AITAH for telling my uncle his children can’t attend my daughters birthday party?

r/

So, my(27F) daughter turns 7 in a few months and I have started to plan a backyard party. 1 problem. We live in Texas and it will be pretty hot on the day of her party, our house is too small to host even a small party so we have started the process of booking rentals for chairs and tables, planning the cake, bought the tents, decorations, bluetooth speakers to play music, and the food.

My daughter doesnt want my cousins there F(16) and M(13).

My daughter is extremely worried they will throw a tantrum at her party (like every single family gathering before this) and ruin her party.

F(16) has mental health issues. She struggles with depression and while on live stream, her friends have called the police because she was saying some very concerning things on there which led her to be held on a psych hold at the hospital. My uncle tried to use this as a “learning opportunity”. To which I told him that going to a mental hospital is not a punishment. You go to a regular hospital for broken bones and needing stitches, right? Mental hospitals are a place you go when you feel mentally unable to care for yourself in a way that is appropriate. My cousin would often send me photos of her crying and send cryptic messages saying “Im done” and then refuse to respond for 2 hours and then message back and say “sorry I took a nap”. She also has these extreme meltdowns, that she has had at every single gathering Ive been to (Our other cousins birthday F(8)), Easter, Christmas, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, Halloween. It always ends with her screaming and yelling and stomping (yes, stomping her feet) over something that that isnt an appropriate reaction. She complains about everything, including food, the heat or cold, having to walk, etc. She would 100% throw a tantrum at this party because it would be a bit warm.

M(13) was recently diagnosed with autism, but makes rude comments to my daughter, calls her ugly (She is definitely not ugly, she is actually really beautiful, total strangers have come up to me to tell me she is an absolutely gorgeous girl) and tries to sabotage her birthday in some way. He recently made a comment to my daughter that made my blood run cold, and my hair stand straight up on my arms, chills going down my back, and my whole body freezes.

He said, “Have you ever seen a weewee”

My uncle yelled at him to get out of the living room and to go to his room. M(13) was very confused and kept saying it was “just a joke” and my uncle continued to yell at him and while he was walking away my daughter said “Bro, you said that to a minor”. Which, I’m glad she got the quick wit from my grandmother, but that comment wants me to make sure he never has any opportunity to be alone with her. He is also just extremely rude. But I know the real reason my uncle sent him away. My husband(35M) was about to snap and go after him. But my uncle made M(13) leave before my husband was able to fully process that question. M(13) also complains a lot and stomps his feet at every gathering (Yes, physically stomping)

So my daughter doesn’t want them at her party. And I let my uncle know

He told me that since my daughter doesn’t want his children at her party, then apparently she doesnt want him at her party either and he refuses to exclude his children from the party but that he wouldn’t try to push back on this decision. I just said that i fully understand and that’s where we left it.

I have tried telling my uncle they need help. He shrugs and says theyre fine, that F(16) was doing fine, and 2 days later she shaved off her eyebrows and dyed her hair with black box dye 6 days after going to a salon and getting a professional dye and cut and was getting 4 hours of sleep max. I have said not to use me as the standard for mental health. Im schizophrenic and have been on heavy duty antipsychotics since i was 11. No one should have to get as bad off as me in order to receive help. My mother has been trying to hammer it in his head that his children need more than seeing a therapist once a month when his daughter is getting hauled to the county hospital to be put on a psych hold for telling people she was going to kill herself on live stream. They ignore it. They say theyre fine.

But now I feel like a jerk, my uncle had a hand in raising me (although he was barely 19 when I was born). He took me to sports games (Hockey, Basketball) and he would take me to get ice cream every friday after school when I was in 2nd grade. We would get slushies during the summer and I was a flower girl in his wedding. I remember taking my cousins to my room when M was just a newborn and F was 4 years old and holding M while I put Headphones over F’s ears while she played games on my laptop while My uncle and his wife screamed at eachother and yelling nasty vile things to eachother. I feel some kind of responsibility towards them. Like I owe them. But I feel like he has raised his kids the way he has decided to raise them and I have to raise mine knowing I will respect her boundaries.

The rest of the family says NTA because some have said things like

“he can’t possibly be surprised that no one would want to be around his kids when they act like that”

But a piece of me feels like I should accept family in all ways they are, but I am trying to teach myself to not give in and just say no.

So, AITAH?

Comments

  1. Curious_Stallion3441 Avatar

    It’s admirable that you’re prioritizing your daughter’s well-being and respecting her boundaries, especially considering the challenges with your cousins. You’ve shown empathy for your uncle’s situation, but your responsibility is to your child. You’re not obligated to accept toxic behavior at the expense of your family’s peace. It’s tough, but protecting your daughter’s mental space is key. How do you think your uncle might respond if you had a deeper conversation about his children’s behavior and the need for more serious intervention?

  2. lovescarats Avatar

    NTA, your job is to protect your daughter. Do it.

  3. EfficientSociety73 Avatar

    No, you are not an ah here at all. Your daughter has made her choice and you are respecting it. It doesn’t matter what your uncle did for you in the past. What he is not doing now is dealing with his children. They need serious help and instead of getting it for them, he is ignoring the behavior and playing it off as not a big deal.
    It’s time to put some distance between you and this part of your family. Until he can understand that you are setting boundaries because he won’t, you don’t need those people in your life. Your child comes first. Period.

  4. lovescarats Avatar

    NTA, your job is to protect your daughter.

  5. Competitive-Eye-1342 Avatar

    NTA you did the absolute right thing, to change your mind and let them come would be choosing your own guilt and assuaging that over your daughter and her day. He needs to see the consequences of his kids actions and maybe when he sees how alone they are he will finally get them the help they need.

  6. emryldmyst Avatar

    Nta

    They’re not the same age and your daughter doesn’t want them there.

  7. Gnd_flpd Avatar

    NTA

    You’re not wrong for how you feel here, the both of these children are not safe and I wouldn’t want them around my 7 year old either. It’s not your fault your uncle is in denial to their condition, this link below may be of assistance:

    http://www.nami.org/support-education/mental-health-education/nami-family-to-family/

  8. fruuduk Avatar

    NTA, but your uncle’s lack of parenting is turning his children into monsters. You haven’t mentioned any appropriate parental responses to children acting up.

  9. wishingforarainyday Avatar

    Please call CPS or for a mental health wellness check. Those kids need serious help.

    Do not allow them to your house ever. You have kids to protect. Your uncle is harming his children by not helping them.

  10. Top_Wealth_9343 Avatar

    Tell him that this is a “learning opportunity”.

  11. Equivalent_March3225 Avatar

    Never ever let the 13 year old anywhere near your kids. Although we are reading his comment and therefore have to guess as to his tone of voice I feel as though he was asking in a “You wanna see mine?” Kind of way.

    It sounds as though you should permanently go zero contact with him and his kids. He clearly has no internet in ensuring they get the required help or in coming down on the teen boy for his highly disturbing comments.

    It’s a sad situation.

  12. HerbieC026 Avatar

    NTA. I wouldn’t want those children anywhere near my child as they are at the moment. Your daughter deserves better and especially on her birthday.

  13. Liu1845 Avatar

    This isn’t a party for you. It’s your daughter’s party. Will your daughter be inviting some of her friends or is it only family members?

    I would skip inviting your uncle. If he feels he can’t attend without his kids and it’s a family only party, well, fair enough. However he and his kids are still not owed an invite.

    If your daughter will be having mainly school friends and you were also inviting a few select family members, you are right, IMO. His kids are “too old” for the party you are giving for your daughter beyond anything else.

    Some may say that 7 is too young to control the guest list, but I would disagree. Once they are in school full time, they are old enough, to me. I might not agree with who she does want to invite (and would veto someone), but her being against certain individuals would be enough for me to cut them from the invite list.

    NTA

  14. KittiesRule1968 Avatar

    NTA, those kids desperately need help, that one sounds like a serial rapist in the making.

  15. Fast-Opening-1051 Avatar

    Nta I wouldn’t take those kids anywhere except a therapist if I was your uncle 

  16. Lisa_Knows_Best Avatar

    NTA. You’re keeping your kid safe and happy. Honestly why would a 13yo and a 16yo even want to go to a 7yo’s party? Not even close to having the same interests. 

  17. SoMoistlyMoist Avatar

    It’s your daughter’s birthday, she should not have people there that she does not want. I feel bad for your uncle because he’s clearly in deep denial, but having children with disabilities, I know how hard it is. You’re definitely not the asshole regardless. You’re protecting your kid on her birthday. It will be a fun occasion and not filled with drama and outbursts.

  18. Independent-Bat-3552 Avatar

    Your daughter has real & valid reasons for not wanting her cousins at her party, it’s her party not theirs, she doesn’t have to have them or feel bad for not doing, nor do you. It is what it is. Hope she has a lovely day, with love ❤️

  19. ChestnutMoss Avatar

    NTA. You can support your uncle’s kids and participate in their lives without involving your daughter.

  20. justmeandmycoop Avatar

    Why do you need a grown man at a 7 yr olds party ? She needs friends her own age