AITA: heater conflict, mom yells at me to shut the fuck up

I’m 15. There are three heaters in the house, but one went missing and the other is always with my parents. The only heater me and my sister can use is the one we rotate. I had it for awhile time at first, more than four days, when nobody else wanted it. It was like it was sitting in a closet. I was the only one that was cold during that time. Then my sister asked for it, and even though she’s in a loft bed with multiple blankets and I only have one, I let her take for four days, because who cares.

After those four days, she let me take it back. I had it for about a day and a half, Then she took it again, after that day and a half. That was the only time we both wanted it, I was using it when nobody did. I was fine giving her it for four days before, but taking it back after I barely had any time when we both wanted it felt extremely unfair. I explained this to my parents, and said I’m fine with sharing. They told me I “owe” her time (different words, but owe sums it up) as their reasoning on why she gets to take it again, when I already let her have it before. Also, my dad sometimes took it into his office when I was using it, since his office is right next to my room and even if it’s not super cold, it still feels better. Point is, I wasn’t hogging it every hour on the days I had it.

Then, my mom said “life isn’t fair,” which on its own was not a big deal. I replied, “if life isn’t fair, then why can’t I use yours? You never share yours, it’s always in your guys room.” (I said it that way because her comment sounded like an excuse to make the conversation end quick, even though I had been using fairly) She said she was the one who bought all three heaters and that one disappeared. I said, “Its not your money it’s dads, and I didn’t have anything to do with the lost heater, so why does it matter if you bought them?” not because I care who paid, but because she is a shitty person and my mom doesn’t even have a job, so I didn’t see the point she was making.

(explaining all the reasons why she’s shitty is a whole different thing, I explain a small portion near the end)

She immediately yelled, “SHUT THE FUCK UP.” I didn’t really get mad back. I just asked why she said that, she just went quiet.

In the end, I did not get the heater. I was angry and my heart was pounding. And because of things she did when I was I think around four to nine years old, like locking me in my room and sitting in front of my door for an entire day with my sister having to wait for her to fall asleep so she could sneak around into a different room and unlock a different way out, I don’t have much respect left for her. When I was leaving I said, “fuck you too.” I only regret it because my dad now has to deal with the fallout.

Am I the asshole?

(Small vent) man, my life feels like a fucking cartoon. Shit that makes zero sense occurs, and then resets after a few days like nothing happened, whatever the fuck that may be.

13 thoughts on “AITA: heater conflict, mom yells at me to shut the fuck up”
  1. Nah, you’re not the asshole for being upset—feeling ignored and yelled at sucks, especially when you’re just trying to be fair with the heater. Your mom shutting you down like that? Not cool.

    But yeah, saying “fuck you too” won’t fix things, even if it’s understandable given the history. You’re stuck in a messy situation, and it sucks, but keep your head up. Maybe find a way to talk when things are calmer, or get your dad involved if you can. You deserve to be heard without getting yelled at.

  2. NTA. Your mom is shitty, your situation is shitty, and you deserve to be warm (and fed and loved etc).

    You fighting with your sibling over the one heater is.. age appropriate. Try to not lose too much sleep over it, or team up together and convince your dad to rotate both heaters. Ask for more blankets, or an electrical blanket? As they might be less expensive as a heater.

  3. NTA. The heater drama is just the surface sounds like there’s way bigger issues in your house. Hope things get better for you.

  4. NTA. You asked your parents to help regulate the sharing of the heater with your sister. Your mom refused and said “life isn’t fair” which makes no sense because it is literally their house and they can make it fair if they wanted.

    It usually is not a good idea to make comments about parents’ financial arrangement. Even if you don’t think her logic is sound, it really isn’t your place to play semantics on who is earning the money because at the end of the day it is *their* money as a married (?) couple.

    This would be an everyone-sucks-situation, but your mom was so out of line in screaming that at you. Yes, you shouldn’t have reciprocated with your comment at the end, but she is the parent (who should be held to a higher standard) and set that poor example.

    From your comment, it seems like your sister is far more mature than your mom. I hope you can work this out with her moving forward; talking to your dad may also be a good bet.

    I feel you so heavy with the vent at the end. I deal with a similar dynamic where my brother acts like a literal cartoon villain, and it just seems to “go away” after a bit without anything actually being resolved. Hang in there bro, it truly does get easier when you are older.

  5. NTA You deserve to be warm.

    You can find a cheap heater at Goodwill or Facebook marketplace.
    Are you on Facebook? Search for Buy Nothing Group for your city, post that you need a space heater, chances are someone has one lying around. I know I did until I gave it away

    Also some organizations give out free heaters during the winter.

    Is there someone you can talk to at school? They should be able to find you some resources to help.

    Good luck.

  6. Did the 3rd heater find it’s way to parents’ room so they can have one each?

    Why don’t you have more blankets?

    1. Yeah, OPs definitely in a shitty situation and the parents clearly just need to buy another heater, that’s pretty important. The “life’s not fair” attitude while making the kid sacrifice instead of sacrificing themselves. Like your kids not the adult who is supposed to be providing for basic needs like warmth, you are. If you can’t provide that for all the members of your family you supply it for the kids you chose to have, you don’t make your kid suffer for your failures.

      That money comment was fucked up though. It’s straight up misogyny, and it’s not even legally true. Like your mom sacrificed her career to stay home and raise you and be present in your life and that’s a really screwed up thing to say. Yeah the moms being shitty too, but that sort of attitude towards women needs to be checked now.

  7. NTA – I don’t know if they’re expensive but it’d be nice for your parents to replace the third heater so everyone has one. Your mom locking you in your room in the past and yelling an obscenity at you is sad and bad on her part.

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