Family demands English-speaking daughter to be their translator for younger brother's shoplifting court hearing, but she refuses as her final exam is scheduled for the same day, sparking major family drama: 'I'm done being their 24-7 translator'

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Dec 13, 2025 4:00 PM EST

We can't imagine how frustrating to must be the only member of your family that can speak the native language of their residing country, because when you are, you automatically become responsible for everything. Labelled the 24/7 translator, except this time, it's unpaid! In this family, it's the daughter…however, her frustrations have tripled in size as her parents are demanding she skip a final exam to translate for them during a shoplifting trial her troublesome brother got involved in! Because of her brother's reckless behavior, she is now forced to lose out on something she has spent the last year preparing for. Absolutely not. And so, she agrees! 

Riddled with a mixture of frustration and guilt, this younger sister is finally putting an end to being the family's Google Translate! She does not feel like it is her responsibility to bail her brother out of trouble, to fall behind in life…But as you may have already guessed, this is not a conversation that goes down very well at this family's dinner table. Suddenly, she's the one being blamed for the outcome of her brother's trial, before it has even begun. 

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  • Paperwork and phone calls were one thing! But this is getting a bit extreme…She loves her family and wants to support them in a time of need. However, she feels as though her boundaries are being crossed, with her feelings pushed to the sidelines. As she soon realizes that her only two options are to stand up or take the stand! What would you do for family?

  • Boy in a flannel sitting on the floor and covering his eyes
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • AITAH for refusing to be my family's free translator after my brothers court date

    I F26 am the only fluent English speaker in my family. My parents moved when I was little and never got super confident with paperwork or phone calls.
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  • For years I have been the default translator for everything - doctor appointments, bank meetings, school emails for my younger brother M17, even random calls from delivery drivers.
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  • It is not just language stuff, I end up doing all the decision making too. Last month my brother got in trouble for shoplifting with some friends.
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  • Nothing huge, but there was a court date and a bunch of documents. My parents freaked out and basically said "you will come to every meeting and explain everything".
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  • Problem was that the main hearing was on the same day as my final exam for a professional certification I have been studying for all year.
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  • Young woman studying for her exams
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I told them I could help with forms ahead of time and we could ask for an interpreter at court, but I could not skip the exam.
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  • They lost it. My mum cried that I was abandoning the family in our "worst moment".
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  • My dad said the court interpreter would "make them look stupid" and only a daughter would really care.
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  • My brother texted that if he got a worse outcome it would be my fault. After two nights not sleeping I snapped and said I was done being their 24-7 translator.
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  • I would still help sometimes, but only when it did not clash with major things in my own life.
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  • I went to my exam, they went to court with the official interpreter, and everything was fine.
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  • Community service, small fine. Now they act cold and keep making comments like "some people forget who raised them".
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  • AITAH for finally putting a limit on this, or was this the one time I really should have dropped my own stuff to be there
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  • Worried couple sitting on opposite ends of the couch with their heads in their laps
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • ProfessorDistinct835 Why couldn't your 17-year old brother translate? And why isn't he doing more of the translating all the time? NTA
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  • Ok_Tonight_3703 NTA. You did the right thing. Imagine telling your daughter that her education takes second place to her thief brother's court date. "... My brother texted that if he got a worse outcome it would be my fault..." No the little asshole is a thief and whatever punishment he gets it's all on him. Sorry OP parents like yours are the worst. I have mom like this. They act like you owe them your time, money and energy at the expense of your financial and emotional stability just because
    via Ok_Tonight_3703
  • Id7337 NTA, good for you for finally drawing a boundary
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  • keephopealive4you How is your younger brother not fluent but you are?
    via keephopealive4you
  • Moggetti NTA. "Yeah. Ungrateful, selfish people are the worst, aren't they, Mom and Dad?"
    via Moggetti
  • fsmontario So they have been in an English speaking country, raising and responsible for children and they chose not to invest the time into becoming fluent ? I'm guessing over 20 years. Your brother at 17 ,if he is committing crimes, he can figure it all out himself, he can translate for your parents. Why is your brother not fluent???
    via fsmontario
  • K_A_irony Why does your brother not speak fluent English. Your parents are being ridiculous. I am looking at getting dual citizenship in a non English speaking country. Guess what? I am busy learning the language. NTA
    via K_A_irony
  • Infamous-Cash9165 NTA stop translating anything for them they clearly see it as a right and not a favor you have been doing for them for years, let your brother do it.
    via Infamous-Cash9165
  • Interesting Wing_461 Your brother created the worst moment for his parents. You did not do anything wrong. I hope you did well on your final exam. And your brother can start interpreting for your parents. If you live at home, it's time to think of moving into your own place.
    via Interesting_Wing_461

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translator court date siblings crime final exam parenting
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