'Mean' Family Cheered For Why They're Banning Teen Nephew From The House

A Redditor has been supported online after sharing on the social media platform that they'd chosen to ban their teenage nephew from their house over the Christmas period.

The individual's decision comes at a time that many regard as being the warmest and most welcoming of the year when plenty of families come together to enjoy the festive period under one roof. The Redditor revealed that their decision was brought on by their nephew's suspected and repeated thievery.

"On Thanksgiving my daughter lost her AirPods. We did find them and they were at my sister's house in my nephew's bedroom. He claims that it was a 'mistake' and he thought they were his. When we got them back the AirPods were still in the pink doughnut carrying clip that my daughter uses," the Redditor wrote online.

"[My 13-year-old nephew] Adam has had a lot of 'mistakes' over the years from taking gaming controllers, to AirPods and toys that he randomly finds. This has been an ongoing issue and I think that at 13 it's time for Adam to stop doing this.

"I told my sister that Adam isn't welcome at my home for Christmas because he has had mistakes there and has stolen other people's things," they said.

The Redditor went on to share that their family members have not supported their decision about Christmas and that they've since locked horns with Adam's mom and grandma.

Expert Verdict: Find The Root Cause Of The Behavior

Newsweek consulted Rachel Goldberg, a therapist based in Los Angeles, for her take on the Redditor's decision and the domestic fallout that came from it.

"The writer's emotional response of frustration, stemming from being directly affected by Adam's actions and feeling a responsibility to protect her children, is entirely understandable," Goldberg said.

"However, it's important to consider where this frustration is being directed. Rather than focusing solely on Adam as the problem, a more productive approach might be to consider the role of his immediate caregivers, particularly his mother.

"This shift in focus recognizes that Adam's behavior may be indicative of deeper, underlying issues. The behavior exhibited by Adam, instead of pointing to inherent character flaws, suggests he might be grappling with internal conflicts or unmet needs," she said.

Goldberg advises the Redditor and their family to try to understand whether Adam is yearning for attention, or possibly responding to perceived negativity or rejection from his nearest and dearest.

"Encouraging Adam's mother to become more curious about these behaviors and possibly seek professional help, such as counseling or therapy, could be a beneficial step. This approach aims to address the root causes of his behavior and provide necessary support," Goldberg told Newsweek.

What Do The Comments Say?

Since it was shared to the social media platform on December 19 by u/bookkeeper8814, the TikTok post has been upvoted by more than 97 percent of the users and commented on more than 1,000 times.

"I wonder what his mom will call it when he's in juvenile hall for theft or prison when he's an adult. Actions have consequences. It's best he learn them when he's young and not an adult," one user wrote.

Another user added: "If no one addresses his sticky fingers, If there are no consequences".

The Reddit post can be seen here.

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