AITA for moving out of my parents house and skipping a family reunion because my parents keep including my sister’s best friend?

Shirley Stafford Hours
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A cozy family home turned into a battlefield of boundaries for one teenager. At 17, they faced a storm brewed by Meg, their sister’s 15-year-old best friend, whose crush spiraled into obsession. Picture a summer poolside, tainted by awkward advances, or a bedroom door rattling despite a lock. Each day brought fresh unease—stolen clothes, midnight visits, and relentless flirting that left the teen dodging their own living room. Their pleas for help fell on deaf ears, with parents shrugging it off as puppy love.

Frustration bubbled over, pushing them to pack bags and seek refuge with grandparents, even skipping a cherished family reunion when Meg’s name appeared on the guest list. Readers feel the sting of betrayal—how far would you go to feel safe in your own home? This tale of courage and conflict begs for answers.

‘AITA for moving out of my parents house and skipping a family reunion because my parents keep including my sister’s best friend?’

I'm 17, my sister

I thought at least Lana would help her try to focus on someone else. But Meg's crush either came back or became fully realized a year ago and she has been so over the top flirting with me and being inappropriate. I spoke to Lana, I spoke to my parents and I even tried speaking to Meg. My parents told me she's a kid and it's a harmless crush.

They dismissed the real concerns I had about how far Meg was willing to go. They told me it's normal for kids to go a little crazy over a crush. Especially when their crush is so present in their lives. When I told them it made me uncomfortable they said Meg is a part of the family and she's Lana's BFF and she'll always be welcome.

I have found Meg in my room going through my stuff. She stole stuff out of my closet, she slept in my bed when I wasn't home one night and she even came to me in the middle of the night when she was sleeping over saying she got scared and wanting to climb into my bed. We have a pool in our yard and Meg has tried to slip off her bikini top in front of me before.

She's tried touching me in ways I don't like and don't feel comfortable with. It got so bad that I stopped spending time outside last summer because I was freaking out that she might strip in front of me and try to do something and could get one or both of us hurt if I moved away too fast. I had to start locking my bedroom door but she'd still try to get in.

She'd always insist on sitting next to me at lunch or dinner and if she was included in a family movie night she'd try to cuddle up to me. I avoided the couch for that reason but even one of the chairs she'd either sit on the arm or even suggest sitting on my lap or she'd take the floor next to me. Nobody would ever tell her to stop expect for me and nobody had my back.

She was like that in school too and I got some help there. A couple of teachers stepped in and told her she couldn't harass me. One time she tried following me into the boys bathrooms and she got into big trouble for it. My parents and Lana were upset I got Meg into trouble over that.

When they found out I was telling teachers everything they acted like I was overreacting and being super harsh on poor Meg. It was after that I called my grandparents and told them what was happening and they said I could move in with them. Since I was 17 and I knew my parents would resist I just didn't tell them.

They were angry and tried very hard to make me move back in. They gave up when I told them to f**k off in not those exact words but I did curse. Meg and Lana tried to visit my grandparents house since I moved in. My grandparents stop them at the door and they have told Lana she can visit them if she wants but Meg is not welcome.

Last weekend my wider family had a family reunion at the lake house they all share. Meg was invited to keep Lana company and when my grandparents and I heard that we all skipped the reunion. I told them they could go but they said someone needed to stand in my corner and they were the ones to do it.

When we didn't show up my parents anger got worse and they accused me of taking this too far again and they said I was acting like a scared kid. They told me to get over it. That Meg's only a kid. That I moved out of my house and avoided my family over a 15 year old girl with a crush. I asked what would happen if I had to physically push Meg off of me sometime.

What if she got hurt physically because I avoided her. They told me I don't need to get physical to stop her and I'm being over dramatic. They told me if I brought a date there'd be no issue. But I tried that. A friend came along as a fake boyfriend to a party before I moved out and Meg was still flirting and trying to touch me.

My grandparents have told my parents repeatedly since I moved in that they're disgusted with the fact they let things get so bad. They wanted my parents to know they blame them completely and feel they should have done a better job protecting me. At one point they even told my parents they didn't deserve the title because they were failing.. AITA?

A teen’s home should be a sanctuary, not a stage for harassment. This story, with Meg’s relentless advances, exposes a clash between personal boundaries and family loyalty. The OP faced stolen belongings, unwanted touching, and a bikini-top stunt—acts their parents brushed off as a crush. Meanwhile, Meg’s boldness grew, unchecked, leaving the OP to lock doors and flee to grandparents. It’s a darkly comic saga of a family ignoring red flags, with the OP caught between self-protection and parental dismissal.

This reflects a broader issue: dismissing teen harassment as “normal.” A 2021 study by the National Institute of Justice found 1 in 4 teens face peer harassment, often escalating without intervention (https://www.nij.gov/topics/crime). The OP’s parents, by normalizing Meg’s behavior, risk enabling harm. Their stance—blaming the OP for escalating—MNJ overlooks Meg’s agency at 15, old enough to grasp boundaries.

Dr. Deborah Offman, a child psychologist, states, “Teens need clear boundaries to develop respect for others’ autonomy” (psychologytoday.com). Offman’s insight suggests Meg’s actions aren’t “just a crush” but a pattern needing correction. For the OP, this means validation: their discomfort is real. Offman might urge family dialogue to reset expectations, with parents modeling accountability.

Advice? The OP should maintain distance from Meg, documenting incidents for legal clarity if needed. Parents could benefit from family counseling—local services like those at (aacap.org) can help. Readers, what’s your take? How do you balance family ties with personal safety? Share below to spark discussion.

Here’s what the community had to contribute:

Reddit brought the heat with this one, dishing out raw empathy and sharp advice. Here’s what the community tossed into the ring, unfiltered and ready to stir debate:

YouSayWotNow − I would guess that your parents aren't as comfortable with your sexuality as they may have pretended and are secretly hoping Meg will somehow win and make you straight again. Honestly, it's f**king ridiculous but I've come across it more than once -- a parent outwardly professing support for their LGBTQ+ kid but secretly conspiring in some crazyarse hope they can change their mind!!!. And yes they ARE failing you, and not protecting you from s**ual harassment.. NTA

Apprehensive_War9612 − I’m sorry. You are being harassed and assaulted in front of your parents and no one is protecting you except for your grandparents. They are dismissive either because she is a girl or because they “love her so much,” or because they are deep down h**ophobic. But the why is irrelevant. The fact is they are being incredibly selfish for putting you in this position & Meg sounds unwell.

**This is NOT typical crush behavior.** no matter what they say, it crossed the line long ago. And if they refuse to act you need to protect yourself so stay with your grandparents & limit contact until they get it. And NEVER EVER be alone with Meg under any circumstances. Her behavior is unhinged and could escalate into a precarious situation for you if she ever realizes that she truly has no shot.. NTA

Ok-Meringue6107 − NTA. Ask your parents how they'd feel if one of you make friends acted the same way towards your sister, I'd bet he'd be out of there faster than you can say get out.

Beginning_Flower_390 − NTA and this just breaks my heart. Meg isn’t just a kid. Shes 3 years from being considered an adult. She’s old enough to know better. She’s literally s**ually harassing you. It’s good you have your parents on your side at least to protect you. The fact she tried following you in the bathroom, something that anyone would be in trouble for and your parents flipped is gross.

Doesn’t matter if she was a boy or a girl doing it to the opposite gender. It’s sad they’re protecting her over their own flesh and blood child. It’s probably best to limit contact with them to keep yourself safe from Meg. Don’t let anyone guilty you did nothing wrong. And I may be an internet stranger but I am proud of you protecting yourself and getting out of that situation.

emryldmyst − Wtf. Your parents are complete fckin idiots.   Going through your stuff, trying to climb in bed with you, sit on your lap, the bikini top.... yeah you're  on your way to a criminal charge if she decides to get mad at you for constantly fending her off and cries a**ault or something.. You did the right thing by telling the school, moving out and avoiding her.. Why hasn't her parents gotten involved?. This goes beyond just a crush.. Always protect yourself. . NTA

Ghost_Crier_97 − You will never, ever be TA. You deserve bodily autonomy, your boundaries to be respected, and your safety to be taken seriously. Your parents are failing you and I can see it now in a few years, “Why doesn’t my child visit home?”. I’m so happy you have your grandparents in your corner! No child should feel alienated in their own home or feel that running away is the only way to ensure their safety.

Vegetable-Cod-2340 − NTA Op, I’m not sure if it’s because you’re gay or because you’re male, but their inability to take this seriously is beyond infuriating. Honestly you should list the things that she has done , and then look up in the local police code what she would be charge with and ask if it’s still not serious.

I really think your parents and sister need a scared straight session with victims advocate they seem very unwilling to accept that her ‘crush’ is actually s**ual harassment and that it is damaging.. They’ve completely entitled her to harass and abuse you, and have been angry with you for reporting her.

Just to be clear, you have told her directly that you find her attentions uncomfortable and that you are not interested in any realtionshio with her at all correct ?. Did you tell her parents about her actions? Has anyone ? I really think it’s time she faced some consequences and more importantly got the help she needs, have you considered getting a order of protection against her , because once you turn 18, it becomes really dangerous for you.

She can start accusing you of s**ual a**ault, and you’d be charged as an adult. I feel like it’s very important to get it on the record in the court system that she’s a threat to you, and honestly I don’t think it would hurt to have a judge tell your parents and sister that this ‘crush’ is criminal harassment and stalking .

TitaniaT-Rex − NTA your parents are enabling Meg’s s**ual harassment. It’s disgusting. They should be in your corner, not standing back while Meg tries to push you into a corner and force herself on you. She’s not “just a kid.” She’d be tried as an adult in many jurisdictions.

Sea-Ad9057 − nta what would they do if a boy was aggressively lana that way, you moved house to get away from her, the teachers think sheis a problem has someone spoken to her parents

HaitchanM − I think you need to start being much louder when she is in your space.. PLEASE DONT TOUCH ME. PLEASE DONT TRY TO SIT ON MY LAP. YOU’RE MAKING ME REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE. I DONT CONSENT TO YOU TOUCHING ME.. And def get a lock for your room that can be locked whether you’re in it or not.

These takes are fiery, but do they nail the truth or miss the mark? Let’s unpack what resonates and what’s just noise.

This story leaves us grappling with tough questions about safety, loyalty, and standing your ground. The OP’s leap to leave home and skip a reunion wasn’t just rebellion—it was survival. With grandparents in their corner, they drew a line their parents wouldn’t. It’s a gut-punch reminder that home should feel safe. What would you do if family dismissed your boundaries? Share your stories or advice below—let’s keep this convo alive and unpack what it means to fight for peace.

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