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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder if my brother is the favourite, or if this is really just the difference between how parents treat their sons and daughters?

325 replies

CinnamonStick77 · 19/01/2025 15:28

My brother and I are both in our early 20s, and both still living at home. We are close in age, I am 11 months older than him.

I also just want to preface this with I have no issue with what's expected of me at home, but more the fact that there are such clear differences in how we are treated. There are not really any differences between us. We're both working pretty much the same hours, in minimum wage jobs.

He is currently on holiday, and my mum has deep cleaned his bedroom. She's taken all of his clothes (washed and unwashed), washed them all, dried and ironed them. When I asked if I could just put a load of washing on so I have clean clothes for work, she said no. So I've had to walk round to our local laundrette and have spent £10 on getting my washing done for the week.

She's also completely cleaned his room - moved everything, cleaned it all, and put it all back. She would never do this for me.

I asked if I could strip my bed and put it on before work tomorrow (to save costs at the laundrette) and if someone could just swap my washing to the dryer, and they said no, this is my responsibility and I can't expect them to baby me.

I mentioned wanting to take a trip for my birthday, and she said that it was a waste of money when I should be saving for a house. He's encouraged to go on holiday and it's labelled as him making memories.

I have to pay rent, around £500 a month. He's not expected to pay anything. Sadly this is pretty much a third of what rent would cost, so even if I wasn't paying that I wouldn't be able to move out.

I have to do my own food shopping and cook all of my own meals. He's given three cooked meals a day, and whatever he wants for food is just put on my parents food shopping each week. He has no budget. If I want something from the fridge, like if I run out of milk in the morning, I'm expected to replace it by that evening, or pay them back for it.

I've been paying for my own phone contract since 2021, he still gets his paid for by them. He has unlimited data and gets a new phone every 18 months or so, I've had the same one since 2021.

My brother was gifted a car when he passed his test, I'm saving up for one but even by the time I've saved, I don’t know if I'll have enough each month to run it. They often take his car out to pay for fuel, they cover all maintenance costs and insurance costs.

I just feel like there's a huge contrast between how we're treated, but I don’t know if I'm being unreasonable to feel this way

OP posts:
WiddlinDiddlin · 23/01/2025 13:18

Im still hunting through @Dotjones to find what the actual advantage of being the older child is.

Care to enlighten us?

I certainly don't feel advantaged, the older child is often the 'practice model' and parents realise with subsequent children that they've made mistakes or would do things differently and so do.

I am not aware that OP has mentioned her brother having any disability that means her parents need to fund him and run around after him, so I am really not sure what relevance your comparison has.

Wordau · 23/01/2025 13:25

CinnamonStick77 · 19/01/2025 17:59

I think realistically they didn't want me to come back after university, so they just spiralled.

I'm applying for as many viewings as I can, and I'm also going to set aside a chunk to get a therapist

Good for you. The discrepancy is hard to comprehend. It sounds like your mother is a misogynist.

namechangetheworld · 23/01/2025 13:28

When I told my DM I was pregnant with our first DD at 29 (married for two years to a man they like, both with stable jobs and a mortgage) she told me it was a mistake, we would never cope, and we were stupid to have 'rushed into things.' The reaction to our second pregnancy 3 years later was similar.

When my DB bought a huge, expensive dog with his girlfriend a month after they met, whilst sharing a tiny flat and both of them working in London five days a week there was no criticism at all, oddly enough, just praise. When he has his first child it will be treated like the second coming of the Messiah.

I love my DB to bits but he's favoured hugely. It's a sex thing; women are always criticised by my mother, and men can do no wrong. She prefers my husband to me as well, and I'm fully aware if we were to divorce, she would 'side' with him. I try not to dwell on it, because it's incredibly depressing.

idrinkandiknowthings · 23/01/2025 13:42

I'm outraged and gutted for you in equal measure. I only have one child but I couldn't dream of treating another one differently, let alone to this extent! You poor girl :-(

NeedthatFridayfeeling · 23/01/2025 13:54

That's an awful way to treat you, sorry OP. I have a younger brother and we have always been treated the same.
Hope you can move out soon.

AuntieLemonade · 23/01/2025 14:05

I couldn’t even get to the end of the post let alone rtft… my blood is boiling 😡 this is awful OP. Really, really awful.

Ozzie14 · 23/01/2025 14:05

Wow blatant favouritism and your parents are turning your brother into an entitled person n who will expect this treatment from future partners / wife
so unfair on you I don’t honestly know how they ( your mum ) thinks this is acceptable

mrlistersgelfbride · 23/01/2025 14:33

Yep, for me it's not abnormal.
My mum has always done a 'diluted' version of this for my brother. Made all his meals, brought them to him. Washes clothes. Done everything for him. Made excuses for him all the way through life. He's 38 now, a recovering addict, and she still makes excuses for him like the world owes him something.

I always had to sort myself out. Made breakfast, did washing etc.
I asked her why and she just said she knew I'd get the things done, and he wouldn't.
From what I've heard it's not uncommon.
It's is so out of order though.

Emmz1510 · 23/01/2025 14:38

Whether it’s because he’s their favourite or because he’s a son, it doesn’t matter, it’s just plain wrong. Seriously I would be working towards moving out and leaving them in absolutely no doubt as to why I was doing this. How the hell can they justify charging you £500pm rent and him nothing? Do they have any insight into this at all? What reason would they give?

Jadethesloth · 23/01/2025 14:55

Everything you’ve wrote just makes me feel weird like, why are they so weird?! It’s so cruel, I’m only 32 myself but feel like I just want to give you a cuddle, do your washing and make your tea! It’s so sad I’d never treat my daughter like that, I’ve an older girl and a son too and I’d never treat them any differently.
your mum sounds absolutely awful and with very dated views. I’d tell them you’re going to have to cut your rent down as you need to save a deposit so you can get your own place. Seriously odd behaviour. She sounds like a
horrible person
hugs to you.

Julimia · 23/01/2025 15:09

Oh my word. This hasn't just suddenly happened hast it? Suspect its been always the same but now it's in monetary terms it's more obvious and hurtful. You really do need ,if you can, to sit round the table and ask for a properrun through and explanation. Your brother needs to be there too.
.

Abitofalark · 23/01/2025 16:42

That was an unexpected and dramatic turnaround with the mother.
I hope you are OK, OP and as well as posting here for advice, are able to get support from a relative, grandparent, cousin or a friend if you are in need of comfort or help to improve things for you.

textpest · 23/01/2025 17:52

3 choices really
Have it out with them (in a calm way) as to why he is treated differently. You're paying for his car and luxuries.

Or
Take every penny you spend on food/laundrette/phone off your rent. Explain you can't afford to pay twice if the things you pay rent for aren't available.

Or
Stop paying rent. Save the extra cash towards your own deposit and if asked look blank and say "brother said we don't have to pay rent as he doesn't" on repeat until they explain why

InDogweRust · 23/01/2025 17:54

Is there a cultural thing here? Are they from a culture or religion that values men/male children more highly & expects women to look after men?

Phoenixfire1988 · 23/01/2025 19:35

Your parents are absolutely awful people have you pulled them up on any of this or pointed out the very clear favouritism?
I'd look into a house share elsewhere and go low contact.
As the mother of 5 boys I feel so sorry for whatever poor woman ends up with this man baby he's going to expect her to do everything and put up with a MIL from hell

BuildbyNumbere · 23/01/2025 20:12

Has this been all through childhood or just now you are an adult … sounds like abuse, a parent can usually single out one child to abuse for whatever reason.

Branwells77 · 24/01/2025 01:34

OP I could cry for you at the way you are being treated your brother is definitely the favourite. How are you meant to save when they are charging you £500 rent please get out honestly if I had the space I’d let you move in with me and my family until you could get some money behind you this is awful.
once you do move out (fingers crossed soon) I would put some distance between yourself and your family I just can’t understand your parents wishing you the best of luck OP

Botanybaby · 24/01/2025 07:21

Is it a cultural thing?? ( Trying to ask what race you are but not managing to do it well)

Your replies really upset me I can't believe your parents would be eating a roast and not included you at all they sound absolutely awful

Busywithsomething · 24/01/2025 07:31

It does often seem to be daughters are the apples of their dad's eyes and sons, of their mum's eyes..Maybe Freud knew all about it.

KatharinaRosalie · 24/01/2025 07:38

Your replies really upset me I can't believe your parents would be eating a roast and not included you at all they sound absolutely awful

Yes, even if we take the brother out of the discussion, that's seriously weird behaviour.

Shouldbedoing · 24/01/2025 10:13

This is way beyond favouritism. This is emotional and financial abuse.

ThisZanyPinkSquid · 24/01/2025 13:11

I think once you are out you need to go low/no contact!! Your parents appear to have some kind of grudge against you…the roast dinner is weird!! If there’s enough there then surely it would be nice to have a family meal? There’s a similar age gap between myself (female) and brother and my brother probably was babied a little more than me but not to that extent!

deeahgwitch · 24/01/2025 14:04

Shouldbedoing · 24/01/2025 10:13

This is way beyond favouritism. This is emotional and financial abuse.

I fully agree.

I do hope some close friend of the parents or a relative of OP sees it and calls it out.
Utterly disgusting behaviour.

menopausalfart · 24/01/2025 16:32

Fking hell, this is toxic. I left a similar situation when I was 18. I lived in a bedsit just to get away from them.

SunnySideUK77 · 26/01/2025 11:16

I’m really sorry to read all this it makes me sad. I’d happily have you round for a roast dinner at my house with my daughters.
good for you for bringing it up with them and I wish you all the best for your future. You deserve all the very best

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