AITA for Keeping My Grandmother’s Heirloom Away from My Sister-in-Law Because “I’m Blood”??
An 18-year-old girl shares her experience of inheriting a family heirloom, a vintage locket, from her grandmother, who entrusted it to her with the wish to cherish and pass it down.
However, her cousin’s wife, Tina, feels entitled to the locket, arguing that it should stay within her family now that she’s married into the girl’s family. The girl stands firm on her decision to keep the locket, leading to family tension as Tina claims the girl is being selfish and undermining her role in the family.
The girl’s cousin, Mark, is caught between his wife and his cousin. She is left questioning whether she is being unreasonable for wanting to keep the heirloom. Read the full story below.
‘ AITA for Keeping My Grandmother’s Heirloom Away from My Sister-in-Law Because “I’m Blood”? ?’
I (18F) recently inherited a beautiful family heirloom—a vintage locket—from my grandmother. This locket has been in our family for generations, and my grandmother often shared stories about its significance and the memories tied to it.
It was given to me just before she passed away, along with her wish that I cherish it and pass it down to future generations. My cousin, Mark (29M), is married to Tina (24F). They have been married for three years, and we generally get along.
Recently, Tina approached me and stated that since she is the daughter-in-law, she feels e**itled to the locket. She argued that as I am going to marry into another family one day, the heirloom should remain within her family now that she’s married into ours.
was taken aback by her claim. I told her that my grandmother specifically entrusted the locket to me, and I planned to keep it as a part of my family legacy. Tina is upset and has told my brother that I’m being s**fish.
She claims I’m undermining her place in the family and disrespecting her as the new matriarch. Mark seems torn; he understands my feelings but also wants to keep the peace in their marriage. My other cousins and their partners also side with her.
I’m starting to question if I’m being unreasonable for wanting to keep it, while I don’t want to give it but my cousin is pleading me to not ruin his marriage. So AITA?
Check out how the community responded:
rcranin018 − NTA. Very simply, as you said, your grandmother entrusted you with the locket. Everything else is just noise and is ignorable.
karma_377 − Granny gave it to you so you should keep it. If Granny wanted Tina to have it, she would have given it to Tina. If a locket is going to ruin your brothers marriage, he has bigger things to worry about
DisneyBuckeye − NTA – I’m assuming your grandmother had the opportunity to leave it to Tina if she wanted to, and she clearly did not. Additionally, if your brother is only kind of siding with her to have a peaceful marriage.
He doesn’t agree with her – he’s only doing it so she’ll stop being a screaming b**ch at home. Keep the locket, and keep it somewhere she can’t get her grubby mitts on it.. One other thing.
She claims I’m undermining her place in the family and disrespecting her as the new matriarch. The “new matriarch”?? She’s the new head of your entire family? At the ripe old age of 24 after having married in 3 years ago?? OMG I haven’t laughed that much in a while.
I mean, are you a family of oil tycoons and she’s making a power move? And better yet, are there no other women in your family? Your mom? Aunts? It seems to me they’d be a more appropriate “matriarch” than your jealous SIL, who is clearly suffering from delusions of grandeur.
Gohighsweetcherry − Tell your brother if he thinks his marriage will be ruined over a locket he has bigger problems than a piece of jewellery.
Glad_Detail_8282 − Who the f**k made Tina the new matriarch? TINA?. That’s not how it works, Tina.
Revered-Sesshomaru − NTA. Keep it!!!! Re-read your first part “It was given to me just before she passed away, along with her wish that I cherish it and pass it down to future generations.” Key words are ” Me” and “I”.
She didn’t say your brother or whoever he marries. She expressed its importance and then passed it down to you. It’s yours and she wants YOU to be the one who keeps it in the family.
Gohighsweetcherry − Hide it or Give it to someone you trust. If she doesn’t convince you to give it to her I don’t doubt she’ll resort to stealing it. If you can afford to hire a lockbox at a post office or bank until you move out.. NTA
Perimentalpause − “I will always be blood, married or not. There’s at least a fifty percent chance you can leave the family. Not an option for me. The locket stays with me. Do NOT ask me about it again.”. NTA.
Laughingfoxcreates − “Grandma left it to me.” is a complete sentence.
BeachinLife1 − Tina can go kick rocks. “Mark seems torn?” **He doesn’t GET an opinion!** His marriage and his gold digging wife are his problem. Your grandmother put that locket into YOUR hands and told you to keep it. If you one day have a daughter, it will go to her.
If you don’t, you can give it to your oldest niece in your side of the family. Or your closest cousin. Tina is NOWHERE in this lineup.
If your grandmother wanted Tina to have it, she’d have given it to Tina!
Do you think the girl is right to keep the locket that her grandmother entrusted to her, or should family dynamics allow for sharing such heirlooms? How would you handle this situation if you were in her shoes? Share your thoughts below!
