I (19F) am in college full-time with a 4.0 GPA, working part-time, and living with my amazing boyfriend (20M) of two years. We share a one-bedroom apartment and barely make ends meet. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 16 after being hospitalized twice, but I worked hard to stabilize, get medicated, and leave a really toxic home behind. I’m now doing well and am on track to apply to PhD programs.

My home life growing up was rough. My dad died when I was 8, and my mom remarried a man I’ve always had issues with. My mom was constantly screaming, emotionally unstable, and would guilt-trip my brother and me for “ruining her marriage.” She threatened to kick me out multiple times and only recently became more emotionally present.

My brother (17M) has also been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and ADHD. He spiraled hard the past few years—he’s lied compulsively, copied people’s personalities, had horrible social awareness, and done genuinely unsafe stuff like robbing a house, faking a fentanyl overdose, and recently getting alcohol poisoning by drinking 30-year-old brandy he found in the basement.

He’s now on medication (including an antipsychotic and Vyvanse) and just started therapy a month ago. But this morning, after another relapse, my mom called me sobbing saying she “can’t do this anymore” and she’s “finally done.” She wants to kick him out and asked if he can come live with me.

He’s five months from turning 18 and trying to fast-track online school so he can graduate and move to college near me. Until then, I’d basically be: • Babysitting a minor with serious mental health issues • Acting as his full-time emotional caretaker/rehab/therapist • Paying to feed him, house him, and manage his needs • Giving up my only space and privacy with my boyfriend in a 1-bedroom

My boyfriend is incredibly supportive and said he’d be okay with it if my mom paid for our full rent, since the situation would take over our apartment and lives. I agree—and told my mom I would only take my brother in if she paid me $1,500/month to cover food, rent, utilities, and emotional labor. She said she’d “give me something” but refuses to commit to a number and got super defensive when I said it outright.

For context: my mom and stepdad make over six figures and live in a cheap small town. When my dad died, I was left just a few thousand dollars. My mom saved nothing for my college and refuses to help me pay, saying “my parents didn’t help me either.” The only reason I’ve gotten financial aid is because she’s a tax accountant and manipulated their income on paper. But this year, she told me she couldn’t do that anymore—and now that their income is above $200k, I’m going to lose most of my aid. She told me I should just take out private, unsubsidized loans with sky-high interest rates. I already have $15k in federal loan debt.

She says I’m being selfish. But I feel like I’m being forced to either sacrifice my future or abandon my brother—someone I’ve basically raised through chaos. I love him. But I’ve fought so hard to survive and get ahead. I don’t think it’s fair to be expected to do this for free.

AITA for demanding $1,500/month to take in my brother instead of just doing it because he’s family? TL;DR: My mom (who makes six figures) wants me (19F) to take in my mentally unstable brother (17M) for five months while I’m in college. I’d have to give up my space, privacy, and focus. I asked for $1,500/month to cover the cost and mental burden. AITA?