tboogie-1 NTJ Little bro has the funds to make sure mommy dearest always has a room at his place.
    via Tboogie-1
  • iopele She has nowhere else to go? Seems like your brother should have room in his new house... NTJ
    via iopele
  • Whole-Ad-2347 Mom can move in with your brother!
    via Whole-Ad-2347
  • InsanelyAverageFella I'm confused. You live in a 2 bedroom apartment but your brother has a house now with mom's financial assistance. So why isn't Mom asking to move in with your brother in the larger house?
    via InsanelyAverageFella
  • PuzzleheadedTerm5182 Nope. Not the jerk. Why doesn't your brother take her in?
    via PuzzleheadedTerm5182
  • bopperbopper ' bro seems to me that she has a place to go... with you"
    via bopperbopper
  • HubertTheHopopotamus Brother can buy her a house. NTJ.
    via HubertTheHopopotamus
  • Next-Walk9364 NTJ. She can move in with your brother. She gave him money to buy a place, he can house her with that money, in that place, like a proper and grateful son. Stay strong. DO. NOT. BUDGE.
    via Next-Walk9364
  • Chipchop666 She gave her house to your brother, she can live with them
    via Chipchop666

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family drama brother house siblings moving in AITJ family reddit thread Reddit mom money son
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