An anonymous woman shared on Reddit’s “AITAH” subreddit about her struggle with her boyfriend’s 12-year-old son, Jake, who deliberately scares her 3-month-old daughter. Despite showing affection for his sister, Jake would startle the baby multiple times a day by yelling “RA!” and then laughing. The woman, who has postpartum depression, sought advice online due to her inability to stop this behavior.
The woman warned Jake about the potential harm to the baby’s ears and the lack of humor in his actions. Despite her efforts, the behavior persisted. Three days before posting, she confronted her boyfriend and Jake, delivering an ultimatum: “If he purposely scared my kid again, then [Jake and OP’s boyfriend] would be evicted.”
The night before sharing her story, the woman overheard Jake scaring the baby again. Enraged and concerned, she immediately told her boyfriend and Jake to leave. Her boyfriend refused, claiming his right to stay. She threatened to leave herself and serve an eviction notice the next day.
Her story received support online. One user commented, “NTA. Yes. He’s 12. Old enough to know better and to not do it.” Another added, “As the mother of a 12-year-old, I 100% agree that this is not normal for that age.” Many affirmed that the woman took the appropriate action in protecting her baby.