Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
191
“AITA For Yelling At A Mom And Her Kid To Get Out Of My Home?”
Interview With AuthorHaving people over can be a lot of fun, but, inevitably, there will always be someone who ends up breaking rules or just disrespecting the host. People have rules in their own home for a reason, so someone blatantly doing what they were told to not do is a recipe for drama.
A woman asked the internet if she was wrong to kick someone out of her home when her guest brought a toddler to dungeons and dragons night without warning or permission. We got in touch with the woman who made the post and she was kind enough to give us some more details.
RELATED:
Guests who don’t have basic decency are a real pain
Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)
So one woman ended up having to kick someone out of game night
Image credits: Pressmaster / Envato (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Tick_agent
The story ended up being somewhat divisive
Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)
Bored Panda got in touch with the woman who made the post and she was kind enough to give us some more details. First and foremost, we wanted to know what happened next. “There have been updates, I’m writing an update for the post, I just got stuck picking things to elaborate on. In short, Sarah reached out and apologized. She behaved the way she did because she’s thinking about becoming a parent herself and is scared. I think people found it engaging because it’s emotionally charged and includes an entitled parent. People have a lot of pent up emotions on that subject, as most (especially women) are expected to like and want them, saying “I don’t want them in my house” is difficult and socially dangerous to do… Unless you’re anonymous on reddit,” she shared.
“Parents with young kids also often make other people feel like they’re walking on eggshells around a hurricane as the kids can wreak havoc and you can’t do anything about it while still feeling like a decent person. If you say anything to the kid you risk the parent screaming at you with “don’t talk to my kid (like that)”, if you say anything to the parent they’ll either retaliate and get angry at you, get angry and punish their kid, ignore and dismiss you, or look beaten and apologize- at this moment you know this is incredibly difficult, stressful and tiring for them, they feel alienated and helpless and you just contributed to that, and now you feel worse than you did when you had to deal with the kid. There’s really no winning.”
Many readers also seemed to not understand what it can be like to own a dog
“So when they see someone snap at a parent after being pushed like that, they see it as some sadistic justice. Most comments haven’t been much help, as they assume a lot about me, my dog and my friends and don’t give actionable advice or ask honest questions. However, some have been! I appreciate people saying I should have turned them around at the door and telling me to defend myself online. I also loved seeing the well-adjusted parents who kept a social life after having kids.”
The post itself ended up going quite viral which meant tons of comments and reactions. The worst part of this whole thing to me are the responses to my dog,” she shared. “The public is horribly uninformed about dogs, even the people who think they’re doing things right (“I tell my kids to let the dog sniff their hand first”). I’m an unusual guardian, sure, in so much as I do my best to stay informed and treat my dog as a worthy, intelligent individual. I get backlash at every step of the way: for training, doing sports, letting her sleep on the bed, not forcing her to interact with everyone etc. There’s so much “let her just be a dog” from people whose idea of being a dog is being chronically bored, misunderstood, and treated like a toy. It breaks my heart.”
There are so many reasons why someone should not bring a toddler over uninvited
Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)
Game night is typically designed as an evening for relaxed fun and focused interaction, where guests gather to enjoy board games, card games, or other planned activities. When a guest brings a toddler without prior permission or warning, it disrupts the delicate balance the host has carefully planned. The inclusion of a toddler can introduce unpredictable noise, movement, and needs that the host may not be prepared to accommodate, potentially derailing the evening’s flow.
Many game nights are structured around quiet concentration, friendly competition, and socializing in an environment intended for adults or older children. Toddlers, with their boundless energy and need for constant stimulation, can inadvertently cause distractions that pull attention away from the games. Their presence might also lead to a chaotic atmosphere, forcing the host and other guests to shift their focus from enjoying the planned activities to managing unexpected interruptions.
Furthermore, bringing a toddler unannounced puts the host in a difficult position. They might not have the necessary arrangements or child-friendly space to ensure the toddler’s safety and comfort, and this oversight can result in stress for both the host and the parent. It can also place an unfair burden on the host, who may need to divert attention from the event to address the needs of the child, ultimately compromising the intended ambiance of the evening. Beyond the immediate disruption, unplanned additions to a guest list can affect the overall dynamics of the event. Other guests, expecting a quiet and mature atmosphere, might feel uneasy or distracted by the unexpected presence of a toddler. This can lead to discomfort, dampened enthusiasm, and even conflict if the unannounced guest’s needs clash with the expectations of the gathering.
Some folks wanted more details
A few readers thought she was right to kick the mom out
But some thought she could have handled the situation better
Poll Question
Total votes ·
Thanks! Check out the results:
Total votes ·
Newsletter
Subscribe to Access
Exclusive Polls
By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy.
Thank you! You've successfully subscribed to newsletters!
What do you think ?
MotherofGuineaPigs 8 months ago
I had my boyfriends brother and kid over one time. The kid tried to sit on the cat, she scratched him. Crying began and the dad went punish the cat. I stepped in front of him. She lives here, you need to teach your kid to leave other people's pets alone.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
My mother once full-on punched my cat for jumping up onto the kitchen countertop in MY HOUSE. (I live next door to my mom/sister and she had come into my house to ask me something.) My boyfriend and I both were furious, angry words were exchanged, and I told my mom to get out of my house and to never touch my animals again. I don't take my cats (or my dogs) over into her house and let them jump up on things - but in MY house, my cats are allowed to go where they please. I cannot FATHOM trying to "punish" another person's pet while you are a guest in that person's home - at most, I can picture trying to hold off an aggressive/reactive dog or cat from attacking me if it decided to take me on (as I am, to be fair, an intruder in THEIR home, lol) but I'd also expect the animal's owner to step in and help remove their pet from me at that point.
Load More Replies...
Ace 8 months ago
Glad to see that last YTA comment - all the others were far too reasonable, so needed that one to balance things up a bit more towards the 'unhinged'. I love how they blame the dog rather than the toddler, when nothing even happened with the dog.
Dragons Exist 8 months ago
Welcome to r/aita, where the dog that was just existing is suddenly an àsshole
Load More Replies...
Michael MacKinnon 8 months ago
Having played when I was young(er), I have to say: there's no way to make four-sided and eight-sided dice toddler safe. Those pointy ends are dangerous. I wouldn't want to imagine (but now I am) what those would do to a toddler's esophagus on the way down. And whether or not the ***host*** knew that the dog was calm and safe isn't the issue -- ***mom*** didn't (and couldn't) know that, and yet let her kid go running towards the dog anyways.
Anxious&Bored Bear 8 months ago
Maybe it's the introvert in me, but I can't imagine riding in a car with my toddler for 1.5 hours to go to a stranger's house, where I only know 1 person: the one who drove me.
Fellfromthemoon 8 months ago
About toddlers and dogs: I used to have a medium-sized mixed breed with relatively short legs. We walked always with a leash. The dog was reasonably friendly, not trained, usually didn't bother whem met with people, and seemed to fancy kids. Until a toddler, a few steps from their mother started shouting and running with open, slightly upward held arms toward the dog. The child clearly intended to frighten doggo. My dog just moved behind his humans, to safety, never retaliated the attack, and, of course, we stepped between the attacker and our furball. From that time, if we ever saw a child, the dog tried to remove himself from the situation, or hid behind us. Never attacked anyone, chiefly, any child, but never liked kids anymore.
Marianne 8 months ago
Anne seems to be quite a piece of work. 1. She comes along as a "friend of a friend", but still thinks it's fine to cancel more than once, wehen the consequence is that the whole event has to be postponed. When I know that childcare is not ensured, maybe I won't join a group for an extended game of this sort. 2. She brings a child to a stranger's home unannounced. Apart from the fact that this is really rude, it's also dangerous for her child. She culdn't have known if the place is safe. 3. What kind of toddler will enjoy an evening with only strangers in a strange place, while their mother doesn't have time to play with them? How did she think this would turn out? 4. Her child makes a mess in the toilet and she is surprised that she is expected to clean it? Did she expect a maid there? 5. There is a strange dog in the house and the mother just ... lets her child run towards it? Does she just assume that every dog is nice to children?
Lily 8 months ago
First, you don't bring children without checking. Second, you ask permission to approach a dog. Third, when your child is completely out of control, you step out and away. Some mothers expect others to accommodate them - no. It's an adult gathering, not a play date. She shouldn't have come. While she did scream at the woman, it was in direct response to the mother screaming at her, so in a way justified after the cascade of issues that really should have been stopped.
Ronja Oksanen 8 months ago
As a DnD player, I would have immediately at the door say you can't come! It's not discriminating anyone or gatekeeping, it's common sense for f sake. The game session would be ruined with a kid running around breaking immersion and just no. The mother didn't know that much of the game so i unserstand she didn't realize it was a really bad idea to bring the kid, but she has no right to be offended or angry for being thrown out, especially when knowing the ignore the dog rule and immediately breaking it.
Royal Stray 7 months ago
It also didn't necessarily sound like a child friendly game, and I'd bet that the mother would have freaked out if someone had said or done something in game that her child later picked up
Load More Replies... Gwyn 8 months ago
Just concerning the dog situation, I've had three kids and three dogs. I'd also not allow a rambunctious toddler to run at my dog no matter how good a dog she is. They are still animals. They sometimes don't understand over-enthusiastic handling and can get scared and defend themselves and hurt the child, or the child can hurt them if they are too tolerant. Some people don't understand this and I see people let their babies run up to strange dogs all the time and it frustrates me so much. You have to be realistic and keep the kid and dog safe.
Mark Childers 8 months ago
That was really entitled and nervy for that woman to come to someone's home who they've never met and bring a toddler without asking for permission. It was clearly a DND game, which isn't exactly interesting to a toddler. There's bound to be problems. Incredibly rude of her and for the friend who brought her.
SKaye 8 months ago
In no universe do toddlers mix well with D&D. Too many attractive trinkets and other delightfully grabbable items. It's understandable that the mom of the toddler was wanting a night out with other adults, but she should have had the sense to know not to come with him, regardless of the sudden cancellation of her plans to leave him at home. As to the dog, it's OP's business how she trains and relates to him, and why she prefers people not to interact with him. Probably not the best to scream back at the mom, that could have been handled more calmly--but understandable in the heat of the moment. Also, both Sarah and the OP should have made it very clear up front that children are never welcome--this is an adult night, and also not a safe environment for little ones. Regardless, OP is should not be made to look like the villain in this scene, but neither should the mother of the toddler. She sounds like a new mom, and is still learning to navigate life with children.
Craig Reynolds 2 months ago
The dog is 100% innocent because the woman showed up with her kid, with no prior notice or invitation that said a kid was okay. I would have kicked her out immediately as I have zero tolerance for people who think they can do as they please.
Kate Johnson 7 months ago (edited)
It's sad when people foist their children on others. If she couldn't get a babysitter, she should have stayed home. Most people don't want a toddler running around their house causing chaos. It's profoundly rude to show up with a kid. Especially when you don't even know the person that well. Good riddance!
Nitka Tsar 7 months ago
That „friend“ is not a real friend. OP had one rule. New person wanted to break that rule on the first day. For a toddler who would have obviously manhandled the dog. Nope, OP is definately not the ah
T'Mar of Vulcan 8 months ago (edited)
Tbh the stuff about the dog sounds a bit unhinged. That's who I feel sorry for in the story... The poor dog, who can't even play or do anything because she's expected to ignore all people except her owner. Someone call the SPCA.
Sophia Pandia de Delphia 8 months ago (edited)
Yes, the poor dog is left alone for a few hours once a week. What a horrid owner! Did you read that the dog is a personal protection dog and could probably be certified in other countries as a service dog for other ways the dog is trained? A dog who performs these functions is meant to be neutral, as the owner said, in regards to other people. That being said, the dog has not had close and physically intense interactions with toddlers on a regular basis. If Anne had asked about petting the dog, OP would have had the dog to wave at the toddler like the dog does with other kids from a distance. When service dogs are at work, they are not to be petted and certainly someone should not try to get the dog's attention. Sounds like this dog works less hours than a usual service dog accompanying its owner in public and possibly also in the home depending on what all the dog is trained to do for OP. Really? Call the SPCA over a dog not being available for people to distract or abuse it for a few hours a week? Really?
Load More Replies... LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
I think you may want to put a bit of a check on your internet diagnosing of someone as "neurospicy". As an aside, that's a pretty offensive term to use on someone else. It's fine if someone who is neurodivergent wishes to use the term on themselves, but labeling someone else - especially an internet stranger that you only know through one Reddit post - as "neurospicy" is a pretty cruddy thing to do.
Load More Replies...
LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
I'm sorry, why is it even remotely on OP to "put up with it" even ONCE when Anne didn't ask (or even MENTION) that she was bringing her toddler? No. OP should not have had to "put up with it" once. I agree that OP should have turned Anne away at the door, but clearly OP was trying to keep the peace with Anne's friend Sarah (who was a normal part of the D&D group.) It's also not on OP to entertain someone else's child, even with TV (or "whatever works") when the child was a completely unexpected guest.
Load More Replies...
sturmwesen 8 months ago (edited)
She did not body check but stepped between dog and kid. Additionally she wrote twice that the dog is to be ignored. That "guest" is ignorant. She did not clean up after her child, without being told, brought them to a game night, where you have to concentrate and have a lot of small stuff (dangerous and expensive) and sent her kid to a unknown dog.
Load More Replies... MotherofGuineaPigs 8 months ago
I had my boyfriends brother and kid over one time. The kid tried to sit on the cat, she scratched him. Crying began and the dad went punish the cat. I stepped in front of him. She lives here, you need to teach your kid to leave other people's pets alone.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
My mother once full-on punched my cat for jumping up onto the kitchen countertop in MY HOUSE. (I live next door to my mom/sister and she had come into my house to ask me something.) My boyfriend and I both were furious, angry words were exchanged, and I told my mom to get out of my house and to never touch my animals again. I don't take my cats (or my dogs) over into her house and let them jump up on things - but in MY house, my cats are allowed to go where they please. I cannot FATHOM trying to "punish" another person's pet while you are a guest in that person's home - at most, I can picture trying to hold off an aggressive/reactive dog or cat from attacking me if it decided to take me on (as I am, to be fair, an intruder in THEIR home, lol) but I'd also expect the animal's owner to step in and help remove their pet from me at that point.
Load More Replies... Ace 8 months ago
Glad to see that last YTA comment - all the others were far too reasonable, so needed that one to balance things up a bit more towards the 'unhinged'. I love how they blame the dog rather than the toddler, when nothing even happened with the dog.
Dragons Exist 8 months ago
Welcome to r/aita, where the dog that was just existing is suddenly an àsshole
Load More Replies... Michael MacKinnon 8 months ago
Having played when I was young(er), I have to say: there's no way to make four-sided and eight-sided dice toddler safe. Those pointy ends are dangerous. I wouldn't want to imagine (but now I am) what those would do to a toddler's esophagus on the way down. And whether or not the ***host*** knew that the dog was calm and safe isn't the issue -- ***mom*** didn't (and couldn't) know that, and yet let her kid go running towards the dog anyways.
Anxious&Bored Bear 8 months ago
Maybe it's the introvert in me, but I can't imagine riding in a car with my toddler for 1.5 hours to go to a stranger's house, where I only know 1 person: the one who drove me.
Fellfromthemoon 8 months ago
About toddlers and dogs: I used to have a medium-sized mixed breed with relatively short legs. We walked always with a leash. The dog was reasonably friendly, not trained, usually didn't bother whem met with people, and seemed to fancy kids. Until a toddler, a few steps from their mother started shouting and running with open, slightly upward held arms toward the dog. The child clearly intended to frighten doggo. My dog just moved behind his humans, to safety, never retaliated the attack, and, of course, we stepped between the attacker and our furball. From that time, if we ever saw a child, the dog tried to remove himself from the situation, or hid behind us. Never attacked anyone, chiefly, any child, but never liked kids anymore.
Marianne 8 months ago
Anne seems to be quite a piece of work. 1. She comes along as a "friend of a friend", but still thinks it's fine to cancel more than once, wehen the consequence is that the whole event has to be postponed. When I know that childcare is not ensured, maybe I won't join a group for an extended game of this sort. 2. She brings a child to a stranger's home unannounced. Apart from the fact that this is really rude, it's also dangerous for her child. She culdn't have known if the place is safe. 3. What kind of toddler will enjoy an evening with only strangers in a strange place, while their mother doesn't have time to play with them? How did she think this would turn out? 4. Her child makes a mess in the toilet and she is surprised that she is expected to clean it? Did she expect a maid there? 5. There is a strange dog in the house and the mother just ... lets her child run towards it? Does she just assume that every dog is nice to children?
Lily 8 months ago
First, you don't bring children without checking. Second, you ask permission to approach a dog. Third, when your child is completely out of control, you step out and away. Some mothers expect others to accommodate them - no. It's an adult gathering, not a play date. She shouldn't have come. While she did scream at the woman, it was in direct response to the mother screaming at her, so in a way justified after the cascade of issues that really should have been stopped.
Ronja Oksanen 8 months ago
As a DnD player, I would have immediately at the door say you can't come! It's not discriminating anyone or gatekeeping, it's common sense for f sake. The game session would be ruined with a kid running around breaking immersion and just no. The mother didn't know that much of the game so i unserstand she didn't realize it was a really bad idea to bring the kid, but she has no right to be offended or angry for being thrown out, especially when knowing the ignore the dog rule and immediately breaking it.
Royal Stray 7 months ago
It also didn't necessarily sound like a child friendly game, and I'd bet that the mother would have freaked out if someone had said or done something in game that her child later picked up
Load More Replies... Gwyn 8 months ago
Just concerning the dog situation, I've had three kids and three dogs. I'd also not allow a rambunctious toddler to run at my dog no matter how good a dog she is. They are still animals. They sometimes don't understand over-enthusiastic handling and can get scared and defend themselves and hurt the child, or the child can hurt them if they are too tolerant. Some people don't understand this and I see people let their babies run up to strange dogs all the time and it frustrates me so much. You have to be realistic and keep the kid and dog safe.
Mark Childers 8 months ago
That was really entitled and nervy for that woman to come to someone's home who they've never met and bring a toddler without asking for permission. It was clearly a DND game, which isn't exactly interesting to a toddler. There's bound to be problems. Incredibly rude of her and for the friend who brought her.
SKaye 8 months ago
In no universe do toddlers mix well with D&D. Too many attractive trinkets and other delightfully grabbable items. It's understandable that the mom of the toddler was wanting a night out with other adults, but she should have had the sense to know not to come with him, regardless of the sudden cancellation of her plans to leave him at home. As to the dog, it's OP's business how she trains and relates to him, and why she prefers people not to interact with him. Probably not the best to scream back at the mom, that could have been handled more calmly--but understandable in the heat of the moment. Also, both Sarah and the OP should have made it very clear up front that children are never welcome--this is an adult night, and also not a safe environment for little ones. Regardless, OP is should not be made to look like the villain in this scene, but neither should the mother of the toddler. She sounds like a new mom, and is still learning to navigate life with children.
Craig Reynolds 2 months ago
The dog is 100% innocent because the woman showed up with her kid, with no prior notice or invitation that said a kid was okay. I would have kicked her out immediately as I have zero tolerance for people who think they can do as they please.
Kate Johnson 7 months ago (edited)
It's sad when people foist their children on others. If she couldn't get a babysitter, she should have stayed home. Most people don't want a toddler running around their house causing chaos. It's profoundly rude to show up with a kid. Especially when you don't even know the person that well. Good riddance!
Nitka Tsar 7 months ago
That „friend“ is not a real friend. OP had one rule. New person wanted to break that rule on the first day. For a toddler who would have obviously manhandled the dog. Nope, OP is definately not the ah
T'Mar of Vulcan 8 months ago (edited)
Tbh the stuff about the dog sounds a bit unhinged. That's who I feel sorry for in the story... The poor dog, who can't even play or do anything because she's expected to ignore all people except her owner. Someone call the SPCA.
Sophia Pandia de Delphia 8 months ago (edited)
Yes, the poor dog is left alone for a few hours once a week. What a horrid owner! Did you read that the dog is a personal protection dog and could probably be certified in other countries as a service dog for other ways the dog is trained? A dog who performs these functions is meant to be neutral, as the owner said, in regards to other people. That being said, the dog has not had close and physically intense interactions with toddlers on a regular basis. If Anne had asked about petting the dog, OP would have had the dog to wave at the toddler like the dog does with other kids from a distance. When service dogs are at work, they are not to be petted and certainly someone should not try to get the dog's attention. Sounds like this dog works less hours than a usual service dog accompanying its owner in public and possibly also in the home depending on what all the dog is trained to do for OP. Really? Call the SPCA over a dog not being available for people to distract or abuse it for a few hours a week? Really?
Load More Replies... LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
I think you may want to put a bit of a check on your internet diagnosing of someone as "neurospicy". As an aside, that's a pretty offensive term to use on someone else. It's fine if someone who is neurodivergent wishes to use the term on themselves, but labeling someone else - especially an internet stranger that you only know through one Reddit post - as "neurospicy" is a pretty cruddy thing to do.
Load More Replies... LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
I'm sorry, why is it even remotely on OP to "put up with it" even ONCE when Anne didn't ask (or even MENTION) that she was bringing her toddler? No. OP should not have had to "put up with it" once. I agree that OP should have turned Anne away at the door, but clearly OP was trying to keep the peace with Anne's friend Sarah (who was a normal part of the D&D group.) It's also not on OP to entertain someone else's child, even with TV (or "whatever works") when the child was a completely unexpected guest.
Load More Replies... sturmwesen 8 months ago (edited)
She did not body check but stepped between dog and kid. Additionally she wrote twice that the dog is to be ignored. That "guest" is ignorant. She did not clean up after her child, without being told, brought them to a game night, where you have to concentrate and have a lot of small stuff (dangerous and expensive) and sent her kid to a unknown dog.
Load More Replies... You May Like 46 People Who Had The Misfortune Of Crossing Paths With Entitled Karens 35 Clients Who Sent Texts So Rude People Had To Share Them Online Family Try To Guilt-Trip Woman Into Giving Up Her Expensive Seat, Chaos Ensues At Cruising Altitude
Indrė Lukošiūtė
Rugilė Žemaitytė
Monika Pašukonytė
Related on Bored Panda
47
43