My cousins (16M and 13M) now live with us due to family issues. Their dad my mom’s brother is an alcoholic who’s been abusive, cheated on my aunt with three different women, and can barely hold a job. My aunt finally kicked him out, and now he and the two boys live with us in our 2 bed, 2 bath apartment. There are six people plus my dog living here, and I get my own room since I’m the only girl.
For context, my aunt and uncle have six kids together, and he had three other sons with different women so nine kids total. Despite everything he’s done, my aunt still treats all of his kids like her own. She loves them deeply and has never shown them anything but care and support.
The two boys have been claiming they don’t feel welcome in the home their parents once shared, but that’s just not true. My aunt treats all the kids equally and never treats them any differently.
Their dad believes boys are more important than girls, and honestly, that mindset seems to have rubbed off on them. They act like they deserve to use my PS5 more than I do, even though I’ve worked for years for what I have. They’ve broken three PS5s, two Nintendo Switches, and a bunch of other consoles and games. And it wasn’t from sharing or siblings they had their own devices and broke them from pure carelessness.
They never wash their hands. Not after the bathroom, not after eating. Their fingers are always greasy and nasty. There’s no way I’m letting them touch my brand-new console or controller like that.
To make things worse, 16M constantly walks into my room without knocking, even when I’m changing — and just stares. I’ve told him to stop, but he doesn’t care. I don’t even have a door because my mom took it off for “behavioral reasons.” But that’s a whole separate issue.
When I told my mom I didn’t want them using my PS5, she called me selfish. She said I was being dramatic and unfair. But I do a lot around this house — especially helping take care of my sick grandma while my mom works double shifts. Meanwhile, my uncle doesn’t pay rent and spends whatever money he gets on alcohol. He doesn’t buy food or clothes for his own kids. He contributes absolutely nothing but somehow I’m the problem?
I clean up after everyone, help around the house, and barely complain but I’m exhausted. It’s summer, and I can’t even go out because my mom says I have to stay home and watch my cousins and our dog. My cousins are more than old enough to care for themselves, but whatever.
My mom hasn’t shown me real respect in years, and I genuinely thought this PS5 was finally something from the heart. She never once said I had to share it — yet now she’s pressuring and guilt-tripping me to give it up to people who don’t respect me, my boundaries, or my space.
I’m sharing all of this because my uncle doesn’t respect me as a person and acts like that’s normal — and I’m done keeping quiet about it.
So… AITA for refusing to let my cousins use my PS5?
edit: i also have a camera in my room
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My cousins (16M and 13M) now live with us due to family issues. Their dad my mom’s brother is an alcoholic who’s been abusive, cheated on my aunt with three different women, and can barely hold a job. My aunt finally kicked him out, and now he and the two boys live with us in our 2 bed, 2 bath apartment. There are six people plus my dog living here, and I get my own room since I’m the only girl.
For context, my aunt and uncle have six kids together, and he had three other sons with different women so nine kids total. Despite everything he’s done, my aunt still treats all of his kids like her own. She loves them deeply and has never shown them anything but care and support.
The two boys have been claiming they don’t feel welcome in the home their parents once shared, but that’s just not true. My aunt treats all the kids equally and never treats them any differently.
Their dad believes boys are more important than girls, and honestly, that mindset seems to have rubbed off on them. They act like they deserve to use my PS5 more than I do, even though I’ve worked for years for what I have. They’ve broken three PS5s, two Nintendo Switches, and a bunch of other consoles and games. And it wasn’t from sharing or siblings they had their own devices and broke them from pure carelessness.
They never wash their hands. Not after the bathroom, not after eating. Their fingers are always greasy and nasty. There’s no way I’m letting them touch my brand-new console or controller like that.
To make things worse, 16M constantly walks into my room without knocking, even when I’m changing — and just stares. I’ve told him to stop, but he doesn’t care. I don’t even have a door because my mom took it off for “behavioral reasons.” But that’s a whole separate issue.
When I told my mom I didn’t want them using my PS5, she called me selfish. She said I was being dramatic and unfair. But I do a lot around this house — especially helping take care of my sick grandma while my mom works double shifts. Meanwhile, my uncle doesn’t pay rent and spends whatever money he gets on alcohol. He doesn’t buy food or clothes for his own kids. He contributes absolutely nothing but somehow I’m the problem?
I clean up after everyone, help around the house, and barely complain but I’m exhausted. It’s summer, and I can’t even go out because my mom says I have to stay home and watch my cousins and our dog. My cousins are more than old enough to care for themselves, but whatever.
My mom hasn’t shown me real respect in years, and I genuinely thought this PS5 was finally something from the heart. She never once said I had to share it — yet now she’s pressuring and guilt-tripping me to give it up to people who don’t respect me, my boundaries, or my space.
I’m sharing all of this because my uncle doesn’t respect me as a person and acts like that’s normal — and I’m done keeping quiet about it.
So… AITA for refusing to let my cousins use my PS5?
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OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole:
> the action was not letting them play on my playstation
it might make me the asshole because
i dont want them to play on it because i don’t want my brand new ps5 to be destroyed
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Contest mode is 1.5 hours long on this post.
Nope, not an AH. That’s your ps5. They’ve wrecked enough already!
INFO: How old are you?
NTA do you have anyone else you can move in with while your Uncle and cousins are there? If no I would CONSIDER calling CPS (since school is out and you can’t go to a school counselor) and reporting an unsafe living condition, a girl living with 3 males who make her feel unsafe, no door on your bedroom, and likely an increasingly messy house (if they don’t wash they hands they likely don’t clean anything either). Even if they don’t help you find somewhere else to live maybe the report will be enough to wake your mom up to the fact that you deserve to feel safe and protected in your home. BUT it could also make things worse so have a back up plan.
Another option would be to contact the landlord and report people not on the lease living there, if you are scared to you could get a friendly neighbor to do it instead
nope nta. dont let your mom guilt trip you into letting them use your ps5. hate to say this also but you mom needs to grow a spine and get them out of there. if i was your mom, i wouldnt let my sibling and his fkn kids be living with me and my daughter.
NTA – i’m sorry you’re dealing with all of this! you definitely shouldn’t have to share ur ps5
can u convince your mom to put the door back up while they’re living there?
You don’t have a door. How do you keep it the PS5 locked away from them? You are NTA. You absolutely should not let them touch it. You have excellent reasons for denying the cousins access, but you don’t have to explain yourself to anyone.
For your safety, mom has to put that door back immediately with a deadbolt. In the meantime, you change only in the bathroom, where you can close and lock the door.
You are being abused. This is parentification, where you are being pressed into waiting on a bunch of people who are not doing their parts. You and mom need to have a serious talk and get this situation fixed. You are entitled to have a teenager hood of your own and not have all your fun be sucked away so young.
NTA – I’d sell it, I know you don’t want to lose it, but you’re going to lose it when they break it anyway.
Put the money in a bank account she can’t access.
When you go back to school tell them she took your door off and boys are entering your room and looking at you when you’re changing.
I just hope you can move out soon…
I would go insane. It sounds similar to what I went through, and I know how much close to hell this is, especially the longer it goes, and the less ways out you see and find.
Don’t lose hope. Try to take control over your life and set boundaries but also demand to be treated as an equal human being, and request to get benefits for all you do and contribute. It’s worth a lot what you do, and they deep down know, they are just using you and manipulating you.
So for door and camera, demand privacy too, and PROTECTION from that creepy bastard cousin right there.
My guess is they “fear” for you to explore your body and sexuality (which is 100% normal and every persons right?!) or some other weird control shit to manipulate you or keeping you low.
Reach out to other family and seek their help, and additional backup plans.
You don’t need to leave if you don’t want to, but having a way out is highly important for your psyche.
Just an example, but this experiment shows quite well why ways out are important, and rather sooner than later, before you get used to abuse
a link to “way out” experiment
If we internet strangers can help you in any way, reach out to us. I know some good books for developmental trauma for example, or where to learn techniques or acquire knowledge against manipulative people. And I’m sure others here can offer other help aswell, maybe adresses to reach out to from your area?
Can u take your PS5 to a friend’s home for safekeeping? I’m worried about your safety regarding your cousin’s. Your mother is delusional and in denial about you not having a door to your room.
Tell the landlord there are 3 more people in your apartment. And absolutely call CPS.
i’m trying to show the camera and doorframe but im not sure how to. i’m sorry i dont use reddit
call cps today – you are a girl and a child and you need privacy …
NTA
“Walks in without knocking” oh btw I dont have a door. Absolute AI rubbish 🤣