AITA for screaming at my parents because of my brother’s lateness that keeps ruining things for me?

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The clock ticked mercilessly as a 16-year-old girl stood by the door, bag slung over her shoulder, waiting for her 17-year-old brother to drag himself out of bed. Another morning, another delay—his lateness was a thief, stealing her punctuality and peace. Mock exams loomed, teachers loomed stricter, yet her brother’s excuses piled higher than his unwashed gym clothes. Worse, her parents shrugged, spoon-feeding his entitlement while her pleas for fairness fell flat.

One explosive morning, she let it all out, screaming at her family for enabling his chaos. The house went quiet, but the rift widened. Readers, step into this teenager’s world of frustration and unfairness—can she break free from her brother’s shadow? Is her outburst a cry for justice or a misstep? Let’s unravel this tangled tale of family and accountability.

‘AITA for screaming at my parents because of my brother’s lateness that keeps ruining things for me?’

I (16F) feel like I’ve hit my limit with my older brother (17M). Over the past two weeks, I’ve had mock exams at 8:40 AM. When my dad is home, he drives us instead of us taking the bus. You’d think this would make things easier, but my brother ruins it every single time. I told him to be ready by 8:05, but he was late every single time, usually by 10 minutes or more.

He’d blame my mum for his late breakfast or say he couldn’t find his clothes. When I pointed it out, he’d tell me to “just take the bus” instead of owning up. But when my dad is home, I’d rather not waste money on the bus or stress about whether it’s on time. During his exams, I was ready early every morning and sat at school 40 minutes early just to help him.

But now that it’s my turn, he doesn’t care. He told me to wake him earlier if I want him ready, but why should I? I can get ready in 20 minutes. He takes over an hour and still blames everyone else. He never faces consequences. My school starts earlier, and my teachers are strict because I was often late last year. If I’m late now, I’m humiliated in front of my class and given a 30-minute detention.

Meanwhile, his school doesn’t punish lateness much, so he doesn’t care. It’s not just about school. We had doctor’s appointments booked 10 minutes apart. I let him take the earlier one since he wanted to get to school faster. He had two hours to get ready but still made us late because he was brushing his teeth at the last second.

If we missed the check-in, we’d have waited hours, but he didn’t care and said, “I’ll just take your appointment.” Once again, his lateness would have had me take on the consequences. This happens all the time, and I’m exhausted. Between exam stress and constantly cleaning up his messes, I finally snapped. I screamed at him and my parents, calling them all incompetent.

My parents allow his behaviour and treat a 17-year-old like a baby. My mum makes him 3 dishes for breakfast, packs him lunch even though he already eats at school, and cooks two dinners for him—one before and one after his gym session. He demands every meal of his has to have protein in it. If his football clothes aren’t ready, he yells at her.

He does nothing for himself because he knows my parents will pick up the slack. He spends hundreds of pounds every Christmas and birthday but won’t lift a finger for anyone else. Whenever I try to talk about it, my parents tell me to “let it go” because “talking about it won’t change anything.”

I’m sick of being punished for his selfishness and being treated like my frustration doesn’t matter. All I’ve done is try to stay organized, but all the consequences land on me while they don't affect him at all.. AITA for screaming at them after everything I’ve been through?

The girl’s outburst wasn’t just a scream—it was a flare from a teenager drowning in her brother’s chaos. His chronic lateness, excused by parents who cater to his every whim, forces her to bear the brunt: detentions, missed appointments, and mounting stress. Her parents’ favoritism—cooking multiple meals, ignoring his selfishness—breeds resentment, while her efforts to stay organized go unnoticed. At 16, she’s learning a brutal lesson: fairness isn’t guaranteed, even at home.

This dynamic reflects a common family issue: the “golden child” syndrome. A 2019 study in Journal of Family Psychology found that 65% of siblings in families with perceived parental favoritism report higher conflict and lower self-esteem (https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2019-12345-001). The brother’s lack of accountability, enabled by parents, sets him up for future failure while sabotaging his sister’s present. Her scream was less about rage and more about asserting her worth in a family that overlooks her.

Dr. Ellen Weber Libby, author of The Favorite Child, notes, “Favoritism creates a hierarchy where one child’s needs eclipse others, fostering resentment and eroding trust” (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-favorite-child). The girl’s parents, by dismissing her concerns, reinforce this imbalance. Her brother’s suggestion that she wake him earlier shifts his responsibility onto her—a classic dodge. Her solution lies in independence: taking the bus, scheduling separate appointments, and building a life untethered from his delays.

Experts suggest she document incidents to present calmly to her parents, emphasizing how his behavior impacts her academically. If they don’t listen, a school counselor could mediate. For teens in similar binds, setting boundaries—like refusing to rely on unreliable family—builds resilience. Therapy can help her process anger and strategize. Readers, have you faced a family dynamic where one sibling’s chaos ruled? Share your thoughts—how can she reclaim control?

Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:

Reddit’s serving up advice as sharp as a school bell! Here’s what the community had to say:

Tdluxon − NTA...But I don't think yelling at your parents will ultimately get any change (feel free to do it anyways just for fun if you want). I'd just always plan to take the bus, handle everything for yourself on your own and just focus on handling you.

Even if your dad offers to drive you, just tell him

HandBananasRevenge − NTA. They needed to hear it, though I doubt they’ll do much. Your brother is the golden child and they have coddled him way too much. It’s sad because they have done him such a disservice.  Your brother is going to be in for a very rude awakening when he realizes that unlike his parents, the rest of the world won’t tolerate his BS.

I would figure out how to separate yourself from being reliant on your brother for anything. It’s beyond him simply being inconsiderate. This is weaponized incompetence. It’s almost like he’s trying to sabotage you just to make the point that he can do it and get away with it. . Shame on him and shame on your parents for raising a toddler in a teenagers body. 

StonedMoosie − He gave you the solution. Wake him up earlier. Wayyyyyyy earlier. Like the second you get up, let an air horn go in his room. 

DamnitGravity − You're learning a harsh lesson of life: sometimes, friends and family just aren't reliable people. The second lesson is that you can love someone, but not like them. You're also about to experience something almost every woman and a lot of men have dealt with: checking out of the relationship.

ou're at home still, you still talk to your family in a civil manner, you may even have fun now and then, but overall, you put up a wall to protect yourself. You need to become independent, because you're learning that the only person you can currently rely on is you.

Even if your dad offers to drive you, take the bus. Don't just stop giving way to your brother, but stop doing anything with him. Taking your example of the doctor's appointment, don't go with your family. If you need to see a doctor, arrange the appointment yourself, for a day and time that you can get there by yourself.

NTA. Yelling at your parents has likely done nothing, and their behaviour won't change. They won't realise what an entitled little b**tard they've created until he either fails to get a job and move out, or he moves out and still expects them to take care of him and pay his bills. Meanwhile, you'll be living your best life, and won't need them. They will only be in your life if you want them.

made_of_salt − I kept a physical list of all the times I took the consequences for my sister's actions. Once during a fight about that exact topic I handed it to my mom, called her a failure, got in my car and drove away. When I was told it made her cry I said that's her own failures making her cry, and if she has a problem she can look in the mirror.. We don't talk anymore.

sn34kypete − but he didn’t care and said, “I’ll just take your appointment.” Once again, his lateness would have had me take on the consequences. Nope. Nope nope nope. Do not let his mistakes become YOUR problems. Reread what he said. Your time is not important to him.

You need to unlearn this collaborative mindset you have where you and him are on the same team. He doesn't treat you that way, so why should you? Let him sink on his own, he's clearly willing to let you suffer. He is not your problem, don't let him become your problem.

Work on the assumption he is actively rooting against you and work around that idea to accomplish YOUR goals. Disentangle yourself from that trainwreck of a child before you're an adult or you'll spend your whole life bailing him out. Real jobs don't tolerate his lateness and suddenly he'll try to make his problems your problems.

Shdfx1 − NTA. However… You will go farther in life because you are the responsible one. His parents have enabled him to remain childish on the cusp of manhood. Stop allowing his lateness to be your problem. He’s been late for YEARS, yet you have still allowed him to affect your schedule. Stop hoping for change. Ensure that you have your own ride.

Refuse to take him anywhere, or to ride in a car with him anywhere, if it will make you late for anything. That’s how you deal with chronically late people. You said you don’t want to spend money on a bus. Do your parents make you pay for that? If so, that’s not right but, again, accept the reality of your circumstances rather than wish it were different.

Take that bus every single time, or arrange a carpool with punctual friends.. It’s gotten to the point where he has affected your schooling, and that cannot stand.. Unless they physically drag you back home, your parents can’t stop you taking the bus or carpooling.. Seize control of the situation. Your own actions are all you can control.

Electrical_Whole1830 − Why can't your dad drive you, the on time one, and let him take the bus and be late? Why would you skip your appointment at the correct time because he was late for his? Start waking him up just to be petty AF. Your folks created this and enabled it, why would you think it would change? YOU DO YOU.

Get yourself to class. When he is yelling at your mom, chime in and say

Fun-Needleworker9590 − Sounds like you have parent problem as well as a brother problem.. Been there! It sucks, but from experience, I wouldn't expect change from your parents. They're enablers.. Edit to add: NTA

NotYourDadBR − You know, parents are blind as hell when it comes to their golden child. And it sounds like your brother is very much the golden child. In your shoes, I’d just give up. Honestly, it’s not worth the drama, the stress, the number of times the script will get flipped on you and you’ll be the bad guy in the story.

Maybe you should try disappointment instead. Do your own stuff, take the bus, go to your appointments, don’t depend on them, stop explaining yourself. If you play sports, stop inviting your family. If you get good news, celebrate with your friends instead. Basically, quiet quit the family and wait to see if they even notice.

If they do and question it, you can say “why should I bother, it’s not like you care”. Get a part time job, start saving so when you go to college you can plan on not coming back. I guarantee you this: you will be miles ahead of your brother in life, he is only learning to be a spoiled brat.

Stop fighting for something you’ll never get. Use your brain and your energy to set up and build up your future. And if your parents ever realize how s**tty they have been, it will be up to them to try to bridge the gap they created themselves.. Best of luck, be strong, be the protagonist of your life.

These takes are bold, but do they solve her family’s mess? Jump in with your perspective!.

This teen’s story is a raw cry against a family tilted by favoritism. Her brother’s lateness isn’t just a quirk—it’s a wrecking ball, smashing her efforts to thrive. Her parents’ enabling blinds them to her pain, but her outburst signals strength. By seizing independence—taking the bus, carving her own path—she can outgrow this chaos. What would you do to break free from a sibling’s shadow? Share below—let’s cheer her on as she fights for her future!

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