AITAH for not allowing my mom to stay another week after her pipes burst just before Christmas?

A Redditor grapples with the decision to decline their mother’s request to extend her holiday stay after a pipe burst flooded her home just before Christmas. While offering support to arrange cleanup and insurance, the user chose to stick to the originally planned week-long visit, prioritizing their need for rest and routine. Their brother, unable to accommodate their mother, suggested they allow her to stay longer, leaving the user questioning their stance. Read the full story below to weigh in.

‘ AITAH for not allowing my mom to stay another week after her pipes burst just before Christmas?’

38/F I am celebrating Christmas with my mom 68/F, my brother 47/M and his family. My mom flew in from out of state and we are driving to a meetup location to spend time with my brother’s family – a place in the mountains we all enjoy just for the holidays. All of us live hours away, our mom being the furthest, on the opposite coast. My brother and I are several hours away by car.

This year, we received the bad news that, while my mom has been at my place, her pipes froze and flooded her basement. She is upset, understandably, I helped her get everything started and have her insurance, a cleanup team and a general contractor all working on her place while she is with me.

She then broached the topic that she wanted to extended her week stay to “two weeks or more”. I said no, I need to get back to my regular routine and get ready to return to work. She’s welcome to stay here as originally planned, which is until Saturday.

Then she said she may ask to ride back with my brother and his family to their home in another state (opposite direction than me). She refused to ask him until Christmas, so l gave my brother a heads up last night so he has a chance to speak with his wife.

I also told him that he’s under no obligation to say yes, as she is still welcome to stay with me until Saturday and her insurance company will be footing the bill for most of her stay at a hotel and meals (IF, BIG IF, her residence is uninhabitable, which we do not know at this time).

He told me he didn’t have room to take her back with him (3 people in his car and no room for a 4th -assuming luggage is the issue). That I should let her stay with me because she’s lonely. I told him I understood that, but I’m not wrong for wanting to cap my time with her at the one week originally planned. He had left that text on “send”. My mom can be a challenging personality and with this unfortunate development, she’s even more … difficult.

I love my mom, but I’m tired. I want my house back and don’t want to be criticized or complained at. I refused to allow my lonely mother to extend her stay with me, despite the recent damages to and unknown state of her home. AITAH for prioritizing my space and personal downtime over my mother’s emotional needs?

Here’s what the community had to contribute:

coldgator −  NAH but this is tough. It’s not like you owe her a place to stay especially when insurance will pay, but I don’t think I could tell my mom to go stay at a hotel during the holidays.

elsie78 −  NTA. Doesn’t she need to get back home to deal with her home and belongings?

HunterGreenLeaves −  NAH – I can understand your hesitation where there isn’t an end date and she has a “difficult personality”. At the same time, if it can be made more time limited, it would be kind to have some flexibility. I can understand her not wanting to be alone.

mildfeelingofdismay −  NAH, but I think you should take this one on the chin, because if you want to keep talking to your mum, you will probably never hear the end of this otherwise. It’s a lightning strike situation, there’s a good reason she can’t just go back to her home that is unlikely to ever occur again.

Suitable_Doubt7359 −  NTA, your brother also doesn’t want to bring her to his home. He has plenty of room in his car.

bkwormtricia −  Since insurance will pay to put her up in a hotel, NTA.

MikebMikeb999910 −  How long did your Mom allow you to stay with her? At least 18 years I’m assuming. I’m sure that during your teenage years there were some challenging times that lasted for more than a couple of weeks
(Just playing Devils Advocate here)