AITAH for reporting my mother to CPS and pressing charges on her husband for theft?

A 18-year-old woman (18F) recently made the difficult decision to report her stepfather to the police for theft and violence, as well as report her mother to CPS for neglect. Her stepfather had stolen her laptop and had a history of abuse, while her mother enabled his behavior and neglected the children.

After confronting her mother about the stolen laptop, she pressed charges, left the house, and is now staying with her father. She feels guilty about her siblings but is concerned for their safety in such a toxic environment. Read the original story below for more details.

‘ AITAH for reporting my mother to CPS and pressing charges on her husband for theft? ‘

I 18(F) graduated Highschool last year. I have a good job now as a CNA. I graduated highschool early at age 17! I was living with my mother until this situation yesterday. I am now staying with my real dad until I am able to move in to my new apartment. The apartment isn’t available until December 21st of 2024.

I have four siblings who are 15, 13, 11, and 9. My mother married my stepfather then I was 1. My younger siblings are from her and my stepfathers relationship. My mother is a neglectful mom. She allows her husband to mistreat me. Her husband has hit me, spat on me, shoved me, and stolen from me time and time again.

The rules in the house are that I pay 400 a month in rent, for a small bedroom. I have to buy and eat my own food, I have to pay the internet bill, which is 100$. Even though I PAY RENT, I am not allowed to lock my doors, I’m not allowed to lock the door in the bathroom, I’m not allowed to use the internet after 6 pm, EVEN THOUGH ITS IN MY NAME, and I pay the bill.

I’ve been respecting their rules. Recently I bought a new computer, I am containing my studies. I am starting school for medication aide. When I finish school I’ll have a medication aide certification, on top of the CNA liscense I have, after medication aide courses are complete for me, I am going to take phlebotomy. The laptop I bought was 350$, and that was because it was on sale!

Yesterday my stepfather demanded more money from me after I paid all the bills required of me! He is a drunk, he has a drinking problem and my mother enables him. They n**lect the kids they have. They always go out to eat, drink, and my mother always has her nails and hair done but “doesn’t have the money” to take care of her kids.

As a result I’ve been taking care of them. I told him that I wasn’t giving him anymore money! This was early yesterday morning. I went to work and came back later in the day. I went into my room and noticed my door was open, and my room got trashed. My laptop was gone. I asked my siblings if they had seen my laptop.

They said no. I went upstairs and asked my mother if she’d seen it. She said, “Well (stepdads name) sold it to the pawn shop because he needed money for household expenses.” At this point I was livid because I needed that laptop for school. I said, “I paid all of my required expenses for the house. He had no right to take that laptop that I had.”

Basically she said that it’s their house their rules, and that if I didn’t like it I could leave. I called my father, and asked him if I could stay with him until December 21st. My dad, being the rockstar he is, let me stay with him. He’s not charging me rent or utilities! Early in the morning today. I went down to the magistrate to press charges.

I reported him to the police for his past violent behavior, and for the theft. I blocked my mother and stepfather on everything! I reported my mother and stepfather to CPS for n**lect and to report a dangerous environment! A few hours after, my mother called my dad furious, she said, “She reported my husband for simply needing money.

The police came to our house and arrested him” The area I live in my country, they take theft or any crime for that matter, very seriously. I’m surprised they arrested him so fast! I’m wondering if CPS is as quick.

Also for clarity: My mother was stupid enough to admit his crimes through text messages. I showed the police and magistrate the messages. AITAH? I feel bad for my siblings, I don’t want them to go to foster care, but at the same time they live in a dangerous environment!

Here’s what people had to say to OP:

ElehcarTheFirst −  Get a restraining order against your mother

bookworm-1960 −  Good for you. Be sure you cancel the internet and anything else in your name at their home. Also, I would suggest you close your bank accounts and open new ones in a different bank just in case they have details to access your money. Will the police be able to get your computer back?. UPDATEME

MidnightPositive485 −  Make sure you report all this harassment to CPS. It is an important part of their case.

Bella-1999 −  If the place you work has a security guard, ask them to walk you to your car. When I worked retail the guards would walk me out when I had to close.. Edit – when, not what.

PrettyShittyMom −  Does your mom work? She should invest all of this energy in a paying job

Competitive_Sleep_21 −  Lock down your Social Security # with the credit bureaus if you are in the US immediately.

lapsteelguitar −  Your mother & her hubby decided to FAFO. It would seem that it is not going well for them. Good on you. Stand your ground. Don’t engage with your mom. Count on your dad.. NTA

LibraryMouse4321 −  Absolutely lock down your credit and check if she has used your credit to take out loans or credit cards. And change banks, not just accounts.

NefariousnessSweet70 −  For anyone living in a house you cannot lock? I worked with a handicapped guy for 9 years. ( he passed ) he lived in a nursing home, after a stroke and lost his ability to use his hands and legs.

He could barely speak. I helped him get locking file cabinets, and that’s where he kept his valuables. He eventually got a safe. I was the only one given the pass code.. His things stopped getting stolen.

Titan-lover −  Foster care would be better than where they are. You did good!

Was this young woman justified in her actions, or should she have handled things differently? It’s clear she was trying to protect herself and her siblings from further harm, but is she wrong for potentially putting them at risk of foster care? Share your thoughts and advice below!