Parents lock siblings out for repeatedly breaking curfew, sibling refuses to answer late-night calls asking to be let back in: 'I was put in the middle'

Cata Holmes • Writer

Jun 13, 2026 12:00 PM EDT

Was it fair to expect one sibling to fix a mess they didn't create?

A girl reached out to the Reddit community in r/AITAH since she found herself in the middle of a big family conflict. Apparently, she has two siblings who are well known for breaking the rules in the house, especially the ones about curfew. One night, they went out (as usual), and the parents told her not to open the door for them when they came back.

Of course, later that night, she woke up multiple times because both siblings were blasting her phone with calls, begging her to open the door. But she obeyed her parents and didn't do it. Fast forward to the next morning, both were furious at her and accused her of betrayal.

I think we can empathize with the tight situation u/Artistic-Raisin5257 was in. I mean, having to choose between your siblings or your parents, it's a tough pill to swallow. I totally understand the parents' frustration and why they wanted to teach their other kids a lesson, but I truly believe that involving the other siblings is never the answer, because it creates that expected friction in their relationship.

This story represents the kind of family dispute where everyone is accusing each other. There is no right or wrong here: it doesn't even matter that the two rebel siblings like to sneak out. The issue is the distrust that was created among those three siblings.

via Unsplash+ (via Safar Safarov)

Young woman with long hair looks directly at the camera while standing outdoors.
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via Unsplash+ (via Frank Flores)

Three young people sit together on a concrete wall under an open sky.
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Once the Reddit community read her story, many of them tried to help her out with some advice. While some of them were saying that she had to help her siblings, no matter what, others were more understanding and made her feel better about obeying her parents. Here are some of those opinions.
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via Unsplash+ (via Swello)

A person holds a smartphone while sitting at a desk with a laptop nearby.
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I really hope that she can make amends with her siblings. I have two sisters, and the bond that I have with them is so precious to me. I wouldn't want to create any conflict with them or have something separate us. OP shouldn't feel bad for what she did: instead, she can have a real talk with the two of them and explain her reasons. I'm sure they'll understand.