AITA for hiding my switch?

A woman found herself caught in an unexpected family dispute after deciding to hide her gaming console before her nephews came over. The 27-year-old received a Nintendo Switch as a special Christmas gift from her parents after going through a particularly difficult year, making the device something she values a lot.

However, whenever her nephews visit their grandparents’ home—where she currently lives—they almost immediately ask to play on her console. Despite each child already owning their own Switch, they rarely bring them along. Concerned about how roughly the kids handle electronics, the aunt decided to keep her console safely out of sight. Her decision sparked a disagreement with her sister, who accused her of refusing to teach the children how to share.

‘AITA for hiding my switch?’

The poster explains her close relationship with her nephews and the importance of the gift.

However, visits to their grandparents’ house quickly turned into a pattern.

Eventually, the aunt decided to hide the console before the boys arrived.

Disagreements about sharing often arise in families, especially when children are involved and personal belongings are valuable or fragile. In this case, the aunt is protecting a device that holds both financial and sentimental value. Considering that the nephews already own their own gaming consoles, her hesitation to let them use hers—particularly if they have a track record of being rough with electronics—appears understandable.

From the sister’s perspective, the issue may revolve around expectations of generosity within family relationships. Some parents believe relatives should be more relaxed about sharing possessions with younger family members, viewing these interactions as opportunities for children to learn cooperation. However, that expectation becomes problematic when it ignores the owner’s comfort level or concerns about damage.

This situation also highlights a broader lesson about boundaries and responsibility. Teaching children to share can be valuable, yet it is equally important to teach them that other people’s belongings require permission and respect. A balanced approach would likely involve encouraging the nephews to bring their own devices or guiding them toward other activities when visiting family members.

Here’s the feedback from the Reddit community:

Many commenters supported the aunt, arguing that protecting her belongings was reasonable.

Other commenters focused on the parenting side of the situation.

A couple of comments took a more humorous approach to the family drama.

The disagreement raises an interesting question about sharing and boundaries within families. While generosity is often encouraged when children are around, personal belongings—especially expensive electronics—still belong to the person who owns them.

In this case, the aunt chose to protect something important to her, while the sister interpreted that choice as a refusal to teach the kids about sharing. Do you think hiding the console was a reasonable solution? Or should family members be more flexible when children want to use their things?