They say blood is thicker than water, but one man has proven that is not the case after he stepped up to take care of his adoptive parents, while their biological kids sat back and did nothing.
However, he’s recently been left in a difficult position, having to decide whether to take in his brother – who was kicked out by his wife – despite the fact he’s been nothing but cruel to him in the past.
“A few years ago dad got sick so I moved home to help him and mum out. I contributed to bills, took care of dad, took care of the dogs, cooked every day, cleaned and worked full-time myself and just really tried to be as helpful as possible. I even offered to pay rent but my mum said no,” he wrote on Reddit’s AITA forum.
However, months into taking care of his dad, the man ended up in a car accident while on his way to pick up some medication, so his mum and dad decided to buy him another second-hand car so he could continue taking care of them, and to say thank you for all the help.
“Well, my siblings came for that Christmas, heard about the car and freaked out. They said I didn’t deserve anything and that I was using mum and dad.
My brother cornered me and said as soon as dad died I had a month to move out and ‘stop leeching’ off mum or else,” he continued.
“Dad passed shortly after that Christmas and I began planning my move, but mum was really upset.
She kept pushing me to stay but in the back of my head, I had my brother’s threat and just didn’t feel comfortable. I ended up getting a place just up the street so I could still help her.”
Fortunately, after the man moved out, he ended up doing really for himself, with a job that paid well and allowed him to buy a home close to his mum.
“Last year my mum’s sister who also was also recently widowed came to live with her and brought her two grandkids, who she is the guardian of, so my mum’s house is full and she’s happy.
I help out and watch the kids a lot and still do most of the house maintaining stuff so I’m over a lot,” the man wrote.
On one of his recent visits to his mum’s house, his mum and his auntie were chatting about what to do with his brother, who needed to move home after his wife kicked him out.
The man offered to get the kids some bunk beds so they could move into one room and his mum was really grateful.
“A week later my brother called asking if he could just live with me since he didn’t want to share a house with two kids.
I have a spare room but I don’t want to live with him. He’s treated me like s*** for more than 10 years at this point and is vocal about not considering me family,” he continued.
“He’s said he doesn’t want me at our mother’s funeral or in her will (I don’t want anything from her and never ask for anything she just offers things sometimes). The animosity is palpable.
I would offer to take in one of the kids but they are young and need to be with their caretaker so I think he just needs to suck it up and stay at my mum’s.”
The man said he knows his mum would never ask him to take in his brother, as she’s well aware of how he’s been treated, but his aunt has questioned why he wouldn’t offer to make their home a bit less cramped.
“He’s incredibly cruel to you. Time for him to reap what he sowed,” one Reddit user commented, while another added: “He is not family to you, you are under no obligation to help him.”
A third wrote: “Tell your aunt why you won’t let him stay and she will no longer be confused. He treats you like shit. And as far as he’s concerned, he’s not even your family. What do you owe him? He can sleep on a curb.”