Insecure Father Tells Son That Men Shouldn’t Feel Emotion While He’s Crying

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  • 01
    Font - r/AmltheAsshole u/thr_owaway47 • 5h 1 AITA for embarrassing my husband?
  • 02
    Smile - My husband is not an openly affectionate person. He doesn't like showing too much emotion in public either because he thinks it attracts too much attention which is embarrassing to him.
  • 03
    Font - Well our 16 year old son, Ethan, had a swim meet a few days ago but unfortunately didn't do very well. We were still very proud of him and we tried telling him that but he burst into tears. My husband was right in front of him and so Ethan began leaning on him and sobbed. This happened in front of a lot of people in the parking lot. My husband just stood there before pushing him onto me.
  • 04
    Hair - I was really bothered by this. I mean, your son who's literally nicknamed sunshine because of how happy he always is broke down in your arms and you push him away and roll your eyes?
  • 05
    Plant - I kept quiet because well comforting our son was my main priority but while we were driving home, we stopped at a Walmart for my other kids. Ethan decided to stay in the car because he was exhausted.
  • 06
    Font - I was still pretty annoyed with my husband but again, I just didn't say anything to avoid causing a scene. Well my husband started telling me that he wanted me to tell Ethan to never do that ever again in public. I sort of went wtf and he said that Ethan should know that it's embarrassing for a boy to cry over losing a dumb game but felt it would be better coming from me.
  • 07
    Font - I called him ridiculous for claiming that guys aren't allowed to feel emotions and said "just because you're so insecure doesn't mean everyone else has to be". I was agitated and honestly I admit I said it a bit loud. There were a couple people in the aisle that looked at us (plus a teenage girl that laughed) and my husband glared at me before storming off.
  • 08
    Font - We didn't say anything else until we got home and the kids went to their rooms but my husband says I'm a major asshole because 1. I embarrassed him publicly and 2. I'm disrespecting and making fun of his boundaries.
  • 09
    Font - I think he's being really strange but I can sort of see where he's coming from. It's just... our son you know? I'm curious, AITA? 1474 168 ↑, Share
  • 10
    Font - OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole: My husband says I embarrassed him on purpose(?) and that l'm disrespecting and making fun of his boundaries. I can sort of understand how that might make me the asshole.
  • 11
    Font - DorothyZbornaksArmy · 4h Certified Proctologist [21] NTA. Not being comfortable with romantic PDA or emotional displays is one thing. But to not want to comfort your child, the most natural thing in the world, because you think seeing a father hug his son is somehow a problem or embarrassing? Big yikes, my dude. That is cold, and I feel genuinely sorry for your son. G Reply 1 2.5k 3 ...
  • 12
    Font - zippykaiyay · 4h Asshole Aficionado [11] Wow! I feel so badly for your son. Definitely NTA OP. I'm a swim parent and competition is draining physically and emotionally. Such a shame that Ethan doesn't have a good role model in your husband. Keep hugging your son and remind your husband that he should keep the a-holery to himself. G Reply 4 170 ...
  • 13
    Font - Muted-Appeal-823 · 4h Partassipant [1] NTA Your husband is more concerned with what random strangers think of him than the fact that he's upsetting you and your son. G Reply 110 ...

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