Being a parent is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding yet challenging responsibilities.
Looking for support in parenting is common, but it’s the approach that really matters.
A recent post on Reddit’s ‘Am I The A*****e‘ thread sparked a discussion when a mother of five shared her frustration about her eldest son not helping out during a family vacation.
The Hawaii trip
The mother, a 46-year-old with a five-month pregnancy and five children — twin girls Lisa and Sophia (10), youngest boy Joshua (17), baby girl Emily (one), and oldest son Danny (21) — ventured on a Hawaii trip without her husband, who was unable to join them due to a work emergency.
Naturally, the absence of a second parent put additional responsibilities on her and her children.
During the vacation, the mother noticed that Danny, the eldest, remained disengaged from family activities. Despite having crying twins for a lot of the trip, Danny apparently chose to stay in his room, engrossed in phone conversations with friends. This behavior continued throughout the trip, which obviously made the mother stressed – especially as she expected more involvement from her son.
Frustration reached a tipping point, leading the mother to confront Danny, telling him that she was disappointed in his lack of contribution. She told him: “If you can’t step up and help the woman who gave birth to you, lets you live in her house rent-free, while giving you a job, whose money you just spend on silly games instead of getting an apartment, then you can get out of my house and pay for your own stuff.”
In response, Danny left. When the mother explained the situation to her sister-in-law and in-laws, they apparently questioned her actions. So, the woman took to Reddit to ask whether she was in the wrong in the situation.
An interesting response
As with many ‘Am I The A*****e’ posts on Reddit, you’d be forgiven for assuming the post ended here… This time, however, it didn’t. In fact, it was the woman’s youngest son, 17-year-old Joshua, who took to the comments section to explain his side of the story – and he made some pretty shocking revelations.
Joshua started off his comment by saying his mother was “really funny,” before adding that he was posting the comment as he’d been staying at his grandmother’s house for the past few weeks following the family vacation to Hawaii.
He then goes on to say that the vacation was “not a vacation at all” because of his mother’s behavior.
“You don’t just put my brother to “babysit” for two days every few months or whatever,” he said, adding that it was “every f***ing day no matter what he has going on.”
Joshua then adds that his mother also doesn’t seem to care about what he has going on either, saying that she often goes on dates with her husband, leaving either Joshua or his brother Danny to take care of their siblings.
“I love my sisters to death, but the lack of attention they get from you is rubbing off on ME,” Joshua continues. “They want to play barbies more often with ME or my brother, while you and your husband work or go out.”
In his comment, Joshua also informs his mother that he will be moving to his grandmother’s house after his 18th birthday the following week. Not only this, but Joshua writes that his mother conveniently “forgot to mention” that her oldest son Danny is still living at home because he is autistic. “YOU OF ALLL PEOPLE [SHOULD’VE] MENTIONED THAT!!!” he said.
What do you think of this situation? Let us know in the comments!
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