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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:
daisydaisy7 · 28/07/2021 12:28

@Eleoura

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!

My other brother lives in a 2 bedroom flat with a 2 year old and a 5 day old baby. So I would like to think he will absolutely not ask him! Although I would not be surprised. I did speak to my other brother about it and he also said "just say no. He needs to sort himself out"
OP posts:
forthebothofus · 28/07/2021 12:28

Not unless he was going to be homeless. I've had my dsis stay a few times with us, it was taken totally for granted, several times. Of course that might just be my personal bad experience.

bakingdemon · 28/07/2021 12:34

It is not selfish to prioritise your children and your marriage. You've done the right thing.

tallduckandhandsome · 28/07/2021 12:39

Your other brother sounds useless too, OP, as he didn't help you with mum's funeral.

Sympathies, I have two awful brothers and I'm always envious of people with good sibling relationships.

squiglet111 · 28/07/2021 12:41

No. Definitely not. The fact that there is no space is reason enough. If his ex has a spare room she surely can put him up as he has more space than you?! But definitely hard no! Don't feel bad about it.

Maggiesfarm · 28/07/2021 12:42

No I wouldn't. He can find somewhere even it's only a bedsit/studio or house share if he looks on Rightmove, and move in quickly..

Drivingmeupthewall · 28/07/2021 12:48

Really glad you said no. You seem to have fallen into the ‘supporter and fixer’ role of the family, simply by the virtue of being a woman.

You don’t owe him anything, certainly not a roof over his head and money for a deposit, as he very clearly wouldn’t do the same for you.

SoniaD · 28/07/2021 12:51

You simply do not have the space - say no! Life is already busy enough with two young children, you don't need this added stress!

StepawayfromtheBiscuittin · 28/07/2021 12:56

Well done for saying no OP. Sorry your brother is so selfish. You sound like you've got a decent DH and life, wishing you well for it.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 28/07/2021 12:56

@daisydaisy7

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"
Perfect - well done!!

You have definitely done the right thing, and you were not being selfish in the slightest. You were thinking of your family and their needs.

SoniaD · 28/07/2021 12:58

Sorry, just saw the update. Good for you for saying no! :)

Takenoprisoner · 28/07/2021 13:02

Gosh, just reread your op, so sorry about your mum's recent passing.

It's absolutely disgraceful that your brothers left you to deal with it all as well as pay for it all. So much for family, eh? Don't feel one bit bad for saying no op, the less you have to do with him, the better.

MatildaTheCat · 28/07/2021 13:05

If he tries to guilt trip you just remember the help he didn’t give you in arranging your mother’s funeral. I’m so sorry for that, he’s a selfish bastard.

Longdistance · 28/07/2021 13:10

He sounds like a complete taker. Always takes, never gives. The funeral is a huge example.
I’d say no, on that basis alone.

daisydaisy7 · 28/07/2021 13:12

You're right to say he wouldn't at all be grateful even if we did help him out.

I got a voice message back from him huffing and puffing saying "I'll have to ask someone else then"

Yes you will Smile

OP posts:
Maskedrevenger · 28/07/2021 13:14

If it were a younger brother maybe straight out of university trying to find a first job you would probably budge up and make room even if it wasn’t convenient. Not for a thirty year old man who has a job, knew he was on a month by month living arrangement but made no effort to find a proper flat then or even when he was given a months notice. Now he is faced with no where to live he pulls out the family card, where was he when you needed support? I wonder if his ex really wants him hanging round hers, maybe cause unless she facilitates it he wouldn’t bother with contact?

daisydaisy7 · 28/07/2021 13:15

@Longdistance

He sounds like a complete taker. Always takes, never gives. The funeral is a huge example. I’d say no, on that basis alone.
He really is. And his problems are always worse than anyone else's.

I didn't even get so much of a thank you for doing everything myself for mum. Not that I wanted it, she was my mum and I'd have done anything for her. I messaged them both to ask if they had any preferences for music and they said "you know what she liked" 😳

I feel a huge relief for saying no to him

OP posts:
DrManhattan · 28/07/2021 13:16

No. You don't need loads of reasons or to justify it to him or anyone else.
It's fine just to say no.

Maskedrevenger · 28/07/2021 13:17

Oh he doesn’t need to ask someone else, what he needs to do is get off his backside and look for a proper room / flat whatever to rent.

LookItsMeAgain · 28/07/2021 13:23

I've read the thread and firstly, I'm sorry to hear about your mum.
Next, I'm pleased that you said no to him. You don't need to give him an excuse but if one were needed you could say "I don't have space for people who scrounge off others and take liberties. Time to stand on your own two feet! Please talk to a letting agent or use AirBnB for something in the immediate future but I cannot help you on this"
Also, don't offer to loan him money. He's a grown man and has to fend for himself, just as you did, when you had to deal with your late mother's funeral.
I do hope that you were able to put in for the costs of the funeral from her estate as you shouldn't be out of pocket for it.

Lastly - congratulations on your DD and look after yourself!

TrueRefuge · 28/07/2021 13:26

No do not let him stay, and if it were me, I'd be telling him how hurt and disappointed you were that he and DB didn't help you out with their mother's funeral and now expects you to put him up.

What a chancer.

Sorry OP, I know what it's like to have a shot family. You have to just look out for number 1 unfortunately Flowers

TrueRefuge · 28/07/2021 13:27

Shit family, and sorry I didn't see you'd already done it. Well done, glad you're feeling relieved - it's his problem, not worth your stress Smile

FunMcCool · 28/07/2021 13:27

I’d be inclined to say no too but I’d say yes for one week only, get up at six as usual as go downstairs don’t change your routine for him. If he gets no sleep then so be it. Tell him from the start he has to leave after one week and stick to your word.

FangsForTheMemory · 28/07/2021 13:29

No way. He's not your responsibility. He can find himself an Air B&B.

Seesawmummadaw · 28/07/2021 13:30

It’s not convenient so no.