AITA for telling my mom that if she tries to sue me, I will cut HER out for what she did?

A man faces his mother’s lawsuit threat after she endangered his sibling with THC edibles. Living alone in Colorado, he kept THC-infused gummies, cookies, and brownies in a locked cabinet, explicitly warning his mom not to touch it, as it contained “weed stuff” resembling food. While he was sick and sleeping, she dropped off his sibling, unlocked the cabinet, and allowed access, leading to the child consuming edibles and needing an ER visit.

The mother demanded he pay the $5,500 ER bill, threatening to sue, despite her lie to doctors about the incident. He refused, threatening to cut contact with the family if she pursues legal action. Reddit backs him, slamming her negligence. Was he wrong to push back, or is his stance justified? How do families rebuild trust after such reckless actions?

‘AITA for telling my mom that if she tries to sue me, I will cut HER out for what she did?’

The poster (22m) lives alone in Colorado with a green card:

She occasionally drops off his siblings for him to watch:

He warned his mom not to touch the THC cabinet:

The sibling consumed THC edibles and was found impaired:

She demanded he pay the $5,500 ER bill, threatening to sue; he refused, threatening to cut contact:

The mother’s decision to unlock a cabinet containing THC edibles, despite explicit warnings, constitutes gross negligence, endangering her child and leading to an ER visit. By allowing unsupervised access to substances clearly marked as off-limits, she violated the poster’s trust and safety measures, making her solely responsible for the incident (Rest, 1965). Her attempt to shift blame by demanding the poster pay the $5,500 ER bill further escalates the conflict, ignoring her role in the child’s exposure.

The strained relationship between the poster and his mother, rooted in her favoritism toward his younger siblings, likely amplifies his resentment and distrust. This neglect, coupled with her unannounced drop-offs, places the poster in an unfair caregiving role, a form of parentification that burdens young adults with parental responsibilities (Chase, 1999). The incident with the edibles underscores her disregard for his boundaries, deepening emotional estrangement.

The mother’s threat to sue and her lie to doctors about the incident suggest manipulative behavior, aimed at evading accountability and pressuring the poster financially. This tactic risks further damaging their relationship, as coercive demands often erode trust (Gottman, 1999). Her false narrative to medical staff also raises ethical concerns, potentially exposing her to legal scrutiny for child endangerment.

To protect himself, the poster should consult a lawyer to assess his liability and counter any lawsuit, as his locked cabinet and warnings likely absolve him of responsibility. Changing his locks and refusing unannounced visits can prevent future incidents. Reporting the mother’s actions to Child Protective Services (CPS) may be necessary to ensure his siblings’ safety. Therapy could help him process the emotional toll and establish firm boundaries with his family.

Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:

Reddit erupts with support and indignation, championing the poster’s stand against his mother’s reckless actions.

Many back the poster’s refusal to pay the ER bill:

Some harshly criticize the mother’s negligence and irresponsibility:

Others urge caution, advising the poster to end babysitting:

Some focus on legal steps to protect the poster:

The poster’s refusal to pay a $5,500 ER bill after his mother unlocked his THC cabinet, leading to his sibling’s hospitalization, highlights a clash over responsibility and trust. Reddit supports his stance, condemning the mother’s negligence and urging legal protection against her lawsuit threat.

The incident underscores a strained family dynamic worsened by her favoritism and recklessness. Was the poster right to refuse paying the ER bill and threaten to cut contact, or should he have compromised? How can families set boundaries when trust is broken by negligence? Share your thoughts below!