AITA for not giving my mother my brother’s number?
In a quiet hospital room, a 16-year-old girl grapples with a heart-wrenching dilemma, caught between her cancer-stricken mother’s desperate pleas and her brother’s firm boundaries. Her mother, battling a fading treatment, yearns to reconnect with her estranged son, Brady, whom she mistreated years ago. The teen, torn by loyalty to both, faces her mother’s tears and her father’s anger after refusing to share Brady’s number, respecting his wish for no contact.
The air is thick with guilt and grief, as family tensions simmer like a storm about to break. Was she wrong to prioritize her brother’s privacy over her mother’s dying wish? With her parents calling her cruel and her heart heavy, this raw tale of fractured family ties pulls us into a moral maze where love, regret, and boundaries collide.
‘AITA for not giving my mother my brother’s number?’
This teen’s caught in a brutal tug-of-war between her mother’s regrets and her brother’s healing. Refusing to share Brady’s number was a brave act of loyalty to his boundaries. Dr. Nedra Glover Tawwab, a therapist specializing in family dynamics, says, “Respecting someone’s no-contact decision is crucial; violating it reopens wounds” (Nedratawwab.com). The mother’s plea, while heartbreaking, doesn’t erase her past mistreatment of Brady, and pressuring a 16-year-old to mediate is unfair.
The broader issue is estrangement in families. A 2023 study by the American Sociological Association found 26% of adults are estranged from a parent, often due to emotional abuse (ASAnet.org). Brady’s no-contact choice likely protects his peace, and the OP’s respect for it preserves their bond. Her parents’ emotional blackmail—especially her father’s cruel words—shifts blame onto a teen already carrying too much.
Tawwab suggests a neutral approach: the OP could tell Brady about their mother’s cancer and her wish to apologize, offering to pass a letter without sharing contact info. This honors both parties’ needs without betrayal. The OP should also set boundaries with her parents, calmly stating she won’t mediate.
For others in similar binds, experts recommend staying neutral and seeking support, like a counselor, to manage guilt. The OP could safeguard her phone and lean on trusted adults to navigate this. Protecting Brady’s trust while coping with her mother’s illness shows strength, but she shouldn’t carry this alone.
Here’s how people reacted to the post:
Reddit came through with some real talk—here’s the scoop:
![[Reddit User] − NTA. You may want to consider adding a password to your phone (if you don’t already have one) and changing your brothers contact name in your phone, in case your mother decides to go snooping for his number](https://en.aubtu.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/329789cm-02.png)
These Reddit takes are raw, but do they catch all the angles? The crowd’s backing the OP’s loyalty to her brother, but the mother’s pain adds layers. What’s the right move in this messy family drama?
This gut-punch of a story leaves us wrestling with loyalty, regret, and the weight of family secrets. The OP’s stand for her brother’s boundaries held firm, but her mother’s tears and her father’s venom sting deep. Should she find a middle path, like passing a letter, or keep the line drawn? Have you ever been stuck between family members’ battles? Drop your stories below and let’s untangle this heart-heavy saga together!
