Woman Refuses To Care For Old Mother After Learning She Won’t Be Getting The House

While it’s entirely normal and understandable to leave things to your offspring after you pass, inheritance is one of those topics that can really tear a family apart. Unfortunately, once you add in favoritism and entitlement, things get even messier.

A woman asked the internet if she was wrong for considering no longer helping her elderly mother after learning that she would not inherit the house. She later added some details that made many readers change their mind. We reached out to the woman who made the post via private message and will update the article when she gets back to us.

Figuring out who is entitled to what can end up causing a lot of familial issues

Woman distressed about inheritance news while elderly mother comforts her on a sofa.

Image credits: SDM ProdStudio / Freepik (not the actual photo)

One woman wondered if she should stop supporting her elderly mother when she discovered her inheritance plans

Text discusses a woman questioning her actions due to her mother's will and complicated family relationships.

Text discussing parental favoritism between siblings, highlighting a brother favored by the mother and a sister by the father.

Text discussing a woman's emotional struggle after her father's passing and mother's declining health.

Text discussing a woman’s feelings about her mother leaving almost everything to her brother.

Text discussing a mother's will, with implications of inheritance favoring brother over sister.

Woman learns about brother receiving majority inheritance, including family home and heirlooms, causing her distress.

Woman looking upset while a man gestures, highlighting family inheritance conflict.

Image credits: prostock-studio / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Text expressing concern over familial favoritism and inheritance to brother.

Text describing a woman's conflict about inheritance favoring her brother.

Text about a woman learning her mother will leave most inheritance to her brother due to his family's needs.

Text message from a woman discussing family inheritance, revealing mother leaving most to brother.

Text about inheritance issues, woman advised to ask brother for house, highlighting family tensions.

Woman contemplating by a window, concerned about inheritance decision favoring brother.

Image credits: Wavebreak Media / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Text expressing a woman's feelings of betrayal over her mother's will favoring her brother.

Text expressing a woman's conflict about prioritizing her father's death wish over inheritance choices.

Text about a woman questioning support for her mother due to the will favoring her brother.

Text about family situation and favoritism in a mother's will towards brother, woman reflecting on inheritance.

Text showing inheritance distribution plan, detailing father's estate allocation between siblings and mother.

Text expressing concerns about sibling favoritism and unfair treatment by parents.

Text discussing a woman's thoughts about her brother inheriting their mother's will and family heirlooms.

Older woman writing with a colorful pen near a laptop, contemplating inheritance decisions.

Image credits: Towfiqu Barbhuiya / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Text expressing a woman's frustration over not inheriting the family home, intended by her father, due to her mother's decision.

Text expressing hope for more details and a fair judgment in inheritance issue.

Image credits: AITA_Conflicted_Wish

Thinking about what happens after death is important

Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)

It can be hard to balance “who gets what” when thinking about what you leave behind. Indeed, most folks actually struggle to properly address the question of their own death, so they can perhaps be forgiven if they don’t have a perfect plan. After all, imagine sitting there, putting pen to paper, about what happens when you die? A lot harder in practice than theory.

At the same time, it’s absolutely vital, as this story demonstrates. Unfortunately, greed and entitlement (both selfish and legitimate) are very human emotions. We also tend to create emotional attachments to things that can go beyond “value” in a monetary sense. The house in this story is a perfect example. It’s actually very easy to find out just how much it’s worth, but if you’ve lived there a long time, sentimentality can change the equation.

However, setting aside the emotional difficulties of who inherits what, the truth is that thought has to be put into this. Favoritism can and will poison a family, if the last thing your offspring remember of you was an unequal will, that memory will linger. It also creates the unfortunate reality where near the end of a parent’s life, their kids will start to act differently. This starts to raise questions about why they are helping out, spending time with their parents and so on. Not at all hard to see how this can poison a family dynamic.

The parents should have had a plan

Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)

However, this story is peculiar, as the woman who wrote it made some edits later that really did change people’s equation. Perhaps this is a good cautionary tale for people who frequent these online groups, to not jump to conclusions, many readers were entirely on her side until she revealed the rather large sum of money she was about to inherit.

More importantly, it was a lot more than what the mother had to leave behind. It seems like the woman wants the house and the money because of an oral agreement she had with her father. The fact that neither parents actually sat down to figure out a joint plan is just selfish. Without “protagonist bias” the woman’s question seems a lot more bleak, she is asking if she should no longer take care of an elderly woman, after inheriting the majority of her money, because she also has the house she wants.

More importantly, the details that turned many readers against her came in an edit, not in the original story, which is telling. It raises the very natural question, if she skipped these details, what else isn’t she mentioning? The fact is, inheriting a couple of millions should set her up for a long time, but she seems insistent on more.

Many people, justifiably, wanted more details

Text discussing a woman questioning her role as a caretaker after her mother's inheritance decision favoring her brother.

Text questioning inheritance decisions and family property dynamics.

Online forum discussing inheritance issues and mother's decision to favor brother.

Text about a woman concerned her mother will leave inheritance to her brother, questioning her next steps.

Text discussing a woman's dilemma with inheritance concerns involving her mother and brother.

Text on a woman's concerns over inheritance and housing decisions by her father, highlighting family dynamics.

Woman contemplates family inheritance decision, facing her mother's choice to leave most to her brother.

Text discussing concern over inheritance, with focus on family dynamics and feelings about a brother receiving the family home.

Some netizens gave suggestions

Comment stating sibling should manage mother's care, not affecting woman's sanity.

Comment discussing making a mother pay for nursing home care, mentioning costs and past experiences with unfair parents.

Comment discussing a woman's situation of inheritance, suggesting using mother's funds for care home fees.

Text response discussing a will and inheritance favoring a brother over a sister.

One group of readers thought she was in the right

Comment discussing inheritance, suggesting fairness in fulfilling father's wishes related to mother's care and property.

Reddit comment discussing a woman whose mother will leave most assets to her brother and the implications on their relationship.

Reddit comment gives advice on inheritance favoring brother.

Text discussing a woman's dilemma about inheritance favoring her brother, exploring family financial struggles and decisions.

Text criticizing unequal inheritance, suggesting woman's mother favors brother financially.

Reddit comment discussing inheritance advice regarding unequal distribution between siblings.

Comment discussing inheritance and lifelong tenancy advice.

Reddit comment addressing a woman about inheritance issues and family dynamics, mentioning fairness to her brother.

Comment on inheritance saying, "I think you got betrayed by both of your parents. Sorry for that.

Others thought she was being greedy

Reddit comment discussing a woman's inheritance concerns and her brother's share.

Reddit comment discussing inheritance disparity between siblings.

Reddit comment reads: "YTA. You deserve nothing," in response to inheritance issue.

Text discussion about inheritance and family obligations, focusing on a large inheritance used for a mother's care.

Text discussing family favoritism and inheritance dynamics.

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