AITA for leaving when my mom told me to move my car so her neighbor’s daughter can park in her driveway?

The hum of a car engine fades as a family visit takes a sharp turn. This Redditor, arriving at his mom’s house after an eight-hour drive with his sons, expected a warm welcome. Instead, he was asked to move his car from her driveway for Lily, the neighbor’s daughter his mom treats like kin. The sting of favoritism—$300 checks for his sons versus an eight-week European trip for Lily—sent him packing, bags in hand.

This isn’t just about a parking spot; it’s a deep-cut wound of feeling second-best. The mom’s devotion to Lily, fluent in her Italian heritage, contrasts with the OP’s sense of being sidelined. Her calls to return ring hollow against years of perceived slights. Readers are hooked, wondering: was storming out a tantrum or a stand against unfair treatment? Reddit’s got a lot to unpack here.

‘AITA for leaving when my mom told me to move my car so her neighbor’s daughter can park in her driveway?’

This parking spat is a proxy for deeper family wounds. The OP’s exit wasn’t just about moving his car—it was a reaction to feeling like an outsider in his mom’s affection, overshadowed by Lily. The mom’s preference for Lily, evident in lavish gestures like funding her tuition and a European trip, stings against the modest gifts for her grandsons. “Favoritism in families can erode trust,” says Dr. Susan Forward, a family dynamics expert quoted in Psychology Today. Her work highlights how unequal treatment fuels resentment.

The mom’s bond with Lily, built on shared culture and proximity, isn’t inherently wrong but lacks balance. A study from the Journal of Family Psychology shows 70% of adult children report feeling hurt by parental favoritism, often tied to perceived emotional neglect. The OP’s mom may see Lily as filling a daughter-shaped void, but dismissing her son’s feelings—especially asking him to yield the driveway—ignites old wounds.

This story taps a universal issue: navigating chosen family versus biological ties. Dr. Forward suggests open dialogue to address favoritism, advising the OP to express his hurt calmly, perhaps saying, “I feel overlooked when Lily’s needs come first.” A family meeting, as recommended by Verywell Family, could clarify boundaries and expectations. The mom might not realize her actions read as rejection, especially given the OP’s rare visits.

Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:

Reddit rolled up like a family reunion with opinions spicier than Nonna’s marinara. The crowd dished out support and shade, unpacking the driveway drama with gusto. Here’s the raw take from the community:

$Nothing in this post makes it sound like the mom is sad or feels abandoned after her sons moved out, nothing says that OP or bro make enough money to send their kids to private school so mom is doing neighbor girl a favor to equal it out, also the reach to justify her taking this girl on a 8 week \*expensive as hell\* vacation$

These Redditors backed the OP, slamming the mom’s favoritism as blatant, with Lily’s European trip versus $300 checks as exhibit A. Some saw her request as a power move, others urged a candid talk. Do these hot takes nail the issue, or are they just revving the engine?

This driveway dispute is a roadmap to deeper family hurts. The OP’s exit wasn’t about a parking spot—it was about years of feeling less-than next to Lily. His mom’s love for her “adoptive” granddaughter is sweet, but not at the cost of her sons’ dignity. It’s a reminder that family means balancing all bonds, not picking favorites. How would you handle a parent prioritizing someone else? Share your thoughts and stories below!