” AITJ for SCREAMING at my aunt and kicking her out because she let her toddler use my $2000 work laptop as a toy?
I (24F) am a freelance graphic designer. My laptop is basically my entire life. I saved up for 2 years to buy this specific machine because i need it for heavy rendering and detailed work. It cost me around $2,000 and it is the most expensive thing i own.
Last weekend, my aunt came over to visit my parents house where i am currently living to save some money. She brought her 5 year old son, Sean. Sean is a loud kid and gets bored easily, but i usually just try to stay out of their way in my room.
I went to the bathroom for maybe 5 mins. I made the mistake of leaving my bedroom door slightly cracked open. When i walked back into my room, i froze.
My aunt was sitting on my bed scrolling on her phone, and Sean was sitting on the floor with my open laptop. He was smashing the keys with sticky hands (he had just eaten a chocolate bar). I literally watched him drag a greasy finger right across the screen.
I didnt even think. i rushed over, snatched the laptop away, and shouted, what are you doing?!
My aunt jumped and looked at me like i was the crazy one. She said, relax, he was just bored. He wanted to watch cartoons. Its just a computer.
I checked the screen and there were chocolate smudges all over the trackpad and keys. I turned to her and screamed, this is not a toy! This is my job! if he broke this, you wouldn’t be able to pay for it!
She got offended immediately and started yelling back that i was being a drama queen and scaring her child. She said family should share and that i value objects more than my nephew. My mom heard the yelling and came running in. My aunt demanded an apology, but i told her to get out of my room and leave the house.
Now my parents are saying i was technically right to be mad, but i shouldn’t have screamed or kicked her out because she’s family. My aunt is blasting me on facebook saying i’m unstable and selfish.
I feel bad for yelling, but she didnt even ask permission to come in, let alone touch my work equipment.
TL;DR: My aunt went into my room while i was in the bathroom and gave my expensive work laptop to her sticky 5year old to play with. I screamed at her and kicked her out, and now my family is calling me a jerk.
