AITA because I said no to my mom’s bf living with me and my fiancée?

A family dinner should warm the heart, but for one 19-year-old, it turned ice-cold fast. When his mom’s new boyfriend leered at his fiancée and silenced her voice, discomfort hung thick in the air. Back home, 200 miles from that tense scene, he offered his struggling mom a lifeline—a place to stay—but drew a hard line: her boyfriend wasn’t welcome. Her response?

A firestorm of guilt, accusing him of betrayal despite her absence during his foster care years. At 19, he’s building a life with his fiancée, balancing love with limits, but his mom’s demands threaten to crack that foundation. Family ties pull tight when past promises clash with present needs, and saying “no” feels like severing a thread. This story unravels that knot—where loyalty, protection, and independence collide in a young man’s stand.

‘AITA because I said no to my mom’s bf living with me and my fiancée?’

I see people are confused and saying I’m putting my gf in danger, but I didn’t let him talk to her that way, we left right after he said it, i confronted him a little after that and it didn’t go well. When I saw how he looked at her I asked her if she’d like to leave but she said no, I asked her multiple times, she wanted to meet my mom.

We have moved like 200 miles from them when I first blocked them. My mom does know where we live because of personal reasons but she cannot get to where me and my gf are. We do plan to move further away. Also another thing yes I’m 19 and yes I’m saying fiancée but we’re not planning on having the ceremony for a while, we don’t know what’s to come but we do know we’ll be here until we cannot!

My mom has a new boyfriend who made me and my fiancée uncomfortable. He kept looking at my fiancée up and down and also told her she doesn’t have the right to talk when she’s around him? Every time she’d talk he had to intervene and say something so she couldn’t talk.

My mom is homeless of right now with her new boyfriend, I told my mom she could live with us but he couldn’t and she yelled at me and told me I was ungrateful for the fact she gave birth to me she said I wouldn’t take care of her and her bf like she did when I needed her. And I just want to add I’ve been in foster care until now.

Drawing a line with family can feel like walking a tightrope, and this 19-year-old’s stand is a bold one. Offering his homeless mom a place to stay was generous, but barring her boyfriend—who disrespected his fiancée with leers and interruptions—was non-negotiable. Her entitled outburst, wielding guilt over “giving birth,” ignores his foster care past, where she wasn’t there. This isn’t just about a creepy boyfriend; it’s about reclaiming power after a childhood of instability.

Family dynamics like this often hinge on unspoken debts. Relationship expert Dr. John Gottman, in a Psychology Today article, notes, “Healthy boundaries protect relationships, not destroy them.” The son’s boundary—keeping a toxic figure out—shields his fiancée and home. His mom’s reaction, though, flips the script, casting him as ungrateful. A 2022 National Low Income Housing Coalition report shows homelessness strains family ties, with 68% of young adults citing boundary disputes as a reason for cutting contact . His foster care history only sharpens his need for control now.

The boyfriend’s behavior—silencing and ogling—raises red flags, hinting at deeper issues. Mom’s defense of him over her son suggests skewed priorities, maybe desperation. Gottman advises clear communication: the son could restate, “I want to help you, but your boyfriend’s actions aren’t okay here.” If she pushes back, limiting contact—like his planned move—might be wisest. He’s not obligated to house anyone, especially not at his fiancée’s expense.

What’s next? He could connect his mom to shelters while holding firm. For readers, it’s a gut-check: how do you balance family duty with self-respect? This young couple’s carving their path—share your advice to keep them steady.

Here’s how people reacted to the post:

Reddit’s always got a hot take or two, and this post stirred up some gems—here’s the crowd’s vibe, with a dash of spice:

TeenySod − NTA, and to be honest, I wouldn't allow your mother to move in either, as she WILL have her boyfriend to visit and I'd put good money on him

Tell your mother that you will not have her boyfriend living with you. Period. On the basis of her entitlement and yelling at you, the offer to her is also now withdrawn and she won't be living with you either. Period. Don't argue about anything else/any other reason - it just gives her more to shout about.

SomeoneYouDontKnow70 − NTA. If your mom wants to live with her boyfriend, then they should get their own place. You're not obligated to house anyone, especially someone who won't respect your fiancée! It's ironic that she's trying to guilt you for not taking care of her when she didn't even provide for you as a child.

bamf1701 − NTA. You can let whomever you want live with you, and not let whomever you want also for whatever you want. Your mother’s BF is not your responsibility. Even without the foster care, a parent raising you isn’t something a child needs to pay back - it’s an obligation a parent takes on the moment they decide to have a child. But, your mother has no leg to stand on. She wants a place to live, she either accepts your conditions or she goes someplace else.

hatterson − NTA. You're offering to do your mom a favor, it's completely reasonable to put ground rules around that favor (i.e. it's just her living with you and not her boyfriend). That would be true even if the boyfriend was an amazingly nice guy with whom you got along great.

idisturballtheshit − NTA. Tell her she can go into foster care. That's what she did for you...

Jerseygirl2468 − NTA your mom did not provide for you as a child - that was her job. It is NOT your job to provide for her now. The way she is treating you, and bringing such a horrible man around you, absolutely not.. Personally I would go as low contact with her as you can.

1962Michael − NTA at all. You didn't ask to be born, and you don't owe your mother a thing. Every parent owes their child 18 years of shelter, food, clothing, and LOVE. If they provide those things, then you owe them love, gratitude, and respect.

But not financial support.. Sounds like she came up way short, so she owes you big-time. You're being nice to offer to let HER live with you. You absolutely don't have to invite her boyfriend in, certainly not when he's being an AH to you or your fiancee.

Tranqup − NTA - and perhaps you shouldn't even consider letting mom move in. Sounds like she doesn't have her priorities straight. Don't invite unnecessary drama into your home. Tell mom that she and bf will have to figure out their living situation elsewhere. If you are feeling generous, look up local agencies that provide services for homeless and provide your mom with that information.

So many people have been burned by allowing others to move in

angel2hi − NTA. But be smart and don’t let her move in. You will find him “just visiting” to the point he will be de facto living there. Also look up tenet/squatter rights in your area. If you become over your mom staying or him when she lets him move in (and she will), what will your options be? If it’s a headache to get them out, don’t even let them through the door. If you’re feeling generous, provide her a list of shelters or other social services you may have in your area.

Quiet_Village_1425 − Don’t take in your mom. If they’re homeless they’re probably on drugs. How dare her act that way that’s pretty ungrateful. They’re adults and you aren’t responsible for them.

These opinions pack a punch, but do they nail the whole story? Maybe wisdom’s in the cracks.

This 19-year-old’s “no” to his mom’s boyfriend wasn’t just a word—it was a shield for his fiancée and a stake in his own future. His mom’s guilt-trip stings, but it doesn’t erase his right to choose who shares his home, especially after a foster care past. Family’s messy when love comes with strings. So, what would you do—open your door to drama or lock it for peace? Jump in below—how do you draw the line when family pushes too far?

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