Sorry for the long post.
This happened back in 2020 during the COVID lockdown. I (20F at the time) lived with my parents. Just before lockdown started, my father’s friend visited us with his wife and their two kids 12F (“Sally”) and 12M (“Reed”). They were supposed to stay for a week, but then lockdown happened and traveling was suspended.
Being hospitable, my family offered for them to stay until things opened up. Their stay turned into 4 months.
Now, onto the issue the kids.
Sally would randomly barge into my room insisting I play with them. We only had one TV in the house, and Reed would hog it 24/7, never letting us watch anything. Snacks and soft drinks kept disappearing from the fridge. They would eat things meant for my younger sister. I brought it up, but my mom asked me to stay quiet “they’re just kids” and “it’s only for a few days.” So I didn’t push.
I’ve always been protective of my childhood belongings, especially my books. One of them was a beautiful, expensive Disney princess collector’s book I bought with my own saved pocket money at 15. I kept it in perfect condition no tears, no folds, and it was very close to my heart.
One day Sally came into my room again and asked if she could take some of my toys since “I don’t use them anymore.” I said okay, but then she asked for that book. I said no immediately and explained it was very important to me. She kept pushing and finally offered to buy it from me. I still said no unless she got her parents to pay upfront.
Her father refused.
She cried. A lot. Her crying disturbed the whole house. Eventually, my parents asked me to let her borrow the book just for their stay. I gave in but reminded them all to be very careful with it.
A month later, Sally returned the book in horrific condition. Pages were ripped from the binding and even torn through the middle. It wasn’t just unreadable, it was unfixable.
I completely lost it.
I yelled. I said I wanted full payment for the book. They refused. I told them I didn’t care they should leave. I told Sally and Reed to pack their bags and told their mother I didn’t care where they went, hotel, relative’s place, whatever they were nothing but a burden, the kids were disrespectful, and I didn’t want them freeloading at our house anymore.
Their mother started crying. My parents were furious and said I went too far. My dad eventually paid me for the book out of his own pocket.
Even now, I can’t look at that book without feeling angry. It was something I cherished, and I felt like I was treated as unimportant in my own home. But I admit I blew up and maybe could’ve handled it differently.
So, AITA for how I reacted?
Comments
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Original copy of post’s text by /u/whispers_of_luma:
Sorry for the long post.
This happened back in 2020 during the COVID lockdown. I (20F at the time) lived with my parents. Just before lockdown started, my father’s friend visited us with his wife and their two kids 12F (“Sally”) and 12M (“Reed”). They were supposed to stay for a week, but then lockdown happened and traveling was suspended.
Being hospitable, my family offered for them to stay until things opened up. Their stay turned into 4 months.
Now, onto the issue the kids.
Sally would randomly barge into my room insisting I play with them. We only had one TV in the house, and Reed would hog it 24/7, never letting us watch anything. Snacks and soft drinks kept disappearing from the fridge. They would eat things meant for my younger sister. I brought it up, but my mom asked me to stay quiet “they’re just kids” and “it’s only for a few days.” So I didn’t push.
I’ve always been protective of my childhood belongings, especially my books. One of them was a beautiful, expensive Disney princess collector’s book I bought with my own saved pocket money at 15. I kept it in perfect condition no tears, no folds, and it was very close to my heart.
One day Sally came into my room again and asked if she could take some of my toys since “I don’t use them anymore.” I said okay, but then she asked for that book. I said no immediately and explained it was very important to me. She kept pushing and finally offered to buy it from me. I still said no unless she got her parents to pay upfront.
Her father refused.
She cried. A lot. Her crying disturbed the whole house. Eventually, my parents asked me to let her borrow the book just for their stay. I gave in but reminded them all to be very careful with it.
A month later, Sally returned the book in horrific condition. Pages were ripped from the binding and even torn through the middle. It wasn’t just unreadable, it was unfixable.
I completely lost it.
I yelled. I said I wanted full payment for the book. They refused. I told them I didn’t care they should leave. I told Sally and Reed to pack their bags and told their mother I didn’t care where they went, hotel, relative’s place, whatever they were nothing but a burden, the kids were disrespectful, and I didn’t want them freeloading at our house anymore.
Their mother started crying. My parents were furious and said I went too far. My dad eventually paid me for the book out of his own pocket.
Even now, I can’t look at that book without feeling angry. It was something I cherished, and I felt like I was treated as unimportant in my own home. But I admit I blew up and maybe could’ve handled it differently.
So, AITA for how I reacted?
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NTA. They were shitty guests and destroyed your property. At least your dad had the decency to pay for the book he took from you and gave to them to destroy.
you’re not the bad guy, those kids were spoiled and their parents were a bunch of jerks for not setting limits. four months of putting up with them breaking your stuff, invading your space and making you feel like an intruder in your own home? to top it off, they ruined something you loved and didn’t even take care of it. your parents also failed to defend you. if crying helped them manipulate everyone, good for you for putting a stop to it. don’t let them come back again
not the AH. you were generous, respectful, and way more patient than most people would’ve been. they overstayed their welcome, disrespected your space, and destroyed something you loved… and your parents let it happen. that book wasn’t “just a book,” it was your boundary. and they stomped on it. yelling was the bare minimum reaction.
It’s been five years. Let it go.
YTA
You can still sue if you want
NTA, I hope they actually left when you told them they weren’t welcome anymore. Parents often don’t seem to consider the impact guests can have on their children, and it’s a shame. Good for you for standing up to them.
NTA
They’re freeloaders
NTA. They were assholes. Your parents were assholes for allowing it.
Did they leave after the confrontation?
NTA. They were crappy parents raising obnoxious kids and your parents encouraged it.
Remind them Everytime they bring it up, they chose other kids over you, and ruined the security you once felt in your own home.
NTA. But these kids aren’t necessarily brats like everyone is making them out to be either. It is very hard to have people quarantined in your home. But just imagine how awful those four months were for THEM. Twelve years old and trapped in someone else’s house for four months? They don’t have their own stuff, their own beds, their own friends. That had to have been terrible for them too. And someone should have ordered another tv. That was just dumb for two families during lockdown. This was just a terrible situation for everyone to be in.
NTA.
I have a few books which I value as highly. Monetary compensation would not be sufficient.
Replace the book. Period.
Go to the effort of finding one of the same edition, the same condition, etc. Puchase it, and give it to me.
NTA. Those kids had shitty parents.
NTA. But when you value something you just have to keep it to yourself. Should’ve never allowed her to use it. Sorry it happened.
seriously the lockdown would NOT have made me stuck at someone’s house unless it was in a diff country
NTA. Sounds like you gave those two little brats the first reality check in what I suspect will be a long list of them.
What shitty parents. NTA
The idea that COVID lockdowns would not allow a family to return home from a vacation makes this entire post feel very fake. The fact that this account is brand new and seems to be focused on ploys for sympathy also makes me doubt the veracity of the entire account.
If your posts are true and you need some moral support, I would encourage you to try therapy rather than try to use Reddit to feel better.
Even during lockdown who stays 4 months?! Seriously. Rent a car and drive themselves home. Didn’t they have some place they needed to be. They sound like a bunch of freeloading mooches.
They’re shitty guest and you had even worse parents, they wanted peace at your expense
At 12 years old you know how to treat something so if they destroy the book they did it on purpose, NTA.
NTA. Justified crash out.
Nahh they should have respect their home and property but noooo they decided to destroy and disrespect ur home and room they should known!!!! U aren’t wrong!!!!
NTA