“Am I The [Jerk] For Not Giving The ‘Dollhouse’ I Built To My Niece, But To My Wife As A Gift?”

Back in my teenage years, my room was plastered with posters of Leo Messi as I am such a huge fan. When you are a fan of artists, celebrities, or athletes, collecting their merch or things associated with them is probably one of the greatest joys of that fandom. 

This original poster’s (OP) wife is a big Swiftie and he decided to surprise her by building the Lover House and gifting it to her. When he told his brother, he insisted that he give this one to his daughter for her birthday, but our guy refused and sparked drama!

More info: Reddit

People love to collect anything and everything associated with the artists and celebrities that they are big fans of

Miniature replica of a famous house with colorful, furnished rooms and string lights, crafted as a thoughtful gift.

Image credits: srmajistic / Reddit (not the actual photo)

The poster’s wife is a Swiftie and he was secretly building her a replica of the famous Lover House where she can store her little trinkets

Text discussing a man's decision to gift a replica house to his wife instead of his niece.

Replica house made for wife by man, brother demands it for daughter, famous musician fan connection.

Text describing a 2-foot replica house made for wife, with brother's demand for gifting it.

Text about a man secretly involving his wife in creating a replica of a famous house.

Image credits: JustSomeUncleGuy

Man and child painting a replica house model together with various paints on a table.

Image credits: Ron Lach / Pexels (not the actual photo)

When he showed its pic to his brother and his daughter Ava, they immediately insisted that he give it to the kid as she was also a big Swiftie

Text about a man’s gift to his wife being requested by his brother for his daughter.

Text conversation about a replica house made for a wife, not gifted to a niece.

Text discussing woodworking skills and a brother's request to gift a house replica to his daughter.

Text stating, "Again I said no, this was done specifically for my wife.

Image credits: JustSomeUncleGuy

Man in blue shirt looking at phone with frustration, sitting on a sofa.

Image credits: user25451090 / Freepik (not the actual photo)

He offered to build a new house with Ava but refused to give this one, but his brother wouldn’t back down and even complained to their mom

Text discussing a dispute over a replica house made for a wife, brother insists it be gifted to his daughter.

Text about a brother upset over a replica of a famous house made for a wife, calling it a dollhouse.

Text about a man explaining conversations regarding a dollhouse replica for his wife, and a child's interest in it.

Image credits: JustSomeUncleGuy

Young girl holding a woman's hand, looking thoughtful outdoors.

Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

They all made it sound like it was ridiculous that his wife wanted a “dollhouse,” and Ava also kept bringing up the subject when he visited them

Text exchange discussing a replica of a famous house and a brother's demand.

Text expressing a man's dilemma over gifting a famous house replica to his brother's daughter.

Text excerpt expressing frustration about gifting a replica house.

Text apology about family relations involving brother's daughter, explaining the situation and their bond.

Image credits: JustSomeUncleGuy

Sick by this harrowing, he told his brother that he was enabling Ava to be manipulative, but he called the poster a bad uncle

In today’s story, Reddit user JustSomeUncleGuy tells us about the sweetest gesture that he is secretly planning for his Swiftie wife: building her the Lover House and surprising her with it. When he showed its picture to his younger brother, he couldn’t understand it, so he showed it to his 13-year-old daughter Ava.

Now Ava is also a Swiftie and said that she wanted one too, so her dad asked the poster whether she could have it for her birthday. Of course, he refused because he had specifically made it for his wife, but he offered to make a new one with Ava to teach her woodworking. 

Well, his brother was adamant that he give this one to Ava and build a new one for his wife as he couldn’t understand why an “adult woman needed a dollhouse.” OP tried to explain that it was not a dollhouse, rather more of a shelf, but to no avail, and his brother even complained to their mom who also found the whole thing “stupid.”

When the poster went to their house over the weekend, even Ava broached the subject, asking why his wife needed a dollhouse and saying that she wanted it. Probably frustrated by the pestering, OP told his brother that he was encouraging Ava to be a manipulator, but he retaliated that the poster was being a bad uncle.

This probably rattled him as he didn’t have any kids himself and it was important for him to be a good uncle to Ava who was also a Swiftie. Caught in a fix, he vented online and sought advice from Redditors, who instantly delivered their verdict.

Man lying on a pillow, looking thoughtful, related to a replica of a famous house.

Image credits: Timur Weber / Pexels (not the actual photo)

For all the non-Swifties wondering what’s so special about this “dollhouse,” let us tell you that the much-loved Lover House chronicles Taylor Swift’s career from her 2006 debut album, Taylor Swift, to her most recent, Midnights. Each room in it represents a different album and fans are crazily in love with it.

It’s no wonder that the niece also wanted it, but Redditors said that the way she was demanding it was wrong. They claimed that it must have been her father who said that she could have it and that’s why she was so adamant about it, and even the poster confirmed this in the comments.

It has been observed that children manipulate adults in order to get their desires and also because it has worked in the past. It seems as though Ava is used to manipulating her father and getting things that she wants. Many folks pointed out that her father’s actions were indirectly having an adverse impact on her, and frankly, encouraging manipulation does not sound like a healthy thing.

Many people appreciated that the poster was making so much effort for his wife and also standing up and explaining whenever someone called it a “dollhouse.” They also felt that it would be a weird gift for a niece, and even OP said that it would actually be weird to gift a “Lover” House to Ava.

It does seem like the brother and niece need to back off and consider the fact that OP is willing to build a different house for Ava. If you were in his shoes, what would you have done? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Netizens instantly sided with the poster and claimed that his brother was teaching all the wrong things to his daughter

Comments discussing replica of a famous house gifted to wife, questioning about a dollhouse related to Taylor Swift.

Reddit comments about a man making a replica of a famous house for his wife; users discuss sharing details later.

Reddit comments about the replica house gift dilemma between the brother and his daughter.

Reddit comments about a replica house, with one user confirming it's the Lover house made for a wife.

Reddit conversation about a replica house, focusing on a 13-year-old's family relation.

Reddit comments about a dollhouse replica for a wife and a brother's gift demand for his daughter.

Reddit comments about a replica house gift, discussing its future and musician tour ending.

Reddit comments discussing a famous house replica and its intended recipient.

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