It can be hard to say no to children—especially when dollhouses are involved.
In a viral Reddit post, one uncle, a 28-year-old man, found himself in a tense situation after his niece, 13, expressed a desire for a unique handcrafted dollhouse he had made for his wife. Since the post was published, it has received 15,000 upvotes. Newsweek spoke to counselor Amber Young, founder of Cope & Calm Counseling, about the dynamics at play and how the OP should proceed.
The OP, who had crafted a replica of a house known to fans of a musician—measuring just two feet tall and designed as a shelf for his wife's trinkets—was met with a series of requests from his brother to give the piece to his daughter.
His brother's argument was straightforward: since it was "easy to make," why not just create another one for his wife and gift this one to his niece? Despite the simplicity of the task, the OP refused because of he and his wife's personal connection to the house.
"I said no, this was done specifically for my wife," he wrote. "I admit I have a blind spot for this because I don't have kids."
The OP said his mother had called him about the incident, telling him his stance was "stupid." His niece also pushed for the gift, saying it would be the perfect addition to her collection. The situation escalated when the OP expressed frustration, accusing his brother of encouraging manipulative behavior in his niece.
Users on Reddit overwhelmingly backed the OP despite his family's insistence he should give up the dollhouse.
"It's your creation that you get to gift to whoever you want," one person wrote.
"I think it's an awesome present for your wife, and your brother is being an entitled jerk who's raising his daughter to also be an entitled jerk," another wrote.
An expert opinion
Licensed professional counselor Amber Young spoke to Newsweek about the relational dynamics at play in the situation, especially surrounding communicating boundaries.
According to Young, the OP's decision had been rooted in his need to maintain healthy boundaries—something his family, particularly his brother and mother, seemed to struggle to respect.
"The request to give it to his niece, while it seems straightforward, disregards the sentimental value of the gift and his autonomy in deciding who it belongs to," she said. "There is also a possible mismatch in emotional perspectives. For the man, the house is an expression of love and creativity, while his brother and niece see it more as an entertaining object."
Young suggested that the OP, while asserting his boundaries, could have handled the situation with more empathy. Instead of simply saying "no," he might have reframed the discussion to emphasize the emotional importance of the gift.
Young proposed an alternative solution that could have bridged the gap.
"For example, he could explain, 'This isn't just a project—it's a symbol of my appreciation for my wife and something she will cherish. It means a lot to both of us,'" she said. "At the same time, he can acknowledge his niece's enthusiasm and her connection to the house, while gently asserting his decision.
"This dual approach validates others' feelings without compromising his boundaries."
Newsweek reached out to u/JustSomeUncleGuy for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.
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