My Parents Sold Their House To Fund My Sister’s Party And Moved Into Mine Rent-free. I Finally Evicted Them On My Birthday After One Last Insult. Now They Called The Cops—am I The Jerk?
Eviction Notice
She was right. Of course she was. And for the first time in my life I felt this weird calm settle in. Like I’d finally stopped begging for scraps and realized I didn’t need their permission.
I walked into my own house like I was walking into enemy territory. They were on the couch watching some Hallmark Christmas movie, eating popcorn out of my bowl like they’d bought it themselves. Sarah gave me that look from the kitchen, the ‘don’t lose it right now’ look.-
I sat down across from them and said, “So you’re really doing Christmas on my birthday?”
Dad muted the TV. “Don’t start. It’s easier this way.”
“Easier for who? Not for me.”
Mom jumped in. “It’s not always about you. We have to think about Emily. She has Derek’s son that weekend and we want him to feel included.”
I couldn’t help myself. I laughed. “So you’re telling me the comfort of a 12-year-old you see twice a month is more important than your own son’s birthday? Got it. Solid parenting choice.”
Mom’s face tightened. “Don’t twist my words.”
“I don’t have to twist them Mom. You’re already doing the yoga routine yourself.”
Dad pointed his finger like he was about to lay down the law. “You’re being disrespectful but what’s new? You always have been you know.”
I leaned back in my chair and said, “Nah I’m done with you. You guys have ignored my birthday my whole life. You hijacked my wedding for Emily’s engagement. You sold your house without telling me and moved into mine like I’m running a hotel. And now you want me to smile while you erase my birthday again. Nope. Not happening.”–
The room went dead silent. Even the Hallmark actors on TV looked uncomfortable. Mom crossed her arms. “So what are you saying? You’re not coming?”
“I’m not coming,” I said. “And if you insist on doing it on the 28th then you won’t be staying here either.”
Dad scoffed. “You wouldn’t kick your own parents out right before Christmas.”
I stared at him. “Try me.”
Mom gasped like I just announced I was joining the circus. “How could you say that? We’re your parents. You can’t treat us like strangers.”
I stood up. “Funny because that’s exactly how you’ve treated me my whole life. Like a stranger. Except you know one you can sponge off whenever you need.”
Sarah put her hand on my arm. Not to stop me but to show me she was with me, and that gave me the push I needed.
I walked into the guest room—sorry, Sarah’s old office—and started pulling their suitcases out of the closet. Dad followed me red in the face. “You’re overreacting!”
“Am I?” I said, tossing his shirts into the bag. “Because I feel like I’m finally reacting just enough.”–
Mom hovered in the doorway hands on her hips. “Where do you expect us to go? We don’t have a house.”
“Maybe you should have thought of that before you sold it to pay for Emily’s party,” I shot back. “Not my problem.”
I dragged the bags to the living room and set them by the door. “You’ve got a ton of family. Call one of them. Maybe Emily will let you stay since you clearly love her so much.”
Dad’s face was red like a stop sign. “You’re being cruel.”
“No,” I said. “This is me finally matching your energy.”
They just stood there sputtering. Sarah stayed behind me, arms crossed, glaring at them like a guard dog. That night after they stormed out—yes with their bags, yes mom still trying to guilt me with “You’ll regret this”—I sat down with Sarah and opened up the family group chat.
The Group Chat Rebellion
I typed: “Since mom and dad decided to schedule Christmas on my birthday again I won’t be going. I’ll be celebrating my birthday at home instead. Anyone who actually cares is welcome to stop by.”–
I stared at it for a second, hit send, and tossed my phone on the table. Sarah raised her eyebrows. “You really did it?”
“Yep,” I said. “And you know what? I feel amazing.”
5 minutes later the reply started rolling in. Aunt Lisa: “Wait on your birthday? Didn’t you tell them not to do that this year?”
Me: “Yep.”
Uncle Joe: “So they sold their house for Emily’s party moved into yours and still ignored your birthday? Classy.”
Cousin Mark: “I might swing by yours instead. Sick of eating turkey three times a week.”
Emily finally chimed in with, “Wow way to make this all about you again. Christmas is about family.”
I wrote back, “Yeah and my birthday is about me. Crazy concept huh?”
She left me on read.
My father jumped in with, “Don’t disrespect your mother. She’s trying her best.”
Uncle Joe replied, “Her best? This is her best? Then her best sucks.”
At that point I was actually laughing. Sarah leaned over, read the messages and said, “Your family has always noticed this. I mean it’s hard not to. I never expected anyone to take my side. For years it’s been ‘Don’t upset your mom.’ And you know how Emily is.”–
But seeing my family actually call them out in the chat that was new and it felt damn good. By the time I went to bed at least 5 relatives had said they’d come to our place instead. Nothing huge but enough to make my parents sweat. And I knew they would.
I lay in bed next to Sarah and said, “They’re going to lose it when half the family doesn’t show up.”
She smiled. “Good. About time.”
