Reason single mom isn’t sharing lottery winnings with family backed online

A single mom has won the internet’s support after refusing to share her lottery winnings with her family.

Reddit user u/Objective-Throat-995, a 34-year-old woman, shared her story on the platform, where it quickly amassed 16,000 upvotes in the popular subreddit “AITAH [Am I the A*****?].” She described how she bought a lottery ticket on a whim while grocery shopping and unexpectedly won a “decent” jackpot. The post has since been removed from the site.

“Anyway, I was ecstatic. First thing I did was call my mom. She was excited at first, but then like a minute later, she starts saying, ‘So, are you going to share it with the family?’ Like, before I’d even processed the news myself,” she wrote.

Offering some context, she explained that she has two siblings, though their relationship has always been somewhat “distant.” When she had her son, who is autistic and requires significant support, it was essentially just her handling it on her own.

“So, I was really surprised when she asked about sharing the winnings right away. And, to be real, my gut reaction was kind of, ‘Um, no.’ I mean, where was this ‘family takes care of family’ idea when I was struggling?”

She told her mom she planned to keep the money to “secure [her] son’s future, pay off debts, and just finally breathe a little.”

Her mom called the decision “disappointing,” and soon after, her siblings chimed in, labeling her “selfish” and “greedy.”

“I feel awful now, second-guessing myself. Like, maybe I’m being too harsh? But I also can’t ignore that they weren’t there when I needed them. And it’s not like I’m blowing the money. I’m planning on setting it up so that my son’s cared for, because he might always need extra help, and honestly, it’s always just been us,” she shared.

She ended her post with a heartfelt question: “So, AITA for wanting to keep the winnings for me and my son’s future instead of handing it out to my family who never really helped us?”

Expert Weighs In

Psychologist Caitlin Slavens, a perinatal mental health and child psychologist at MamaPsychologists, shared her thoughts on this family dilemma with Newsweek.

“This is a dilemma that brings up so much about family roles, boundaries, and the expectations that can get tangled up between them.

“Winning the lottery is a big event, and it makes sense that [the] OP’s mom and siblings might see it as an opportunity to ‘share the wealth,’ but here’s where personal boundaries and individual values need to be respected,” she explained.

Slavens explained that OP’s winnings represent a unique opportunity to secure long-term stability for her and her son, who may require continued support due to his special needs.

“This isn’t a situation of greed, but rather one of prioritizing immediate, tangible needs—especially when the support system she would typically rely on hasn’t been consistently available in the past.”

As for navigating the family tension, Slavens suggests OP consider an open conversation with her family.

She could express gratitude for their enthusiasm, acknowledge any hurt feelings, and clearly explain her reasoning: the windfall provides essential peace of mind for her and her son’s future.

By framing it in this way, the OP can respect her family’s feelings without compromising her boundaries.

“Family dynamics often run deep, and open conversations like this can allow each person to feel heard without necessarily changing the outcome,” she said.

Ultimately, Slavens agrees that OP is under no obligation to share her winnings, as her decision to focus on her and her son’s needs reflects her commitment to their stability and well-being.

Reddit Reacts

The Reddit community overwhelmingly supported the OP’s choice to keep the jackpot for her immediate family’s needs.

“Yup, your mom basically told you their support is transactional. They have some nerve to call you greedy,” one posted.

“If you need to pay for support, you might as well pay professionals that will listen to you. Not family that will ignore you,” another Redditor commented.

“Remember. Next time you win. Tell no one!” another advised, with a hint of humor.

One user even suggested she confront her family directly: “You may have thought it, but I’d straight-up say it. Where were you when I needed support and help? Call them out and tell them they don’t support you, so why do you need to support them?”

Newsweek reached out to u/Objective-Throat-995 for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the post.

Newsweek‘s “What Should I Do?” offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice on relationships, family, friends, money and work and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek.