A concerned sibling shared their troubling story about their sister's hoarding habits and the negative impact it's having on their nephew. The situation has reached a boiling point, leading to a confrontation that has left family ties strained. Read on for the full account.

My sister's house is basically overrun with rodents. Every time I've visited, I can hear the scritching and scratching. Sometimes I even catch a glimpse of one. It’s very creepy and unhygienic because I'm sure the droppings are everywhere.
The reason they're around is because my sister is a hoarder. She keeps all these old food packages lingering around in stacks all over the house.
I've gently hinted that she has a problem before, but she'll deny, deny, deny, insisting that it's just “normal clutter” or that it’s just not trash day yet.
My nephew Jim works two part-time jobs and volunteers on the weekends since school has been out. I think he's just trying to get out of the house. Every time I see him, he seems so defeated and down.
Recently, I was visiting him and my sister, and my sister was talking about how she plans to bring in some new wallpapers to remodel the house and give it a fresher look. Jim sounded cheerful enough at first, but midway through the conversation, tears just started rolling down his face. He looked embarrassed, kind of awkwardly said sorry, and left.
My sister explained he's been in “moods” lately and said, “you know, teen years.” I said teen years? Have you ever stopped to think he's unhappy because you’re a hoarder and his home is full of mice?
My sister got offended and asked how dare I call her a hoarder. She said the only reason I've seen her house even slightly unclean is because I’m her sister and she trusts me enough to be casual and other excuses. I didn't mean to upset her or be so mean, but I just felt so bad for my nephew and I was tired of hearing her excuses.
But now she's upset with me, and I regret it because we've been so close over the years. Am I wrong? Should I just apologize?

The general sentiment of the comments is strongly supportive of the poster's actions, with most commenters deeming them "not in the wrong." Many commenters expressed serious concern about the nephew's well-being and urged the original poster to take immediate action, such as calling Child Protective Services (CPS) or other authorities to address the hazardous living conditions. A recurring theme is the acknowledgment of hoarding as a serious mental illness that requires professional intervention. While some commenters criticized the sister for her denial and behavior, they also emphasized that the nephew's safety and mental health should be the primary concern. A few commenters shared personal experiences with hoarding, reinforcing the potentially devastating impact such environments can have on children.

Among the top comments, one user strongly advised a more drastic approach in addressing the issue by calling the authorities. They highlighted the potential health risks, noting, "Breathing in the air in a house with rats can make you sick. Leaving old food around the house is just as bad. This isn’t safe." The commenter emphasized that the original poster was right to point out the problem and suggested giving the sister one last chance to clean up before making such a call, while also cautioning that any clean-up efforts might not last unless the root cause is addressed.

Another highly rated comment accused the poster of enabling the sister's behavior for too long and insisted that immediate intervention was necessary to protect the nephew. They wrote, "Stop coddling the adult and help the minor who doesn't have a choice." This commenter urged the original poster to call CPS and consider taking the nephew into their own home, arguing that the sister won't change unless forced to and that only through external intervention could the nephew's living conditions improve.

A third prominent comment provided a personal account from someone who grew up in a hoarding environment. The commenter described the severe negative impact it had on their mental health and life, stating, "Living in that house destroyed my mental health in so many ways." They stressed that hoarding is a mental illness and urged the original poster to take immediate action to support their nephew and get the necessary professional help for the sister. They suggested starting with a conversation with the nephew to understand his feelings and exploring options for professional therapy and youth services to address his emotional and mental well-being.

In conclusion, the overwhelming response to this family's dilemma underscores the urgency and gravity of the situation. Commenters largely agree that the nephew's well-being must take precedence and that living in a hoarder house with a rodent infestation poses serious health and psychological risks. While many empathize with the sister's struggle, recognizing it as a mental illness that requires professional intervention, the consensus is clear: immediate action is needed to ensure the nephew's safety and to encourage the sister to seek the help she needs. This story serves as a poignant reminder that sometimes tough love is necessary to protect the vulnerable and to spur meaningful, life-changing improvements.