Social Dilemma: Should I Have to Bail My Brother Out of Jail?

Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma came from Peter and it's about family. Here's his email: Hi Jaime. I'm having an issue with my mother and my family, hoping you can use this dilemma so I can get some input. Just because they’re your family doesn’t mean you always have to be there no matter what. My mom is giving me grief because my brother got arrested…for the third time…and she doesn’t have the money to bail him out…again. Now, she’s leaning on me to help out because “he’s family, and he’d do it for you.” First, no he wouldn’t. Second, he’s clearly not getting the message since it's his third arrest. Finally, he’s probably cost my mother upwards of $50K in bail bonds and legal fees. That’s not a financial burden I’m willing to take. My mom says I’m ruining the family. I say that my brother started doing that long ago, and I don’t need to get sucked into it. How can I make my mom understand that he needs to start taking care of himself and growing up…and not sponging off us as his get-out-of-jail-free bounce-back plan? Hope you can help. Thanks Jaime ~ Peter Well, I am with Peter on this. Tough love is important in these kinds of situations. I feel so bad for the mom, but the only way Peter's brother is going to learn is to not be saved everytime he screws up. I would recommend Peter asking his mom to go to therapy together. That's my take. What do you think? Let's help Peter out and let me know on the TRY Facebook page.