Woman Rents Quiet Cottage to Honor Her Late Father with Intimate Family Gathering. Then Her Mom Invites 30 Extra People

A woman went to Reddit for advice after a family trip turned into a conflict with her mom.

Last year, her parents rented a cottage by a lake. She, her husband, and their three kids spent the day there and made great memories. They enjoyed it so much that they planned a longer trip for the next year, booking a bigger cottage in the woman’s name.

Sadly, her father passed away in December. He had asked for no funeral—just to be cremated and have his ashes spread at the lake he loved. After talking with her mom, they decided to have a small family gathering at the lake instead of a service.

The plan was for 15 family members, including her sister, whom she barely talks to and whose children she had never met. But as the trip got closer, her mom invited about 20 more people, making the group nearly 30.

The woman reminded her mom that the rental agreement clearly said “no events or parties.” Her mom didn’t think it was a problem and said she would talk to the owners if needed. One of the extra guests was her sister’s boyfriend—someone the woman had never met—who her mom expected to stay overnight in the same house as her three kids (ages 13, 11, and 8).

That was the breaking point. She told her mom “no” and suggested moving the gathering to another location, like a rented hall. She even offered to transfer the cottage booking into her mom’s name so her mom could do whatever she wanted, while she and her family stayed elsewhere.

Most Reddit users supported her, warning that breaking Airbnb rules could lead to serious fines or bans. They also pointed out that her mom might not be thinking clearly because of grief, but that her boundaries were reasonable.

In the end, she asked the community: “Am I the bad guy for not letting my mom throw a big party at the rental house and for not allowing my estranged sister and her boyfriend to stay with us?”