Sometimes, what seems like a small, kind gesture can turn into an unexpected source of tension, especially when it involves your ex and current spouse.

What would you do if your ex needed a small favor for the kids? Do you go with your instincts and help out?

In the following story, a man finds himself in the exact situation.

Here’s how he handled it.

AITA for allowing my ex-wife into my home?

Early yesterday evening, my ex-wife came to pick up our son from my home.

At the time, my wife and I had a few visitors over for dinner. The visitors included her sister and husband, but they were mostly friends.

My ex usually phones our son when she’s downstairs (we live in an apartment building), and he goes down to meet her.

Yesterday, she called our son as usual but asked him to ask me if she could come up because one of her younger kids needed to use the bathroom.

I obviously said yes.

She came up with her 3 younger kids. She didn’t know we had company, so she apologized for interrupting before taking the kids to the bathroom.

Here’s where the drama starts.

On her way out, a couple of the guests stopped her for a quick chat (friends I’ve had since she and I were married), but it was only a few minutes.

My son gave his little siblings some of the snacks that were out for guests.

After they left, my wife’s sister was quick to call my ex rude for barging in.

One of my friends replied to her, saying something about small kids’ bladders, and nothing more was said about it.

However, after everyone but my wife’s sister had left, my wife and her sister started talking about it, and both agreed that it was rude and tacky.

They couldn’t believe she started talking to some of our friends.

Though he didn’t mean anything by it, his wife got upset.

When I objected, they said it was wrong of me to have let her in without asking my wife first.

I said that’s ridiculous.

Later, my wife and I discussed it again, and she said she found it embarrassing for me to just let her in like that.

I asked why, but she said I wouldn’t understand.

I was trying to do a normal, nice thing, but now I feel bad about upsetting my wife.

AITA?

That’s an awkward situation, and the sister made it much worse.

Let’s look at how the people over at Reddit responded to this situation.

This person has a good point.

Here’s an example of great co-parenting.

These are harsh words aimed at the wife and her sister.

Excellent advice!

It’s not like he invited her to join their gathering.

The wife needs to get over herself and understand that it only happened because a child needed to use the restroom.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a daughter who invited herself to her parents’ 40th anniversary vacation for all the wrong reasons.