In a quiet suburban home, a devoted mother grappled with a heartbreaking dilemma as her boyfriend's 12-year-old son continued to terrify their three-month-old daughter deliberately. Despite heartfelt pleas and warnings, the unsettling behavior persisted, pushing the mother to a breaking point.
A loving couple looking into each other's eyes | Source: Shutterstock
On January 11, 2024, an anonymous female contributor turned to the "AITAH" subreddit to share her troubling experience. Having been diagnosed with postpartum depression (PPD), she questioned its impact on her actions.
The Original Poster (OP) had been in a relationship with her boyfriend for six years. He also had a 12-year-old son, Jake, and together, they had been living with OP for the past two years. OP, who had owned her residence for nearly a decade, faced a distressing issue concerning Jake's behavior toward their three-month-old daughter.
A pregnant woman cradling her baby bump | Source: Shutterstock
Despite Jake's apparent affection for his sister, an alarming pattern emerged when he deliberately scared the infant. Jake would approach the baby, loudly exclaiming, "RA!" and finding amusement in her startled reflexes. His laughter would follow, accompanied by disingenuous apologies, claiming he didn't mean to scare her.
This disturbing routine repeated at least four times daily, prompting OP to seek advice from the online community, torn between her concerns, the potential influence of PPD, and her desire for a resolution.
Despite OP's persistent efforts to curb Jake's unsettling behavior, cautioning him about the potential harm to the infant's ears and emphasizing the lack of humor in his actions, the alarming conduct persisted.
A couple kissing their baby girl | Source: Shutterstock
The breaking point occurred just three days prior when OP, overwhelmed with frustration, confronted her boyfriend and Jake. She delivered a stark ultimatum, asserting that any further intentional scares would lead to eviction, effectively erasing them from her life.
The decision to take such drastic measures stemmed from the boyfriend's inconsistent response. While he occasionally intervened, he also dismissed OP's concerns as mere overreactions. In an attempt to justify Jake's actions, he insisted that finding amusement in a baby's startle reflex was a common sentiment among children.
A young boy peeking from behind a wooden table | Source: Shutterstock
OP, grappling with the weight of her ultimatum, vividly recalled the moment in these words, "If he purposely scared my kid again, then [Jake and OP's boyfriend] would be evicted." Despite the stern warning, a pang of remorse struck her as Jake, wearing a despondent expression, retreated to his room.
A night before OP shared her narrative, she stepped out of the room for a moment, leaving her three-month-old daughter peacefully swaying in her swing. During her brief absence, Jake seized the opportunity to engage in another disturbing episode.
OP, from a distance, overheard Jake employing a baby voice, urgently asking, "What are you doing?" The aftermath was immediate–her daughter's screams pierced the air. Rushing back, she heard her boyfriend intervening, attempting to address the situation.
A crying baby girl | Source: Shutterstock
Approximately an hour later, another unsettling incident unfolded. This time, as OP entered the bathroom, she heard the dreaded "RA," followed by her daughter's cries once more, echoing through the house.
Fueled by a mix of frustration and concern for her baby's well-being, she wasted no time in delivering an ultimatum. Without waiting for a response, she instructed her boyfriend and Jake to pack their belongings and leave immediately, her primary focus now on comforting her distressed child.
A mother trying to calm her crying baby | Source: Shutterstock
Jake, sensing the severity of the situation, attempted to apologize, attributing his actions to a habit. The boyfriend, on the other hand, protested, downplaying the significance of the events. Unyielding, OP rejected their excuses and insisted they depart. However, her boyfriend defiantly claimed his stake in the house, refusing to leave.
Faced with this impasse, OP threatened to leave herself and have the authorities serve an eviction notice. Despite the boyfriend's pleas and insistence that Jake is just a 12-year-old who can't be perfect, she left and took decisive action the following day, filing for their eviction.
Mother talking to her young son | Source: Shutterstock
Amidst the escalating tensions, OP had previously attempted to understand Jake's motives behind scaring her daughter, directly asking him why he engaged in such behavior. "[He] thinks it's funny when kids cry," recollected OP after their conversation.
Still, a part of her wondered if she had done the right thing. "AITA for kicking my BF and his kid out because his son was constantly scaring my baby on purpose?" questioned OP.
OP's story resonated across the internet, receiving widespread attention and sympathy from the online community. The prevailing sentiment among the majority is one of support, with many affirming that she took the appropriate course of action.
"NTA. Yes. He's 12. Old enough to know better and to not do it. Old enough to listen to instructions. Would he like it if you startled him every morning? No. He's 12 but he's being an AH and it sounds almost sadistic," opined one user.
A couple arguing | Source: Shutterstock
"As the mother of a 12 year old, I 100% agree that this is not normal for that age. Maybe if he was 5 or 6, but certainly not 12. They learn after being correct once or twice. The fact that he says he likes making babies cry is alarming. I'm wondering what other behavioral issues he has," added a second person.
"As the mother of a 4 year old, this [behavior] would only be understandable if Jake was 2 or 3 years old," quipped a third netizen. "Let your boyfriend get to sleep and then clang a couple of pans together to wake him up. Do this 4x a night or so and see if it changes his mind. His kid is 12. He is old enough to follow rules. This is not just a kid being a kid," expressed yet another commenter.
A father hugging his young son | Source: Shutterstock
Want to read another crazy family drama story? Here it is! This time, it's about a woman who kicked her sister out of the house after witnessing her antics!
On December 11, 2023, an anonymous female poster turned to Reddit's "AITAH" forum to share her story. The woman, aged 29, along with her 31-year-old husband and their two children, a four-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy, led a smooth life until her 25-year-old sister faced eviction. Being the family members residing nearby and with their parents living about 11 hours away, the woman's sister had no alternative place to go.
A young couple with their two kids | Source: Shutterstock
Upon taking her sister in, the situation quickly took a disturbing turn. The sister's behavior underwent a noticeable shift, becoming particularly inappropriate when she was around the Original Poster. She openly exhibited flirtatious behavior towards OP's husband without any attempt to conceal it.
A woman relaxing on the couch | Source: Shutterstock
What added to OP's discomfort was how her sister intentionally wore revealing attire, including lingerie, especially when the husband was at home. Furthermore, she failed to make any contributions or help with household responsibilities.
One day, OP returned home from work and was stunned by the scene in front of her.
Recognizing that times had been challenging, OP clarified that she wasn't seeking financial compensation from her sister. However, she expressed concern over her sister's lack of contribution toward household tasks.
A mother working in the kitchen with her kids | Source: Shutterstock
Her sister neglected responsibilities like doing the dishes and showed no initiative in pursuing job opportunities through interviews. All OP wanted was for her younger sibling to lend a hand and contribute meaningfully.
A Mind-Boggling Discovery
One day, OP returned home from work and was stunned by the scene in front of her. To her utter dismay, the OP's sister pressured her husband to be intimate with her. OP was so enraged that she didn't know what to say or think.
In an update, OP shared that, despite only 30 minutes passing, she had a conversation with her husband.
Two women arguing | Source: Shutterstock
"[When] [my husband] saw me come home he ran to me and stood behind me while I told my sister to pack her stuff and get out," recalled OP. Her sister reacted angrily, arguing that as siblings, they shouldn't be separated just because the husband wasn't interested in OP.
A woman trying to kiss a man and making him feel uncomfortable | Source: Shutterstock
Despite receiving support from her family, the sister continued to confront OP through phone calls. After everything that happened, OP couldn't help but seek advice from random strangers about how to handle the situation from her end. "Aita for kicking my sister out of my house because she tried to sleep with my husband?" she wondered.
A couple sharing a hug | Source: Shutterstock
In an update 30 minutes later, the OP shared that she had a conversation with her husband, during which he told her that her sister had been engaging in sexually assaulting behavior toward him.
A depressed woman | Source: Shutterstock
Overwhelmed with guilt for not recognizing the situation earlier, OP admitted, "I feel so bad for not seeing this and now [I] am the one to spam my sister." She also disclosed the situation to her family, who expressed shock at her sister's behavior. Acknowledging that it wasn't a positive update, OP appreciated the support received so far and promised to share more details later.
Comments from Readers
OP's story garnered an impressive response online, with a large majority siding with her and deeming her "NTA." Many swiftly condemned OP's sister for her disgraceful and highly inappropriate conduct, affirming that OP made the right decision by evicting her.
Certain commenters offered cautionary advice, recommending measures such as changing locks and severing all ties with her sister to protect against potential future incidents. Some suggested that OP should not entertain any apologies from her sister, emphasizing that she would be better off without such a problematic sibling in her life.
What would you do if you were in OP's place? Would you have kicked out your sister when you saw her walking around the house wearing revealing clothes? Do you think OP was justified in her stance?