Alright, fabulous readers, gather ‘round because Joan here has a juicy, piping hot story to dish out, straight from the wild west of Reddit. Just picture it: one brave soul, a 15-year-old young man, is caught in a whirlpool of familial drama so thick, it’s even richer than your Aunt Bertha’s holiday fruitcake. Let’s call him, oh I don’t know, Future Therapist’s Dream Client.

Now, Drama Client grew up with a younger sister, let’s call her Problem Princess (because apparently, she’s treated like one). At a mere one-week early entry into this world, Problem Princess was deemed a “miracle baby.” How miraculous, you ask? Well, if you consider a toddler stealing toys and getting away with it the eighth wonder of the world, then yeah, okay, miracle indeed. This pint-sized tyrant roamed the family gatherings like a tiny, unchecked tornado, tossing everyone else’s joy to the wind while her delusional fan club (aka their parents) applauded. Parenting goals? Not quite.

The Beginning of the End

Things took a sharp nosedive straight into Absurdville when Problem Princess got seriously ill at age five. With the flu up-leveling to pneumonia, she spent weeks in the hospital. Cue the parents doubling down on treating her like the crown jewel of an empire and dismissing Drama Client’s needs like yesterday’s leftovers. Story after story unfolded, each involving Drama Client being torn away from any shred of personal freedom just to satisfy the whims of Problem Princess. Like, what? Boy couldn’t even spin in a teacup ride without her.

Fast Forward to a Meltdown

Now, I bet none of us are surprised that Papa Drama decided to put the kibosh on social activities whenever Princess demanded her hourly dose of attention. Case in point: Our hero’s friends once scored a golden ticket to the amusement park, only for his parents to drop the hammer last-minute, requiring him to be Sister’s in-house entertainer instead. Embarrassing? Oh, honey, you have no idea.

To add a little more zest to the family fruitcake, Problem Princess decided to swipe goodies from Drama Client’s friends during a visit. True to form, the parents backed their golden child’s sticky-fingered behavior, and consequently, another friend waved bye-bye. Drama Client finally snapped and told Princess he hated her (complete with a dramatic flair one might expect from a telenovela protagonist), which earned him the classic parental punishment: grounding.

The Summer Camp Showdown

And now, dear reader, we arrive at this summer’s blockbuster hit, “The Summer Camp Showdown.” This year, our protagonist’s relief came embodied in a glimmer of hope: summer camp where he and Princess did not have to coexist 24/7. Glory be! Naturally, helicopter parents expected Drama Client to beg the camp counselors to allow little Princess to join him. Predictably, Drama Client said, “Hard pass,” probably while doing a celebratory dance.

And wouldn’t you know it, the parents went nuclear, slapping Drama Client with the scarlet letter ‘S’ for “Selfish.”

The Verdict

Now, the grand question: Is our Drama Client an a**hole for refusing the parental decree to prioritize his sister over himself? Let’s break it down, shall we? Or rather, Joan shall.

First of all, can I get a slow clap for Drama Client’s epic patience? Honestly, survival alone gets you a VIP pass for life. His folks sound like the kind of enablers that create a Monster of the Month. Everyone deserves their space, especially when they’ve been shackled to their sibling in a way that no horror movie has yet dared to portray.

Picture this: constant undermining, social isolation, and a sibling with more entitlement than a billionaire’s trust-fund baby. It’s like making Cinderella scrub floors while her stepsisters get spa treatments, only this time, Prince Charming (a.k.a., basic personal space) is actually attainable.

Drama Client has every right to wave that selfish flag high and proud. Forget prioritizing someone else’s happiness when your own has been pushed to the back burner for a decade and a half. A healthy relationship isn’t about total sacrifice; it’s about balance, people! And these parents? They’ve circled right out of orbit.

Joan’s Judgment

For all of you still on the edge of your seats: Not. The. A**hole. Honey, our Drama Client needs to put himself first for once and that’s not just okay—it’s necessary. Families should lift each other up, not strap one member into the family sacrifice-mobile while the other gets to sit back and enjoy the ride. Boy deserves a medal for not losing it entirely, and here’s hoping summer camp is the vacation from crazy town that he so desperately needs.

So, darlings, when someone hits you with the “prioritize others” spiel, just remember balance is key, and even knights need a breather. Drama Client, wherever you are, Joan’s raising a glass to you. 💋

Original story

I (15m) have a younger sister (13f) named Abbi. Abbi was born 1 week early.

This is something my parents really made a huge deal out of. They called her their miracle baby as long as I can remember and used to pick fights with family members because Abbi got away with everything when she was little (still does) and extended family were pissed when she would steal toys off cousins or take everything she wanted without thinking of others.

This happened everywhere. At grandparents house, in public, at home and our parents were furious when family members would step in to correct Abbi.

They’d also correct her for taking stuff from me and my parents would always tell family I didn’t care.

Then when Abbi was 5 she got really sick with the flu which turned into pneumonia and she was in the hospital for weeks. My parents were worse after that.

She had to be the priority, her happiness was everything, and that ruined my life completely. They would agree to let me do stuff with friends and then make me cancel or would just tell me I couldn’t go and wouldn’t let me cancel so I could play with Abbi because she wanted to play with me.

One time my friends parents had paid for me to join them at the amusement park and my parents told them as the others showed up at our door. It was so embarrassing.

Abbi and I would fight a lot. She’d tell me I had to hang out with her and I’d say I didn’t want to.

Then my parents would say Abbi was right and I had to. When she had other kids to hang out with I’d catch a break but when she wasn’t allowed to play with them anymore or when they’d fight, she’d demand me.

My parents would then say all my plans were off the table. It made it so hard for me to keep friends.

My parents were also those parents to send Abbi with me to parties if she had no other plans and when parents were like no way in advance, my parents would only let me go if Abbi had plans.

2 years ago Abbi stole from one of my friends while he was at our house. My parents defended her and refused to make her return it.

So his parents stopped us from being friends. Abbi made fun of me for being upset and I told her I hated her and she ruined my life.

I got grounded for it. But it’s when I stopped caring at all about Abbi and decided I don’t care about being selfish but I don’t want to make her life happy.

My parents made her impossible to be around and I wish I never had to see her again. We can’t even see extended family now because my parents pissed them off so bad over Abbi.

My parents are now pissed at me because the camp they’re sending Abbi and me to this summer is separating us and they wanted me to ask for them to keep us together. The camp ignored my parents so they expected me to do it for them.

But I refused and they told me I should think of my sister and how lost she’ll be especially for her first year at this camp. I told them I don’t care.

They told me I should prioritize my sister over myself. I said no way.

They called me selfish.

AITA?