AITAH for telling my sister she can't live with us anymore after she called CPS on me as a "joke"?
The Original Poster (OP), a 30-year-old woman, allowed her 26-year-old younger sister to move into her home with her husband and two young children after the sister lost her job. The initial arrangement was temporary, set for a maximum of two months to allow the sister time to find new employment while living rent-free.
Conflict arose when the OP became upset after finding her toddler had caused a large mess while the sister was supposed to be supervising. This led to an argument where the OP demanded the sister leave if she could not help more. Shortly after, the sister reported the OP to Child Protective Services (CPS), claiming the OP was overwhelmed and neglecting the children. The OP discovered the report was a deliberate act by her sister intended as a 'prank' and immediately demanded she vacate the premises. Now, with her husband supporting her decision but the rest of her family furious, the OP questions if she was too harsh in kicking her sister out.
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In the field of relational psychology, Dr. Blake Howard is known for noting, "Trust is the fundamental currency of any close relationship; once that currency is spent on a malicious or reckless act, rebuilding requires more than just an apology—it requires a complete re-establishment of security and reliability."
The sister’s action of calling CPS is not a simple argument or a childish prank; it is a profound violation of boundaries and safety. Weaponizing a system designed to protect vulnerable children demonstrates a severe lack of judgment and empathy toward the OP, who was already managing the stress of having two small children and an unexpected houseguest. The OP's motivation for immediate removal stems from a legitimate fear regarding the potential legal and emotional consequences that such a report, even if false, could have inflicted upon her family unit.
While family pressure suggests the OP should be more lenient due to the sister being unemployed and stressed, this excuse does not mitigate the action taken. Setting a firm boundary by enforcing the immediate eviction was a necessary act of self-preservation for the OP's household security. Moving forward, the OP must maintain her boundary regarding the immediate threat but should consider allowing an intermediary, such as her supportive husband, to facilitate a structured, low-contact conversation with the sister later, focusing only on acknowledging the harm done, rather than immediately discussing her return.
HERE’S HOW REDDIT BLEW UP AFTER HEARING THIS – PEOPLE COULDN’T BELIEVE IT.:
What started as a simple post quickly turned into a wildfire of opinions, with users chiming in from all sides.
The OP is currently facing significant emotional backlash from her extended family, who view her reaction as an overreaction to a foolish mistake made by her sister under stress. The core conflict centers on the OP's need to establish firm boundaries against a severe breach of trust versus the family expectation that she should forgive a severe transgression because of their blood relationship.
The central question remains whether the weaponization of a state agency like CPS, regardless of the sister's stated intent as a 'prank,' justifies an immediate and permanent exclusion from the home. Readers must weigh the severity of the action against the context of family support and potential for reconciliation.