AITAH because I wouldn’t help pay for my younger brother’s Christmas present when I know how upset he will be about not getting it?
I (17m) have a younger brother (8). He’s our parents favorite and they don’t really try to hide it. They have admitted to everyone who knows them that he was so easy to love and they felt like real parents when they had him because they were ready and had planned for him. I was the cryptic pregnancy for my mom and I was born 3 hours after she found out she was pregnant. And I’ve seen photos of mom days before I was born. She had no bump or anything so I believe they really didn’t know.
I can’t say I have a relationship with my parents. They pawned me off on anyone who would take me when I was too young to take care of myself. My brother was already born before they stopped pawning me off on anyone who’d take me and then I was in the house while they played happy family with him and I was on the outside.
Because of all that I don’t have a relationship with my brother either.
My parents treat me like the unwanted roommate they need. We never eat together as a family or do anything as a family. They do stuff as a family with my brother and that’s kinda it. I bounce around still whenever friends can let me come over and that’s really it.
I work part time so I can save and get out of here. My parents know and they happily gave me all my papers a year and a half ago to do whatever the hell I want.
The last three months I was sick on and off and around the house more and I heard talk and stuff about this present my brother wanted for Christmas. My parents intended to get him that and a bunch of other stuff but they ended up not being able to afford it. Then a couple of weeks ago they told me they couldn’t afford it and asked me for $250 toward it. It shocked the hell out of me but I said no and told them I wasn’t helping buy anything for anyone. They tried to guilt trip me and maybe it would work if I had some kind of connection to my brother, if I loved him in some way, but I don’t. There’s nothing there for me. I feel the same about my parents too. I used to love them but we’re basically strangers who live under the same roof.
My parents pushed back on my refusal but I didn’t give in and then they brought up to my brother that he might not get it, but they backtracked because he got really upset. I heard all of it but still didn’t care. They asked me to change my mind because I know how upset he’ll be on Christmas Day when he realizes. They told me as late as last night that they can still get it if I give them $250 for it. But my answer’s the same and I know he’ll be upset and he might cry all day Christmas but still my answer is no.
Does that make me TAH?
