'Even a free meal isn't worth the frustration': Children of Karens share their worst experiences in public with their parents

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Nov 10, 2023 8:00 AM EST

Everyone gets embarrassed by their parents in public, but this one goes out to all the children of the entitled Karens and Kevins of the world. They have it so much worse than the rest of us. As someone whose greatest level of embarrassment during childhood as a result of something my parents did was when they danced up and down the aisle of a movie theater one time, I cannot imagine what it would be like to have a quintessential Karen as a parent. 

The closest I can get to that experience was when I was eight years old at a family dinner with my grandfather. A waitress came up to the table and said "Hi guys" before asking what we all wanted to drink. My grandfather looked her in the eye and aggressively stated, "We're not guys." I remember being so uncomfortable even then that I just disassociated for the rest of the meal. Thankfully, my parents told my sister and me afterward never to speak to service folks like that, no matter how mature and wise we thought we were. In another universe, I could have modeled off of this abhorrent behavior and become a Karen myself.

Keep scrolling below for this compilation of anecdotes from children of Karens, who shared their stories via this r/AskReddit thread. When you're finished, feel free to take a look at this list of stories from workers who were glad to be fired from their jobs.

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  • 01
    r/AskReddit. Posted by u/Minionof Thanos 10 Children of a "Karen", what is it like? 1.4k Comments
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  • 02
    mercadilly My Mom is a reformed Karen. When I was a kid she used to treat people in customer service like trash. When I was a teenager and in customer service positions, it finally dawned on her what a terrible human being she was being. She's turned around and been great ever since. I'm proud of her to recognize her faults and fix them. 5.4k Share
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  • 03
    ASzinhaz. My mom is somewhat of a Karen (mostly in regards to restaurants) and I have an anxiety disorder. It's a combination made in .... 2.6k Share
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  • 04
    machines > My dad is a Karen. Also in restaurants. Complains about every meal in attempt to get a discount. Asks for them to send out another steak because his wasn't perfect. I just pretend I'm going to the toilet and apologize to the waiter or waitress, I tell them I empathize with them and I know it's frustrating. Luckily I'm older, and I don't go out for meals with him so much anymore. When I was young, I'd do chores for him and he'd complain the same way at me. Like "you're not washing the
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  • 05
    Whatsredditimworking. I knowwwww every restaurant has f with our food, and for good reason. I'm in my 30s now and I won't go out with my mom in public. She doesn't want to either, because I'll for give her whatever she did to some poor teenaged cashier until she cries. Two can play this game and no one wins. 2.5k Share ..
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  • 06
    + [deleted] I learned to end argues by saying "you're right" ↑ 1.2k Share
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  • 07
    doctor-rumack. My sister is a Karen in recovery, and her teenage kids are mortified by her. They had a Karen intervention with her a few months ago, and pointed out that about one out of every 3 visits to a restaurant results in a meal or a drink sent back, and about 1 in 10 results in a conversation with the manager. Unresolved complaints over the phone practically have a pre-written script: "This is unacceptable! Poor customer service, etc."
    via u/MinionofThanos
  • 08
    She's trying to be more self- aware because she now recognizes that not only can her behavior be embarrassing, but she's a Karen caricature. If someone described the typical Karen by looks, age, race, tone of voice, social standing - they would be describing her to a tee. Sure, it's Karen Shaming, but we're living in a society here. 1.0k Share
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  • 09
    [deleted] Frankly its embarassing. You have to sit there while they shriek at a manager and cause a big scene. If you try to chime in you get yelled at, then they are in a bad mood the rest of the day. I've sat through hour long debates with managers over 11 cents disparity on a bill. Everyone is looking at you and you are just kind of trapped there. 644 Share
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  • 10
    [deleted] Not my mum but my grandmother, it's really terrible and it f with your perception of reality. There is a very obvious hierarchy in her mind, which she never veers away from. So whoever in a discussion is higher in the hierarchy, is automatically right. It usually goes:
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  • 11
    - Herself - Her children - Well respected people in her local community + television personalities she likes like Dr. Phil - Her other grandchildren - Me and my brother - Everybody else
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  • 12
    For example when me and my cousins would fight, she would always side with them, but any time I got a bad grade, she would insult my teacher and say that they were probably stupid for not seeing how smart I am. It was very confusing and really messed with my self esteem.
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  • 13
    Karen's are typically narcissists who can't handle being challenged on their beliefs, and the only way they can bring people up is by tearing other people down. I recently moved far away from home and haven't seen much of her, and I feel like I'm much more stable now. 488 Share
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  • 14
    gigglemetinkles. My parents are lovely people on the whole, but they are unbelievably entitled when they go to restaurants. I spoke up about it every time and they'd brush it off. Such behaviors include:
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  • 15
    -When there is a clear 'wait to be seated' situation, they'll just walk in and sit down at any table, even if it's un- bused. -They will get multiple drinks beer, soda, water with lemon, coffee. Really anything refillable. -Tip poorly
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  • 16
    -Ask questions a normal waiter doesn't have the answers to like "what's the rent here" or "what's the history of the building" I stopped going to restaurants with them a couple years ago, even a free meal isn't worth the frustration. 325 Share
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  • 17
    TheLateThagSimmons. My aunt is a Karen. Quite frankly, both our families flat out ignore her. She has no relationship with her kids. We didn't realize how much it impacted our lives until we grew up and saw that kind of behavior just makes everyone you. The only people that put up with her is Karen's husband and my mom (her sister); even then the marriage is basically done.
    via u/MinionofThanos
  • 18
    The number of times I heard "The squeaky wheel gets the grease," just makes me cringe to look back on. She was so proud of it every time too. Then I grew up and got a service job and it immediately sunk in: "The squeaky wheel gets replaced; the bare minimum to just get them to shut up and get out the door, and you remembered from that point on as a problem."
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  • 19
    So in the end, everyone hates her; including her own children. Edit: It should be noted that she's not actually blood related to my mom; they're just that close, my grandma just took her in as a teenager, they're "sisters" as much as it can be and we've always called her "aunt" and her kids are our "cousins." It's just how most of our extended family is. Which in a way makes her and my mom's relationship kind of worse, I guess. 250 Share
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  • 20
    RunsWithApes. I have many patients who are children and their "Karen" mothers are probably the worst part of my job. I feel bad for the kids and husband the most to be honest. 162 Share
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  • 21
    PolloMagnifico My Mom was slowly treading down the path to Karenhood. I would just hang my head and be embarassed, but I didn't really know why it was so wrong.
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  • 22
    Well, a few years in retail fixed that right the when that up. So started up again I calmly explained that she's getting at the wrong person and has to follow the same rules everyone else does. She shouldn't expect special treatment just because she's angry.
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  • 23
    Fortunately, she took the road less traveled and made an effort to be more understanding and calm. 135 Share
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  • 24
    [deleted] You have to realize no matter how many times you tell them their behavior is wrong or that they're just wrong in general, it will get you nowhere. I cannot tell you how many times my mom has said some ridiculous and if you say anything other than "yeah I agree" she plays the victim card.
    via u/MinionofThanos
  • 25
    Echospite My dad is a Karen. KFC once forgot to put barbecue sauce in our order and he spent a full half hour writing an angry email. Next time I went in with him to get KFC he had a printout to scan for store credit.
    via u/MinionofThanos
  • 26
    He also enjoys yelling at CS reps on the phone, especially when they're in a foreign call centre. To be fair to him, he yells on the phone even when he's being happy (I can hear him from outside the house) but even if it's not malicious there's no way it doesn't come across that way on the other end.
    via u/MinionofThanos

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karens neighbors entitled parents server karen-customer askreddit karens in the wild entitled reddit thread Reddit karen entitled people
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