Tattling on your siblings is generally not a good practice. But what if you’re only trying to be responsible?
An internet user asked, “Am I a jerk to tell my mom that my 13-year-old sister got a stick and poke tattoo on her finger?”. Here’s the whole story for your context!
BACKSTORY
The Original Poster (OP) (21F) is conflicted about telling her mom that her little sister (13F) got a tattoo.
WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY?
OP’s little sister showed OP the tattoo yesterday and thought it was super cool; however, OP’s mom is extremely against tattoos. Her mom has told OP she would kick her out of the house for a tattoo.
OP IS WORRIED
She (OP) is not trying to be a tattletale, but she’s genuinely worried about how much trouble her sister could get in.
“My generation is not the same as hers, and my mom lets her have a lot more freedom than I did as a kid, so I didn’t get into the kinds of things she does,” says OP.
SOME MORE CONTEXT
OP’s sister has also told OP about how she’s been hanging out with her friend (13F), and they got in a car with other teen boys (16M) (15M) and were running around the woods.
“For context, this is the same day she also got the tattoo, so she just went wild on that day, I guess,” says OP.
THE ISSUE RIGHT NOW
She (OP) is honestly terrified if her mom does not wrangle her little sister now, it will get way worse.
“I love my little sister to death, and I’m so conflicted because she confided this in me, but I want to do some type of prevention because I know it will only get worse if she is only 13 and already getting into this stuff,” says OP.
WHY IS OP SO CONCERNED?
She (OP) couldn’t care less about the tattoo itself, and her concern is her sister is getting some disease from it or getting into worse trouble outside of this tattoo.
IS OP THE JERK?
“I think it’s a small thing but an indication for more trouble. I did try to talk to my sister about it and let her understand the risks, but she had absolutely zero care and thought it was funny. Am I a jerk?” asks OP.
IT’S NOT ABOUT THE TATTOO
“Not the jerk and my biggest concern wouldn’t be the tattoo itself, but what else a 13-year-old getting into that isn’t allowed, and who she’s hanging out with.”
LET YOUR MOM BE HER MOM
“You’re the jerk if you snitch on your sister. She’s 13, and she’s acting out. You are not her mother. Your mother is her mother, and ultimately it’s her responsibility to ‘wrangle’ your sister, not yours.
Reading between the lines, it seems like your sister is being deliberately difficult, and from what you’ve said, I wouldn’t be surprised if it had something to do with her relationship with your mother.
My advice is to keep your sister’s confidence, don’t snitch on her to your mom, and do your best to be a supportive presence in her life. In other words, if you snitch on her on this, you might guarantee that the next time she’s doing something crazy, she will hide it from you, just as she’s hiding things from your mom already. Let your mom be her mom, and you be her sister.”
YOUR MOM NEEDS A WAKE-UP CALL
“Look out for your little sister. Your mom has gotten a little inattentive in her older age; she needs a wake-up call. This entire story would wake her up pretty quickly, and it is the start of a slippery slope. My daughter is 12, and I’d be freaking out if that was her getting a tattoo and hanging out with 16-year-old boys. Nope, not in my house!”
SHE’S NEEDS TO GO TO THE DOCTOR
“Not the jerk. As someone who works in healthcare, your sister needs to go to the doctor. She’ll need to be tested for blood-borne infections at least twice over the next few months to make sure she doesn’t develop anything. The tattoo itself should be checked out as well.”
YOU’RE IN THE RIGHT
“Not the jerk. Your sister is putting herself at risk, and as an adult who loves her, you’re right in that you have a responsibility to do what you can to protect her. Just be careful with how you approach your mom on this; make it clear you’re letting her know not for punishment but to help your sister avoid risky behavior in the future.”
Woman Annoyed As Sister-in-Law Tries For Another Baby. Tells Her, “I Thought You Would Handle The Kid After Work”. Brother Sides With Wife. Is She A Jerk?
While it is ultimately up to a couple to decide whether or not to have a baby, if they expect you to be a primary.. read more.
Father-in-Law Yells “Stop Bothering Me Woman’; Daughter-in-Law Angry. Asks Husband To Stop Talking To His Father, Should He?
A user asked, Am I a jerk for telling my wife not to talk to my dad, but I will continue to? You decide.
Sister-in-Law Mad As She Ordered The “Same” Dish As Her Boyfriend. Says, “You Were Rude, and Made Him Uncomfortable”. Is This Fair?
Have you ever found yourself wondering about dining etiquette and whether it’s acceptable to order the same meal as someone else at a restaurant? Read more.
Girlfriend Upset As Boyfriend Demands Access To Her Bank Account. Says, “I’ll Give You $400+ A Week, But I Need To Know Where You Spend”. Is This Fair?
An internet user asked, Am I a jerk for demanding access to my fiance’s bank accounts? Here’s the full story for you to introspect. Read more and decide.
Brother and his Fiance Are Furious As His Sister Declines To Be A Bridesmaid. Says, “You’re Exaggerating Your Work Situation”. Is This Fair?
In today’s world, some jobs offer a great deal of flexibility, while others are demanding and require long hours.. read more.
This article was originally published on Mrs. Daaku Studio.