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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My mum wants brother to come and stay with me

127 replies

Breakitc · 25/11/2025 19:14

This is my first thread. Apologises for the long thread. Don't want to drip feed.
I have a younger brother, he's almost 17. We have the same mum, different dad. For various reasons, I lived with my dad and stepmum for most of my childhood.

His dad cheated on my mum and they split when he was 1, he was still involved and had him regularly. As did I, I lived close by and we spent a lot of time together and he was honestly the sweetest toddler/child. A few years later his dad moves abroad, I think brother was around 8 at the time and after that contact slowed down. In the beginning he'd come and visit him but that stopped and went to birthday texts and then nothing at all. I also stopped seeing him, my mum has MH issues (agoraphobia, anxiety, depression, she's also a functional alcoholic) and our relationship is rocky, we’d fall out and then she’d tell my brother i didn’t want to see him etc. Which wasn't true.

He was her baby and she blamed everything on other people, he could do no wrong. She'd blame other kids on their street for influencing him, blaming the school and teachers and just everyone but her/her parenting and my brother. She never set any boundaries. He stopped attending school in year 7. Mum said she was homeschooling him but I don't think they did any work together. He has Irlen syndrome and still can barely read and write and I'm not doubting he struggled in secondary school but he only lasted a term, if that.

Things really changed when he was 13, he started being aggressive, smashing things when he didn't get his own way. He smashed many iPhones and mum just brought a new one/got them repaired with no consequences.
He was very mouthy and eventually started with homophobic and racist language, my mum isn't like this nor me and he barely has contact with his dad so I don't think it's learnt behaviour from any of us.

Anyway, the older he's got the worse he's got. He steals from my mum, smokes weed, drinks, he's been involved with the police (it didn't go anywhere legally), mum said his room is a tip and she suspects he is doing a lot more than weed. The racist & homophobic language is very much the same. He uses the p racial slur a lot which mum has asked him many times to stop especially as they have neighbours which are other races etc. He just laughs and says its not aimed at them.
My mum can't cope with him and the final straw was a neighbour knocking on their door furious with brother as he'd had his hands down his trousers outside in front of her teen DD(13 or 14), she threatened to report him to the police but he just laughed and made a joke of it about how he was doing it because of the mum - not the DD. until that comment I thought he was just doing what teen boys do but now I honestly don't know. His behaviour and the knocks to the door is causing my mum significant anxiety. She asked me if I could have him, I live a few hours away and they live in London. I initially said no and she went off at me and blocked me and said I don't care about her or her mental health and threatened suicide (something she's done a lot hence why we have LC now). This was toward the end of October.

She'd told him she wanted him out when he turned 17 on NYE, she said if he didn't go she’d phone SS. He called her a birch and said he wasn't going into care. He’d just run away and go to his dads and she’d never see him again. I don't know if he meant it, if he's even had any contact with his dad recently or even if his dad is back in the UK. Brother doesn't have a passport.

Since then my mum has said he's hardly been home, she messaged me earlier and told me on Saturday night he'd been stabbed in the stomach, obviously went to hospital etc and is physically ok, he hasn't said who did it. He said he doesn't know, wouldn't give a description or what happened leading up to it. Apparently he went out again yesterday.

She's asking me again if I would have him but I really don't know. WWYD? Please be kind.

OP posts:
TidyCyan · 25/11/2025 19:59

Not your circus or monkeys. Don't do it.

WilfredsPies · 25/11/2025 20:05

You’d be insane if you even considered this for a minute. She created this situation with her poor parenting. And you can have every sympathy for him because she’s stolen his chance of having a decent future. But you can’t fix him. All that will happen is that he will bring his racism and his drug taking and his everything else, with him until you’re at the stage that your mum is at now.

The only chance he stands of having a decent future is for him to hit rock bottom and decide he wants more out of life. He wants to get sober and enrol in college or find a job. Until he’s ready to do that, there’s nothing you can do to help him. Your mum just wants to shift the problem from her house to your house.

I think I would contact him and tell him that you love him and if he wants to get himself sober, and do something positive with his life, then you’ll be there for him to help him, but that you can’t let him come to you until he’s made some serious changes. Just so he’s very aware that if your DM tries to put him on a train with £20 and your address, he won’t be staying.

Muffinmam · 25/11/2025 20:06

Irlen syndrome does not exist. It’s considered a health fraud and there is zero scientific basis for its existence.

Happyjoe · 25/11/2025 20:09

No, as much as you're feeling the pressure you need to look after yourself, first. I think that means not having your brother stay. You could try upping contact, try and get him some help but I fear that it's fruitless until he realises that his behaviour and way of life isn't the way to live. Hopefully being stabbed would've made him start to think.
So sorry OP, very sad reading about your family. Take good care.

bridgetreilly · 25/11/2025 20:09

No. It won’t sort his problems out and it will just give your mum someone else to blame whatever you say. It’s clearly an awful situation but it is not something you can solve.

Purplecatshopaholic · 25/11/2025 20:10

NeverDropYourMooncup · 25/11/2025 19:21

It's not your responsibility to try and fix the mistakes of his parents.

This I’m afraid. Dont do it. Help from afar of course if you can. He sounds like he’s been totally failed by both parents and that’s tragic (but absolutely not your responsibility).

Rainbowshine · 25/11/2025 20:10

You are not the right solution for the issues your brother has. He needs professional help in the right environment. You would not be helping him at all, and definitely not helping yourself, by considering letting him stay with you. A safeguarding report is the best thing you can do for him.

GAJLY · 25/11/2025 20:17

He is not an adult until his 18th birthday. I'd call social services and speak with them about it. He sounds like he is in a bad place mentally.

Breakitc · 25/11/2025 20:23

Linenpickle · 25/11/2025 19:46

There is no way he got stabbed in his stomach and is okay so she’s clearly lying. Absolutely no way and how should you be looking after him or have him staying at your house. She needs to take responsibility or your brother needs to take responsibility because he’s not a kid anymore and don’t listen to your mum cause she’s giving all sorts of shit and giving you a guilt trip.

I don't know how “fine” he is or if he actually did go out yesterday, I've not spoken to him and he's not replied to my messages.

I just feel guilty and will if anything happens to him or if he ends up in prison. My mum seems to think if he's away from London it'll be a fresh start. It's not really possible to just meet him for walks etc as I live a few hours away. I did called social services once but nothing came from it.

He should be in college now but I don't think my mum even spoke to him about going, and he obviously didn't sit his GCSEs.

OP posts:
toomuchfaff · 25/11/2025 20:26

NeverDropYourMooncup · 25/11/2025 19:21

It's not your responsibility to try and fix the mistakes of his parents.

This.

Louder for those at the back.

Dont do it. There is absolutely no reason or benefit to you to get involved.

ChristmasTimeChristmasJoy · 25/11/2025 20:29

Do not do it. If your mum blocks you it doesn’t sound like a terrible thing. He will be better in care, its your mums fault for allowing it & not getting him help and now she needs to deal with her consequences.

bathroomadviceneeded · 25/11/2025 20:32

OP, I really feel for you in this situation.

Your DB sounds just like my uncle. Similar childhood, learning difficulties so dropped out of school very young, enabling mother (my DGM), violence and drugs started when he was 17.

I thank my mum every single day that she cut contact with him and my DGM. He has gone on to become more violent, has been arrested and imprisoned multiple times. My DF didn’t believe that my uncle was really that awful, and went to visit him several years ago (without telling my mum). Uncle attacked him and almost killed him in a drug-induced rage. Absolutely terrifying.

You need to cut contact, or go very very low contact with him. I’m not sure about your mum, it depends how much she enables him. He is not safe and he will compromise your safety.

Give yourself permission to do this.

Hotflushesandchilblains · 25/11/2025 20:32

At 17 its hard to know if he is thoroughly bad and irredeemable. With structure, boundaries and appropriate support he may turn things around.

However, that will take a lot of time, energy and resources. If you dont want to expend that much, or just feel you cant do what needs to be done, that is fine. This is not your situation to resolve, as painful as it is.

I am sorry, this must be hard to watch.

schoolfriend · 25/11/2025 20:38

I agree with others that this isn’t your responsibility, but if I were you, I’d give it a go. This kid currently has a one way ticket to the scrap heap of life. There may be nothing you can do to change that but I’d personally want to try.

godmum56 · 25/11/2025 20:50

OP you don't say what other responsibilities you have? or how much older you are than your brother? How tough are you, what support do you have? I'd be very concerned that this is not something that you would be capable of and I mean that kindly and not as criticism. If there was statutory support for you both where you live it might work, but for you to take on the responsibility alone? NO definitely not.

YourJoyousDenimExpert · 25/11/2025 20:55

No - please don’t have your brother stay with you. As a sibling you won’t be able to access any help you need as you don’t have parental responsibility. The potential nightmares are endless.
Maybe contact your brother and tell him you are worried for him and ask him what help he thinks he needs. Don’t let your Mum say you refused to help - you need him to understand he needs more support than you could offer.
Have you any way of contacting his Dad? Time for him to step up…..

honeylulu · 25/11/2025 21:03

God no, please don't bring such trouble into your home. You aren't a professional and the help he needs is beyond what you can provide.

It is possible that the poor boundaries/enabling are the root of things but there is so much to unravel.

Your mum has a damned cheek thinking you owe it to her to take in her child, given that even during your childhood you didn't even live with her.

SaySomethingMan · 25/11/2025 21:05

He’s not been parented well at all, sadly. Your kind of mum doesn’t sound like she was in a fit state to parent him due to her ill health. A boy needs his father too.

Youre kind of his last chance saloon. If you can take him on a trial basis, I would. He seems to be deflecting his poor academic skills with poor behaviour too.

Theeyeballsinthesky · 25/11/2025 21:05

Hell no & no no no again

he is not your responsibility. If you let him live with you, you'll never get rid of him

Driftingawaynow · 25/11/2025 21:07

I was given some good advice in a somewhat similar situation many years ago. You are not qualified to deal with this situation and if you try it could really damage your relationship. but what you can do is offer him a healthy relationship with boundaries.

That might mean keeping contact very minimal but as consistent as you can manage, being calm and adult and having boundaries eg I can’t house you, this situation is beyond me.

if you can preserve your relationship with him that will stand him in good stead and I really think that’s the thing of greatest value You can probably provide.

This is a very very hard situation, I’m so sorry you are having to deal with this and sorry for your brother who has been raised by totally inadequate parents

cestlavielife · 25/11/2025 21:10

No. Never. He needed a lot of help before which he didnt get and needs even more now. You are not qualified to give that help. He can present as homeless to his local authority . Sad as it is you cannot take him on

Shinyandnew1 · 25/11/2025 21:13

He steals from my mum, smokes weed, drinks, he's been involved with the police (it didn't go anywhere legally), mum said his room is a tip and she suspects he is doing a lot more than weed. The racist & homophobic language is very much the same. He uses the p racial slur a lot

So, he moves in with you and steals from you, drinks, does hard drugs and uses racist/homophonic language, what are you going to do?

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 25/11/2025 21:31

A definite no, it would be just dumping the issues onto you and ruining your life.

readingmakesmehappy · 25/11/2025 21:32

What are your circumstances? If you have your own kids, no way you should have him in your home. It would be a lot of work getting him the help he needs, and it would make your home a stressful place to be if you’re having to lock up valuables and police what he has/does in his room. If you can’t do that (and there’s no way I could) then you must say no.

Cherrysoup · 25/11/2025 21:36

Absolutely no to having him love with you. He’s not your responsibility and trouble will follow him wherever he goes. I know a family who moved away from London (ish) to a really lovely village, where troublemaker no 1 was stabbed the evening after the family moved. Don’t do it, OP, it will cause you endless heartache.