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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:
YourWildAmberSloth · 26/11/2025 08:24

You can't deal with whatever is going on with him. He is your brother, but this is not your mess to clean up. Sadly he has parents who have failed him and your mum is now trying to make you responsible for sorting him out. Experienced professionals would struggle with this, you don't have the tools, knowledge or experience to take him on - even if you want to.

bigboykitty · 26/11/2025 08:27

It's despicable of your mum to try and foist the results of her dreadful parenting onto you @Breakitc and to put your family, including your child, at risk. No loving grandparent would want their grandchild to be in danger like this. Your brother needs professional help.

MrsPerfect12 · 26/11/2025 08:32

No. Your child comes first. He’s going to be unable to contribute if he doesn’t have an education. He won’t be able to cope with further education, would he cope with a job? You’re asking for trouble here.

ChristieMcVie · 26/11/2025 08:42

Absolutely do not take in this young man. You are not responsible for the mess your mother and her feckless baby father created. He/she will ruin your life too.

Patchedupsocks · 26/11/2025 08:44

She threatens suicide but she's still here, this is a form of control my 3rd exh did this frequently but he went on to mug off on someone else within 2 weeks of me kicking him out.
Your parents, as others have said have let him down and his chaotic life style not you. Please don't take in him, nothing will change, at 17 he won't go into social care but he needs to grow up quick with the right support and help. You can't provide that, he's hitting rock bottom and will drag you down with him.
If mum blocks you that would be a result for your mental well being, but don't let this person worm into your home or life.

NebulousWhistler · 26/11/2025 08:46

Part of me is thinking not on your Nelly. Run a mile.especially with a young child on the home.

But the other part thinks he’s been dealt a shit hand in lift through no fault of his own.
And given your husband is supportive and thinks he can help, is it worth you having a conversation with him and asking what his plans are for turning his life around, or that’s even on his radar?’ Presenting a hypothetical scenario whereby he lives with you and there are rules and boundaries that have to be adhered to before he even moves in.

An alternative is you reaching out to one of those charities that helps troubled young men (often these charities have a segment on crimewatch!!), it’s usually formerly troubled men who themselves have turned their lives around and they then mentor young troubled boys. Just a thought.

Starlight7080 · 26/11/2025 09:03

What a mess. Your mum has caused so much damage by having no rules/boundaries. And keeping him out of school.
And I agree homeschooling definitely works well for some kids. But not when the only parent is an alcoholic. What did she expect to happen.
He need social services involved and proper help.
If it was just you then I would say give him a chance but with an 18 month old then it seems very risky.
Can you get him a bedsit near you? And try get him into a college to do gcse /basic course .

Rightsraptor · 26/11/2025 09:14

Of course you can't have him to live with you. Don't even give the thought the headspace.

Carrotsandgrapes · 26/11/2025 09:18

Another one saying don't do it. It's too big a risk. You have to prioritise your child (in the way your mum never prioritised your brother) and your relationship.

I would not have an aggressive, drug using, possibly gang-involved, possibly sexually aggressive young person living with my child.

If he comes to stay with you and things go wrong, will you be able to chuck him out? I bet your mum wouldn't have him.

It's extreme, but if things really kicked off and the police and social services got involved, what would SS say about your decision making as a parent bringing this person to live with your child.

Your brother is 17. The best thing you can do is pull out all the stops to get him help now. Once he hits 18, I suspect support and resources become much harder to access.

Has anyone reached out to his Dad? Could he have him for a while?

MincePudding · 26/11/2025 09:24

I'm sorry that I've only skimmed your posts but bringing an unstable person into your 18 month olds space would be reckless. And IMO worthy of social services intervention if you let him move in.

I'd question your DPs judgement for even accepting the idea. Your mum has poor judgement asking you.

Please just cut through the noise and know that you are right to be questioning the idea as you seem to be the only one with any sense of good judgement.

Don't risk your child's stability for someone else. He is the most precious thing in the world and he currently has a clean slate thanks to you. Don't fuck it up because you're under pressure.

If your mum was putting her kids first she never, ever would have asked this of you.

MrsVBS · 26/11/2025 09:25

You’re not his parent it’s now down to you to sort, your mum is trying to pass the buck now her woeful parenting is coming home to roost. Let her block you, it doesn’t sound like she would be any great loss, sad for your brother but it would be a big mistake taking him in, he’s old enough to know right from wrong and he won’t suddenly behave if he lives with you.

FreeTheOakTree · 26/11/2025 09:26

Not a chance!! Your mother knows you have an 18m old yet couldn't care less about this troubled teen entering your home.

You won't hear from her again once she succeeds in offloading her mess.

Get some therapy for the guilt you are feeling. None of this is your responsibility OP.

Bloozie · 26/11/2025 09:27

You don't owe your mum a thing. But someone needs to step up for this lad.

I would meet him and ask what HE wants, and whether he wants to change, whether he can change, whether he can imagine a different path for himself and wants to get on it.

And I would probably invite him to live with me, and live to regret it.

But I know that I'd regret being yet another person that let a child down, more. I agree with your partner on this - he needs a positive male role model (and a strong female role model), and he is no bother when he's with you, accepting that it's when he is visiting and living is quite another thing. While your mum is a nightmare, she is right that a different environment, away from the influences he is under, probably IS what he needs. Along with proper adults in his life.

Basically, I'd want to know that I had tried to be the positive influence and safe place he needed, even if I failed miserably and it went horribly wrong. The lad hasn't had an opportunity to do right, and he won't with the mother he's got.

I don't envy you the decision.

pizzaHeart · 26/11/2025 09:31

No please don’t.
its not for you to sort out and you won’t be able to.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 26/11/2025 09:35

No you absolutely should not clear up her mess for her. It’s not your responsibility!

Especially not as you also have a young child - a baby really. What on earth is she even thinking, that you’d expose your child to a violent drug addict?

I would contact SS though whilst he’s still under 18

MummyJ36 · 26/11/2025 09:39

OP you have a child, a very young one at that, who could be very adversely affected if he suddenly went AWOL and did something irresponsible. As lots of other posters have said, he is not your responsibility, you are not his parent. By all means he could come for a holiday, even a few weeks, but it is a huge commitment having him live with you permanently and puts you in a very vulnerable position.

LakieLady · 26/11/2025 10:01

Absolutely not, OP.

My late DM suggested I have my brother live with me, to get him away from "bad influences" where they lived.

I'm so glad I said no. He got heavily into weed (and possibly other drugs), ended up doing a spell in prison for assault, was so financially and verbally abusive to DM and she was afraid of him (DF was working overseas for fairly long periods), and developed bipolar disorder.

At one point, my DM suggested he come and live with me, 170 miles away, in the hope that it would get him away from "bad influences". I flatly refused, and he was sectioned not long afterwards. When he was discharged, my DPs wouldn't have him back at home and he was given a council flat.

Your brother is not your responsibility. If your DM doesn't want him around, she needs to chuck him out, like my DPs effectively did.

cestlavielife · 26/11/2025 10:13

Your dp can be role model from afar. He does not have to come live with you.
You could see if your local authority has shorter wait lists for studio flats if he is happy to move.
But he may now need a therapeutuc placement or hostel with support for drug users.
You have a baby. Do not take on a near adult with significant issues in your home.

KateShugakIsALegend · 26/11/2025 10:22

No. I wouldn't have him.

Him living at your house won't fix him, but it could break you.

MadinMarch · 26/11/2025 11:02

caringcarer · 26/11/2025 06:39

Ring SD again. Tell them he is still 16 ATM and being neglected. Tell them about the suspected drugs and stabbing and your Mum threatening suicide. Ask them to take him into care which they can do until he is 18. I think your Mum is right that he needs to move away from his area as then his access to drugs will dry up. SS could get him fostered away from London. Don't agree to have him because he's not the sweet toddler anymore and without professional training it's very unlikely he'd change for you.

No way will Social Services place a seventeen year old with his issues in foster care! The most he will get is a hostel of some kind, and he'd be vey lucky to get even that.
Having said that, a hostel placement could be a very positive step for him, if he was willing to take responsibility for himself and his future. It doesn't sound as if he's ready to do that yet.

DonicaLewinsky · 26/11/2025 11:36

No, of course you shouldn't take him in.

The idea of paying for his passport and encouraging him to go to his father isn't a bad one, especially if it's somewhere you could reasonably fund a ticket and be easily admitted as a visitor. Let his DF take some responsibility for once.

CinnamonBuns67 · 26/11/2025 11:51

Yanbu. I'd not have him either. SS won't do anything either I'd imagine. Has she reported his violent behaviour to the police? Has she made any actual effort to put him on the straight and narrow? Any actual effort to help him? He's been failed massively but this is no excuse for his behaviour and it's not your mess to fix, this is on both him and his parents.

MsTiggy · 26/11/2025 13:03

You need to be a role model to your 18 month old. That’s the only thing you need to prioritise and moving your brother in with all of his problems is a terrible idea.

Ponoka7 · 26/11/2025 13:11

The problem is that he was never properly cared for by your Mum and went under the radar, when he clearly needed support. You coming in now will put a sticking plaster over it. At the moment the LA has a duty of care towards him, at 18 that will lessen. If he won't engage with a plan, then it's best to leave him to go into crisis.

AcrossthePond55 · 27/11/2025 15:54

@Breakitc

Staying with you as a 'guest' is very different than your house becoming his actual home. We all are (or should be) on our best behaviour when a guest in someone's home, even if that person is a relative.

Before you decide on a 'trial', before you even speak to him about it, you need to be very sure of what will/could happen if his behaviour 'deteriorates', especially if your mum refuses to have him back, which I assume she will. I still suggest you speak to SS about where you would stand with them if this trial should not work out. And possibly with a solicitor about any possible legal ramifications. And not just that, you and DH need to decide where you stand emotionally. Would you be able to kick him out, not just legally, but emotionally. You have your own DC to think about.

Once you find out your legal position, then you need to have a serious discussion with him about 'the rules', your expectations, and the consequences of not abiding by them. Of course, I'm sure he'll nod his head and say 'sure' no matter what his intentions are, but at least you will have stated your position and the consequences.

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