Man Surrenders Nephew To Child Services After His Sister Left Her Baby With Him, Asks If He Did The Right Thing

Oct 23, 2019

In recent months, the popular Reddit forum AITA has skyrocketed in popularity. The forum, which anyone can join and participate in, allows users to post stories in which they may or may not have behaved unscrupulously. Commenters then take on the role of judges, declaring whether or not the original poster is an "a-hole."

The forum's popularity can be attributed to the lively debates surrounding different stories of possible misbehavior. Common themes include parents asking whether or not they were too strict when disciplining their children and individuals who aren't sure whether or not they did the right thing in breaking up with their significant other. However, a recent post has gone completely viral, thanks in part to the fact that commenters seem evenly split on whether or not the original poster is an a-hole.

In the post, a user known simply by the name "UsedFlight" describes his strained relationship with his adult sister. The siblings lost their parents many years ago and they rarely see one another, despite living in the same city.

One day UsedFlight's sister showed up completely unannounced at his door and rang the bell. When UsedFlight emerged, his sister barely said a word to him as she dropped off her three-year-old son on his doorstep, calling to him that she was checking into a hospital for mental health issues as she swiftly got back into her car. She left none of the supplies that a toddler would need, such as diapers and toys, aside from the car seat he was secured to when she dropped him on her brother's stoop.

Unable to protest or to stop his sister from driving away, UsedFlight was stuck with a tiny nephew he barely knew. Deciding that he was unable to care for the child, he contacted the authorities. His local child services became involved in the case and removed the child from his care. "They took [my nephew] away and [his mother] is still in the hospital. I have no way of contacting her, nor has she tried to contact me," UsedFlight wrote. He added that he anticipated a "hell storm" when his sister was finally released.

While many Am I The A-Hole? posts result in a consensus amongst users, this post left commenters absolutely split down the middle. It seemed that no one could agree on whether or not UsedFlight did the right thing by contacting the appropriate authorities or the wrong thing by not putting family first.

"You can't just turn your back on your family! Sorry, but you are absolutely the a-hole here," wrote one commenter. "You and your sister might not be close, but you're still her brother. She needed you in her most desperate and vulnerable moment. Instead of doing the right thing, you let her down. Shame on you!" However, another user vehemently disagreed. "Just because you're [related by] blood doesn't mean you're 'family,'" the commenter wrote. "He barely knows this child and he's not equipped to properly care for this little boy. They might be blood relatives, but he's not the right person for this huge task. The child is better off under the care of professionals."

Although the users of AITA? couldn't come to a consensus as to whether or not UsedFlight was an a-hole, everyone seemed to unanimously agree that his sister was a horrible person for what she did: "I've struggled with mental health issues for my whole life," one brave user shared. "It's difficult and it's hard, I get that. But even in my lowest moment, I would never do what this woman did. She should have stayed long enough at his doorstep to discuss what was going to happen to her son. You can't just yell 'he's your problem now' and run off like a thief in the night!"

A handful of users questioned the veracity of UsedFlight's tale. One commenter wrote, "I have serious doubts about whether or not this really happened. Even if child protective services got involved, they wouldn't just take your nephew and leave. They'd keep you in the loop and try to find a way where the child could be cared for in an appropriate environment while still being in contact with his family, i.e. you." UsedFlight maintains that his story is true. As of now he's posted no updates on what has become of her sister and his son. Hopefully, this saga will have a happy ending and everyone will get the love, support and stability that they deserve.

What do you think about this story? Do you believe UsedFlight did the right thing or were his actions unacceptable? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this article along to hear what others have to say about it!