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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not let my brother come stay with me?

155 replies

daisydaisy7 · 28/07/2021 11:37

Brother and I were close growing up. Drifted apart in late teens early twenties. He's now 30. I'm 26.
Mainly because I think I realised what an ar*e he can be.
I feel he can be very entitled & spoilt and expects everyone to do everything for him.
We have a lot of disagreements because of this and to be honest he mostly only ever contacts me to ask for money and it's been that way since I was about 17.

Our mum died last November. I had no help from either of my brothers with paying for or organising my mums funeral. It totally broke me.

Fast forward to the current situation. He is separated from his sons (1yo) mother due to a lot of reasons and their relationship wasn't working. They're amicable and co parent well from what I know. Happily take the baby out together and he spends time their with them both. I'm pretty sure he stays over every now and then too.
Anyway, he's renting a house from a friend. Friend told him she needed the house back as she needed to move in and gave him a month to get something sorted. That month ends on Saturday
He has just messaged asking if he can stay with me for a "few weeks" until he saves enough for a deposit. So he hasn't bothered to try find somewhere else to live.
He's apparently asked his ex to stay in her spare room. She said no because she likes her own space. Fair enough.
I'm reluctant for the following reasons

It won't be a few weeks. It'll be a lot longer because he's a very unmotivated person and and won't be bothered to look because it's convenient to be here.

I have 2 DD's. 4yo & 3mo. I'm breastfeeding the baby so often sat on the sofa for long periods of time while she feeds/sleeps.

We don't have a spare room. Well the baby isn't in the nursery yet but it's a nursery so no space for a bed. So he'd have to stay on the sofa. The living room is used everyday. Where my children play etc so I couldn't imagine what I'd do if it then became a bedroom. I don't want to have to be confined to the upstairs in my own home. He works evenings so doesn't get home till after 1am most nights and then sleeps in late. We are up at 6am.

My husband is a great man and would do anything for anyone so he'd probably say it's okay but really I know he wouldn't be happy with it. And I feel bad because this is his home too and I feel like he is always picking up the pieces for my family. There have been various other situations where he has done a lot to help them out.

My baby currently has bronchiolitis, which I know isn't forever but it's stressful and worrying nonetheless. My DH and I have a great relationship but the tiredness and stress that comes with a new baby and being parents are a problem at the moment. He works long days so we barely see him till the weekend. I just don't want to add another stressful element to our relationship.

If I thought he would be helpful while here it might be different but I doubt it. I can't see him offering to contribute to costs of him being here or helping to tidy up etc.

We grew up in poor area. My mum was a single parent on benefits with her own struggles but she did her best.
I have worked incredibly hard to get to the position I'm in now. We own our home in a nice area, my girls are far from spoilt but they never want for anything which is the opposite to what I had. I think he seems to think I'm the 'privileged' one because of this. So it's up to me to fix all his problems. But really we had the same start in life and I have just made better choices and wanted to get away from that life. His ex said one of the reasons they broke up was because he wanted to be mothered and she wasn't willing to do it.

sorry for the long winded post!
Would you put him up in my situation?

OP posts:
Takenoprisoner · 28/07/2021 11:58

Agree with @antwacky, these types bang on about 'family' but are never around when you need them.

AnyOldLion · 28/07/2021 11:58

No way. He'll still be there in a year.

Tittie · 28/07/2021 11:58

No.

It's your house and your space, you've got small kids, and it sounds like he's had long enough to try and sort something out himself. If his ex said he wanted mothering, it doesn't sound like he'd be the type to contribute towards housework, cooking, etc. If that were me, I think the resentment would send me mad.

Really sorry to hear about your mum too, that must have been really tough with a little one and a pregnancy to deal with. And organising a funeral by yourself when you have two siblings, wtf? You've done enough Thanks

farnworth · 28/07/2021 11:59

Another one saying definitely no.
Your children and husband need to be prioritised, as do you.
Not having a spare room for him is a very valid good reason, and then when you add in all the other factors and back story.........
Say no, it's not possible at all, and do not feel guilty

ScarfsForAllSeasons · 28/07/2021 12:00

You don't need excuses. You don't want him there so the answer is no.

Mamamamasaurus · 28/07/2021 12:01

Absolutely not. He's done nothing to help himself, despite knowing he would need to move out of the house.

He'll do nothing and contribute nothing. He'll take up space you need for your family and you won't be comfortable.

Meraas · 28/07/2021 12:01

@kidsatuniemptynester

You have no room. His ex partner needs to put him up, they get on well, they co-parent, she can't just have the good bits without the irritating bits too.
Sorry what? No, his ex-partner does not need to put him up, just becaause she co-parents with him well doesn't mean she has to house him. Seriously, stop making men a woman's problem, any woman.
Themadcatparade · 28/07/2021 12:02

Absolutely not.

Especially with young children you need your space and time as a family. I made this mistake once it ended up in my brother not giving me any rent and making my poor mother dish out for it and him taking over my DdS room - he was using the ‘spare’ money to buy shit he had three NEW TVs in there and a new Xbox and made a right mess before I kicked him out my Dd was in bed with me. It took me three months to kick them out it was supposed to be a couple of weeks. Massive regret! Don’t be me!

TeapotCollection · 28/07/2021 12:03

Not a chance

Text him now and say you’ve thought about it and you’re not going to speak to your husband because you don’t have room for him so it’s a definite no

As others have said, don’t give it a second thought

DancesWithTortoises · 28/07/2021 12:05

If you were single or just you and DH maybe think about it. But not with the children.

StillNoFuckingEyeDeer · 28/07/2021 12:05

No.
For you, for your children, for your DH.
Just NO

Penners99 · 28/07/2021 12:06

No, no and thrice no!

daisydaisy7 · 28/07/2021 12:09

You have all helped massively. Thank you!
He absolutely needs to stand on his own two feet. I think it would have a huge impact on my marriage and my own mental health.

I thought about offering to lend him the money for the deposit but I'm not going to. It's his problem. If I had the space it may have been different.

I'm going to tell him I didn't speak to DH (I have, he's not keen) but just say no anyway

OP posts:
Lostinthemail · 28/07/2021 12:12

I’m happy you’re doing what’s best for you and your family. Don’t let him emotionally blackmail you. He’s not your responsibility.

user1471462115 · 28/07/2021 12:15

Everyone is right. Don’t have him to stay.

Have a couple of sentences in your head to keep saying to him when he pushes and pushes you to change your mind.

“Sorry brother, we just don’t have any room for you”

“ brother I have small babies and the mix of them and shift working just isn’t going to work”
“ try spareroom web site”

feb2022 · 28/07/2021 12:16

No!
We had my BIL staying with us "for a few weeks" 12 months later he was still on my sofa I was at breaking point!
My living room always smelled funny and just felt unclean (probably a bit tight but ohh well)
I had a 1 year old and a 3 month old when he moved in and honestly I just wanted my space to roam about in my pants if I wanted!
And I also felt like I was always being watched and secretly judged, I felt like I couldn't even walk out of the room and have a cry when I felt overwhelmed, I think all parents have these moments at some point but I honestly just felt trapped in my own home
By the end of the 12 months I just had to tell him to leave and it probably wasn't in the nicest of ways either, so now he doesn't appreciate the 12 months he stayed in my home eating my kids food all he thinks about is "how horrible I was to kick him out"
It's just not worth it in the end!
I'm so sorry for the loss of your mum too OP
But honestly I wouldn't put yourself through the extra stress of another mouth to feed and he's old enough to make other arrangements (he probably should have thought about that a month prior)

MoreAloneTime · 28/07/2021 12:17

I wasn't even halfway through that before I felt like screaming no. People are right, he'll never leave and life with small children is hard enough without adding more problems in your life.

BringMeTea · 28/07/2021 12:18

No. No and no.

canyon2000 · 28/07/2021 12:21

If he is renting a house from his friend then she has to give him longer than a month to end his tenancy. I thought it was 6 months now?

daisydaisy7 · 28/07/2021 12:21

I said no.
Just "sorry, we really don't have space right now. DD1 is on school holidays so we are home a lot and can't give up the living room. Sorry, I hope you sort something out soon"

OP posts:
TiredButDancing · 28/07/2021 12:21

the very fact that he asked this when he must know your living arrangements and space constraints, and the fact that you have two young children, is just another reason why you are absolutely right to say no. Any sensible person would now this isn't even an option under these conditions. I'm sorry you have such a selfish and entitled git of a brother.

user1471457751 · 28/07/2021 12:23

You could point out to him that legally he doesnt have to leave where he is. If he's a tenant not a lodger then he needs at least 2 months notice and it needs to be served in the correct format to be legal.

Grimacingfrog · 28/07/2021 12:24

Definitely, definitely no.

There is literally no upside for you in having him to stay. He will not appreciate it. He will take advantage and you will end up falling out anyway. It will negatively impact your marriage and children. He won't want to move out.

It's much, much easier not getting into the situation in the first place. Just say, no, it doesn't work for us. Don't cave in.

Eleoura · 28/07/2021 12:25

NO!!! He is 30, not 13!

Why can't he stay with your other brother? Unless he has burnt all other bridges, surely he has friends? Why can't he get temp accommodation and pay for it himself?

Along with no spare room, 'sorry brother, but I'm breastfeeding in the lounge room all day and night, and I'm SURE you don't want to be seeing that! hehehe. Just no space. End of!

daisydaisy7 · 28/07/2021 12:25

@canyon2000

If he is renting a house from his friend then she has to give him longer than a month to end his tenancy. I thought it was 6 months now?
It was just a friend doing him a favour really. She bought a house but stayed living at home with parents, not sure why, but said he could live there on a rolling month tenancy.

I feel a huge relief already for saying no to him! It feels like the first time in my life I have done so and it feels great.

To be honest, I should have had very little to do with him after mum died. His behaviour throughout was despicable. My DH even said I should have cut him off. Which isn't like him at all!

OP posts:
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