Student Tells Sister She Can’t Move Into Her Shared Dorm Room With A Baby, And Things Escalate

Family is supposed to help each other. But when student and Reddit user Material_Star8510 received her sister’s latest request, she thought it was too big.

Currently, she lives in a college dorm room, which she shares with one other girl. There’s not a lot of space. But her sibling, who is struggling financially now that she’s raising a baby all by herself, still asked to move in.

The student refused, and things quickly escalated, leading to additional tension between them during an already difficult period.

The life of a college student is already chaotic as it is

Student organizing items in a college dorm room with a loft bed and study desk visible.

Image credits: Andrej Lišakov (not the actual photo)

So when this teenager’s sister asked if she could move in with her, things got even messier

Text detailing a college student's dilemma over sharing dorm with sister and baby due to financial struggles.

Text about a sister wanting to stay in a college dorm with her baby due to family issues.

Text discussing college dorm room challenges with a sister and her baby.

Text discussing pressure to allow sister and baby in college dorm room.

Two women sitting on a couch, one looks concerned, the other offers comfort, related to college dorm room issues.

Image credits: Nini FromParis (not the actual photo)

Text excerpt discussing a college dorm room situation with an upset sibling and denied permission.

Image source: Material_Star8510

It’s hard being a single parent, but the proposed arrangement doesn’t sound like a viable solution

Image credits: Jordan Whitt (not the actual photo)

In the United States, the student’s sister is part of a growing demographic. According to the Current Population Survey (CPS) estimates, there were 9.8 million one-parent households (7.3M mother-only and 2.5M father-only) in 2023, compared to 1.5 million in 1950.

Globally, the numbers are mixed. A data analysis conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows the share of children living in households with a single parent between 2005 and 2023 has remained fairly stable, hovering around 17%, but the organization predicts that until 2030, their share will rise in all member countries for which projections are available.

However, the effect is likely to be felt more in some countries than in others. For example, in Australia, Austria, Japan, and New Zealand, the sole-parent families’ share of all family households with children could reach between 30% and 40% (up from 28%, 26%, 22%, and 31% respectively in the mid-2000s).

The financial burden for people in these positions is enormous. According to the Center for American Progress, a woman who is 26 (the average age of first-time mothers in the US) and earns $44,000 annually will lose a cumulative $707,000 over her career if she stays out of the workforce for 5 years. That amount includes potential raises, benefits, and pensions she forgoes by dropping out of full-time work.

But it’s difficult to imagine how moving in with your 19-year-old sibling and their roommate would help anyone who is already living with their parents. Of course, it might very well be that the Redditor’s sister is overwhelmed and desperately wants to improve her situation. However, the answer she came up with doesn’t sound like an improvement to her or anyone else involved. Perhaps she and her parents will find another way.

People who read the story said the teen had every right to refuse

Text discussing refusal to share college dorm room with older sister and baby, advice against it.

Reddit comment discussing refusal to share a college dorm with an older sister and her baby.

Text from a forum post discussing dorm room sharing issues with a sister and baby.

Text discussing refusal to share college dorm room with older sister and her baby, emphasizing space and noise concerns.

Comment discussing rules on college dorm room sharing and potential risks.

Reddit comment discussing refusal to share a college dorm room.

Reddit comment about refusing to share a college dorm room with an older sister and baby.

Reddit comment about college dorm room disagreement with older sister and baby.

Text discussing dorm room rules about non-students, mentioning it's a safety issue and referencing paperwork against non-student stays.

Reddit comment discussing refusal to share a college dorm room with sister and baby, calling the idea ludicrous.

Reddit comment discussing refusal to share college dorm room.

Reddit comment discussing concerns about sharing a college dorm room with sister and baby.

Reddit comment discussing refusal to share a dorm room with a sister and her baby.

Text discussing refusal to share college dorm room due to inconvenient family arrangement with sister and baby.

Reddit comment discussing refusal to share a dorm room with sister and baby.

Reddit comment saying not to share college dorm room with sister and her baby due to college rules.

Text exchange about dorm room sharing concerns, addressing housing rules and family accommodations in college.

Reddit comment discussing issues with sharing a college dorm room with a sister and her baby.

Reddit comment discussing refusal to share a college dorm room with a sibling and baby.

Comment discussing college dorm room sharing issues and advice on family responsibilities.

Comment about thin dorm walls affecting privacy with sister and baby situation.

Reddit comment about college dorm room sharing issues with sibling and her baby.

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