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Kids Opened Their Presents Without Me

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My husband is usually a great partner and father, but I am so incredibly upset right now. I don’t think I’ve ever been this mad. This morning, around 8:30, I woke up to the sound of our kids running around. Knowing how excited they’d be to open their Christmas presents, I immediately got up.

For context, I have trouble sleeping, so my husband takes care of the kids in the mornings to let me rest until I wake up naturally or have to help get the kids ready. He’s usually with them for 30 minutes to an hour before I join. He also knows what time to wake me if I oversleep.

When I walked into the living room, I saw wrapping paper everywhere. All the presents had already been opened, and the kids (5 and 7) were happily playing with their new toys. I was crushed. I started crying on the spot and went back to the bedroom, where my sadness turned into anger. I ended up screaming like crazy.

I’m furious because I spent so much time picking out thoughtful gifts, shopping for them, and wrapping everything just right. One of the best parts of Christmas for me is watching my kids’ reactions when they open their gifts. I feel robbed of that joy. My husband told me he videotaped it, but that didn’t make it better. I yelled at him, asking why he couldn’t make the kids wait or just wake me up. He said, “I never wake you up in the morning.” I told him, “It’s Christmas morning. You didn’t think I’d want to watch the kids open presents?” and I called him an asshole.

He apologized and didn’t try to defend himself, but I’m still really hurt. I feel too upset to enjoy anything Christmas-related right now. I guess I just needed to vent. Am I overreacting? Was I the asshole for getting so upset? If anyone has advice on how to process these feelings, I’d really appreciate it.


Edit: I want to clarify that I did not cry or scream in front of my children. I went to the bedroom to process my emotions privately. My husband came in, and that’s when I yelled at him and called him an asshole. I wish I could have controlled my emotions better, but I’m human.


Update: Some of the responses have been extreme—suggesting divorce, therapy for everyone, and all sorts of drastic measures. Here’s what actually happened:

My husband and I were cordial throughout the day. I spent time with the kids, admiring their toys and playing games. My husband helped them assemble Legos. We had snacks, I made dinner, and we ended the day driving around to look at Christmas lights.

I talked to the kids about what happened. My older child apologized for opening the presents without me, saying they were just so excited. I told them it was okay but asked if we could do things differently next time.

When the kids went to bed, I spoke to my husband. He apologized, saying he didn’t think about how it would affect me. He explained that he was busy with a project when the kids came downstairs around 8:00. They were excited, and he couldn’t hold them off any longer but wanted to let me sleep. That’s why he videotaped it—so I wouldn’t miss out completely.

I asked how he’d feel if the roles were reversed. He admitted, “Yeah, that would suck. I know I messed up. Dad brain.” I forgave him because we have a strong marriage and work through things together. I apologized for yelling and calling him an asshole, and he said he understood my reaction. He assured me the kids didn’t hear me yelling.

We’ve already made a plan for next year. Our kids always get one gift from Santa, which they can open whenever they want. The rest of the presents will stay hidden until we’re all together.

Thank you to everyone who offered thoughtful input. While some comments were intense or rude, I appreciated the kindness and reasonable advice. It’s good to know there are people out there who try to make the world a better place. Happy Holidays!

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Confessions

Am I the Asshole for Making the Nurse at My Hysterectomy Pre-Op Appointment Feel Stupid?

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A tense and awkward scene set in a medical office during a pre-op appointment. A patient, looking frustrated but composed, sits across from a nurse wh.

Apparently, the nurse thought I was rude and combative because she literally noted that in my medical records.

I had a pre-op appointment with my hysterectomy surgeon today. During the triage portion, as the nurse was checking my vitals, she started asking me routine questions. But then she asked why I was choosing such a “drastic” procedure for period pain.

I explained that it’s not just period pain—it’s debilitating. The pain has gotten so bad that walking my 5-year-old to school leaves me on the verge of tears, and I bleed so heavily that I have to plan my kids’ lives around it. I’m exhausted and tired of living like this.

She then asked what I would do if I ever divorced my husband and a future partner wanted children. I responded, “Well, I already have three. They can pick one.” She corrected me, saying, “No, I mean their own child.” I shrugged and replied, “Well, that sucks for them, then.”

She went on to suggest birth control pills to slow the bleeding. I told her that’s just a bandaid solution to the problem. She then proposed an endometrial ablation, and I countered, “But ablation also means I can’t have kids. So what’s the difference? Why not just solve the problem altogether instead of using another temporary fix? Plus, the tissue could grow back since I’m only 32 and still have 15 to 20 years of dealing with this nonsense.”

At that point, she rolled her eyes and led me to the exam room to wait for the doctor. When I got home, I checked my medical notes, as I always do, and found that she’d written I was “rude” and “combative.”

Am I the asshole for how I handled this? The nurse was essentially trying to talk me out of a procedure that my doctor and I have been discussing for over a year.

Edit: Holy wow, I left after 10 comments and came back to 500! I’ve already emailed my doctor about the situation and am waiting to hear back tomorrow.

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Confessions

AITA for Promising My GF I’d Help with Her Loan but Backing Out After She Cheated on Me?

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A dramatic and emotional scene depicting a couple having a tense argument in a modern apartment living room. The man looks resolute and upset, sitting.

I (23M) had been with my girlfriend (24F) for almost four years. She was my first girlfriend, and I loved her deeply—too much, honestly. We were friends in school, and I genuinely thought we’d spend the rest of our lives together.

Early in 2024, she told me she wanted to apply for a master’s program and asked if I could help her financially. Without hesitation, I agreed. At the time, I envisioned her as my future wife and felt it was my responsibility to support her goals.

I approached my father, who is quite successful, and asked if he could help. He agreed but was cautious—he insisted that she take out a loan instead of directly giving her the money. My father promised to cover 60-70% of the monthly payments, and both her family and mine agreed to this arrangement.

Three months ago, everything fell apart. My girlfriend confessed that she had cheated on me. She told me she had gotten drunk at a party, kissed another guy, performed oral, and had sex with him—all in my car.

I was devastated. I loved her so much, but her betrayal crushed me. She apologized profusely, saying she made a terrible mistake and wanted to come clean because she didn’t want to hide it from me. I told her I forgave her, but honestly, I’m not sure if I meant it or if I was just pretending. Since then, I’ve been struggling with depression, hiding it from everyone.

Despite my heartbreak, her family went ahead and took out the loan with the understanding that my father would help with the payments. But as time passed, I couldn’t shake the resentment. I felt like she was expecting me to forgive her completely while also leaning on my family for financial support—using my father’s wealth as a safety net.

A few days ago, I finally told her I was breaking up with her and that she wouldn’t be receiving any more financial help from us. She freaked out, accusing me of being petty and saying she thought I had forgiven her. I simply walked away.

When I told my father about everything, he didn’t comfort me. Instead, he said, “This is why I insisted they take a loan instead of just handing over the money. You’ve learned a lesson.” At first, I was upset by his lack of sympathy, but I’ve come to realize he was protecting me in his own way. He planned for this possibility and always had my back, even if it wasn’t obvious at the time.

Now, my ex and her family are furious. They’re accusing me of ruining her life out of anger and saying I should have broken up with her earlier if I wasn’t going to help. They’ve even threatened to sue, but my father isn’t worried. He pointed out there’s no legal case since it was a verbal agreement and encouraged me to let them waste their time and money if they want to pursue it.

I feel conflicted. On one hand, I don’t regret setting boundaries and walking away after what she did. On the other hand, I can’t help but feel guilty. Was I too petty? Did I go too far in my anger? I’m still processing everything, and part of me wonders if I’ve made the right decision.

AITA?

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Confessions

Am I the Asshole for Not Immediately Confronting My Brother-in-Law About His Tattoo and Asking Him to Leave My House?

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A dramatic and tense scene set in a modern living room. The image shows a family gathering gone wrong, with a focus on the host (a person looking conf

I (26F) recently hosted my husband’s two sisters, their partners, and their children. They live about six hours away and were passing through on their way to a camping trip, so they spent the day with us before continuing on.

One of my brother-in-laws (BIL) and I couldn’t be more different, and to an extent, the same goes for his wife, my sister-in-law (SIL). While she mostly keeps her opinions to herself, he’s outspoken about his political and religious views, often in ways I find uncomfortable. For context, a few years ago, he caused a stir within the family by wanting to plaster political messages on his work vehicles (he owns a business). After backlash from friends and family, he didn’t go through with it but still complains about feeling “silenced” and frequently mocks people who disagree with his views.

Despite all this, we’ve maintained a surface-level relationship. When we’re together in person, he’s generally polite, and we’ve even shared a few laughs over the years. I chalked up his strong opinions to cultural differences, as I’m originally from a less religious country. In eight years of being part of the family, I had never heard him make overtly racist remarks in my presence—until now.

During their recent visit, BIL casually revealed that he had bought a tattoo gun online and had tattooed a small but unmistakable swastika on his upper thigh. He showed it off, joking about how no one would see it because it’s always covered.

I was stunned. My husband and I discussed it quietly in the kitchen, deciding not to escalate the situation in the moment. We wanted to keep the visit civil, especially for the sake of the children.

After they left, SIL messaged me to ask if everything was okay, as she had noticed our reactions. While my husband and I hadn’t yet decided on a course of action, I took the opportunity to express how deeply uncomfortable we were with her husband’s tattoo. I told her we didn’t feel comfortable having him in our home anymore and that any future interactions would be civil but distant. I explained we would focus on her, the children, and my other SIL during visits, but we wouldn’t be staying with them or hosting her husband.

She was very upset and seemed fixated on why we didn’t say anything in the moment if it bothered us so much. I explained that I didn’t want to escalate things or create a scene in front of the children. I also admitted feeling guilty for not speaking up right away and being, in a way, a bystander to his actions.

I don’t regret setting boundaries or distancing myself from him, but I’m disappointed in myself for not confronting the situation head-on. Part of me feels like I failed to act in the moment.

So, AITAH for waiting until they left to address the issue?

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