AITA for calling my mothers bluff and moving?

The kitchen clock ticked louder than usual, or maybe it was just the weight of a mother’s ultimatum settling in. A 20-year-old student, juggling university and a house full of siblings, stared down a €300 rent demand from his mom—more than half his paycheck. Her words, “Pay up or move out,” lit a spark. His Reddit post spills the tale of a bold leap to freedom, trading one family’s chaos for another’s gratitude, and boy, did it stir the pot.

This isn’t just about a guy dodging rent; it’s a snapshot of youth carving out space to breathe. When he swapped endless chores for a single kid’s bedtime routine, his mom cried foul, but Reddit’s cheering him on. It’s a story of guts, grit, and a little ingenuity—perfect fodder for anyone who’s ever felt squeezed by family. Who’s the real winner when the house rules shift?

‘AITA for calling my mothers bluff and moving?’

I (20m) was living with my mother, stepfather, twin brothers and 3 sisters aged 6-13. My stepfather is a truck driver and never home, my mother also works so she often arrives home later than I did from University, so it was my job to make sure that the kids had dinner and she asked me to help her a lot with chores.

It was fine before University, but this last year (My first in uni) I felt that it was too much as this is not high school. During the summer break, I got a part-time job in the same place where I did my internship in the spring, but with school starting again there will be very few hours and they pay me an hourly wage and extra for finishing tasks.

As it is work from home job, I could do it any time I have free time, but with 5 smaller siblings and school, there is not much free time at all. At the end of August my mother suddenly told me, that as I work now, I should pay rent! 300€ per month! And I replied,

She just replied:

I got a reply from a Single mother

I have to take care of her when she works, I pay no rent and don't even have to buy food, as a babysitter would be way more expensive for her.. Meanwhile - babysitting a well-raised 7-year-old is very easy. I have been living there from the start of school in 2. September and I love it!

On the days

On Sunday I had a

Talk about a plot twist that pays off—this Reddit saga shows a kid outsmarting a raw deal. The student’s life, packed with sibling wrangling and dishes, hit a wall when his mom slapped on rent, ignoring his unpaid labor. Her “adults pay” line? More like a trap to keep him tethered. Moving out to trade babysitting for a room was a masterstroke, but her anger smells like regret over losing her MVP.

Family therapist Dr. Virginia Satir once said, “We need to see people in terms of their possibilities, not their problems” (source: Satir Institute). Here, the mom missed his potential, treating him like a cash machine instead of a son stretching for independence. This echoes a bigger issue: parentification, where kids become mini-adults. A 2022 study found 15% of teens take on excessive family roles, stunting growth (source: Journal of Family Psychology). He dodged that bullet, but her “selfish” jab shows she’s blind to his burden.

Dr. Satir might nudge a family sit-down to air grievances—mom needs to value his time, maybe hire help. For him, setting weekend visits keeps ties without chains. His new gig’s a win, but balancing school and Emma’s care needs boundaries too. Readers, was mom’s rent demand fair, or did he nail the ultimate getaway?

Heres what people had to say to OP:

Reddit’s squad rolled in like a cheer team for this guy’s great escape, tossing high-fives and a few shady side-glances at mom. It’s like a block party where everyone’s got a take—some toast his hustle, others cackle at mom’s backfire. Here’s the hot gossip from the comments, served with a grin:

nexutus − NTA. What your mother and stepdad did to you was pointblank parentification. As the cherry on top she wanted to add

anxiety_watermelon − **NTA.** You’re absolutely not in the wrong for finding a better situation for yourself, especially when your mother put you in a tough position by demanding rent that would take more than half of your income. You’re a full-time university student trying to balance your studies and a job, and it’s unreasonable for her to expect you to continue being a full-time caregiver for your siblings on top of that.

You found a solution that works for you and helps another family in need, all while still being willing to visit and stay connected with your family. Your mother’s reaction is likely coming from a place of frustration over losing the help you provided, but that doesn't make you an “a**hole” for taking care of yourself and prioritizing your education and future.

It’s unfair for her to accuse you of being self-centered when, in reality, you’ve been giving so much of yourself already. You’re doing what’s best for you, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s okay to set boundaries, and it’s clear that you needed to. You’re not pretending to be a kid in another family—you’re just making choices that allow you to thrive. Keep focusing on your education and building a future for yourself; you made the right decision.

runrunpuppets − NTA! What a great opportunity to save money! Good for you. Mom must hate chewing her own words though... Also, babysitting isn't free! She should have been happy with the arrangement she had. Oh well!

SuspiciousZombie788 − NTA. Rachel understands what your mom clearly doesn’t, childcare and housekeeping have real value. If your mom had known this and not taken you for granted, she might still have her childcare and chore person. Sucks to be her.

Artistic_Tough5005 − NTA. She told you to pay rent or move out so you moved out.

Jallenrix − Tell your mother that adults pay for childcare and housecleaning. NTA.

RoyallyOakie − NTA...your mother had a good deal and pushed it one step too far. Live your own life and make your own path.

Clean_Factor9673 − NTA. Your mom can't have it both ways; if you paid rent it's unreasonable to expect you to babysit as you're now a paying tenant.. Posting for housing plys babysitting near college was perfect. It helps you and another family.

Labradawgz90 − NTA- Tell your mom to put her on advertisement up. Tell her to put up an ad for the same deal she offered you and see how many takers she gets. She'll see what n**ty piece of work she was being. My first year after college, I lived with my parents trying to save money.

I paid rent for a room. I also: mowed a 4 acre lawn, cooked, cleaned a large house, did laundry, helped my dad work on his cars, and painted. My parents told me I didn't do enough. (But didn't say it in a nice way.) I was in the process of moving out they just didn't know.

So, I got my stuff and stayed at a friend's until my condo was ready. Three weeks later, I went to pick up something at my parents' house and one of my brothers was mowing the lawn, another was working on a car, another was chopping wood, and 2 of my sisters were cooking and cleaning. All the things that I did by myself.

PassComprehensive425 − NTA- Your mom had a really sweet deal, but she got greedy. Now she gets to suffer the suffer the consequences. And you got relieved of her parentification duties your mom and SD dumped on you. Now you have traded room and board for babysitting duties, excellent idea.. Congratulations on finding a creative solution.

These Redditors are hyped, crowning him king of clapbacks or chuckling at mom’s empty threats. Some say she played herself; others bet she’ll miss his dishwashing skills. But are they catching the full vibe, or just vibing on the drama? One thing’s clear—this kid’s move’s got the crowd buzzing like a game-winning shot. Where do you land on his big break?

This tale’s a zinger—a son’s sprint from family overload to a fresh start, leaving mom to stew in her own rules. It’s not just about dodging rent; it’s about claiming your life when the deck’s stacked against you. With a new “family” and a lighter load, he’s running his own show, but the guilt trips linger. Ever had to bail on family to save yourself? What’s the line between duty and freedom? Drop your thoughts—let’s hash this out together.

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