“You Can’t Stay Here Alone!”: Parents Ban Daughter From Family Home After She Declines Their Vacation

Matthew Gilligan

13 minutes ago

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Some families, to be blunt, just aren’t good at communicating.

And, on top of that, some of them can be petty as all get-out when things get complicated.

Take this woman’s family, for instance.

She isn’t interested in going on a long trip out of the country with her family, and now it’s being used against her in a pretty rude way.

Get her story below and see what you think about this.

AITA for refusing to go on a 3 and a half week long vacation with my family?

“I (20F) work casual retail in Australia. Late last year my parents invited me on a 3.5 week family trip to Japan for December 2026.

I initially said no because December is the busiest retail period, I don’t get paid leave, and missing almost a month of work would mean losing thousands in income.

If you insist!

After I explained this several times, my parents repeatedly promised they’d pay for my flights and accommodation. They said all I’d need to cover was food and spending money because what mattered to them most was having the whole family there- essentially that money wasn’t a problem. Based on that, I agreed.

This year they suddenly changed their minds and told me I now had to pay for flights and accommodation. I reminded them I only agreed because of the original promise, but they said I’m an adult and should contribute.

I’ve been saving almost all of my income to get my license and buy my first car. I commute 2-2.5 hours each way to work and university by public transport, and I’ve had multiple experiences of men harassing me on buses.

She’s very serious about this.

A car isn’t just convenience for me—it’s something I’ve been working towards for safety and independence, my parents are not aware i’m saving for one. In the past 6 months I’ve had more than a dozen instances of men harassing and following me late at night at stations.

I also don’t actually want to go on this trip. I’ve turned down trips with friends and my boyfriend because I’d rather finish university and keep saving. I only agreed because of the arrangement my parents offered.

I suggested a compromise: I’d come for one week and fly home alone so we could still have family time while I didn’t lose nearly a month’s income.

They refused and said it was all or nothing.

Wow…this is pretty crazy.

They’ve now told me that if I don’t go, I’m not allowed to stay in the family home while they’re away and that it’s “not their problem” if I have nowhere else to stay. Mind you, they don’t know I’m saving for a car.

They say this isn’t punishment for refusing the trip but because they don’t trust me to be home alone. Their reasons are two incidents. About seven years ago, as a teenager, I accidentally fell asleep while boiling water. It was dangerous, and I completely accept that.

At the time I had severe insomnia that was later diagnosed and treated with medication after I became an adult, and it has never happened again.

The second incident was earlier this year when my mum blamed me for leaving a hair curler plugged into the wall.

This doesn’t sound fair…

I maintain it wasn’t mine because I didn’t even own a curler at the time, but they believed my sister instead. They say these incidents prove I’m too irresponsible to stay home alone.

My parents, sister and several relatives all think I’m being selfish and unreasonable. My aunt even said I should be grateful they considered my compromise because, in her house, there wouldn’t have been one.

I understand they wanted a family holiday, but I feel like I only agreed because of a promise they later withdrew.

AITA?”

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This person had a lot to say.