Mom buys 8-year-old son a slushie after a disappointing field trip, dad claims she was too soft on him: 'In the real world you just have to s*ck it up'

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Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Jun 6, 2024 8:00 PM EDT

Everyone needs a little treat every once in a while. If life's got you down, there's something so special about treating yourself to something you wouldn't usually have, like bubble tea. You always run the risk of treating yourself too much, turning occasional indulgences into unbreakable habits, but that's rare when you're indulging in something non-addictive, like a literal strawberry milkshake. 

Some people are staunchly against treating themselves, even when the treatment is cheap and harmless. A mother recently went viral for getting her son a Slurpee. He came from a field trip disappointed because the attraction he wanted to see was closed for renovations. She decided that since they lived so close to a 7-11, she'd get him a Slurpee to brighten his day. When his dad got home, he was unpleased that his wife took this course of action, preferring she leave him to manage his disappointment without sweet treats. 

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  • 01
    MAX LEVEL MAX LEVEL
    via Eryk Piotr Munk
  • 02
    AITA for getting my disappointed son a slurpee?
    via u/Resident-Soup9839
  • 03
    My 8 year old son had a class trip yesterday. He was very excited in the days leading up to the trip mainly because of a specific attraction he was hoping to see. Unfortunately, the attraction is closed for renovations for the next couple of months, so he didn't get to see it. Though there were other things he liked and enjoyed, he was still super disappointed. When he got home, I asked him how the trip was, and he told me how disappointed he was that the thing he was most looking forward to was
    via u/Resident-Soup9839
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    didn't make up for everything, it made his day a little bit better, and I was happy I could do that with such a simple little gesture. Well, my husband thinks I was wrong because kids need to learn how to manage disappointment and I didn't give him that chance. I would agree if, say, I had taken him to Target and bought $100 worth of toys. Or, say, called the place and reamed them out for being disappointing. But it's just a slurpee, it costs a little over $1 and is close to home, so not some bi
    via u/Resident-Soup9839
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    uplift his day a little. My husband argues that in "the real world" you just have to it up when disappointed, but I said that's not entirely true, adults in "the real world" absolutely treat themselves to minor things when they have a rough day. It wouldn't be an excuse to run up the credit card, but it is not crazy or unusual to get oneself a slurpee or a chocolate bar on a tough day. Anyway, just wondering who's right here? AITA and did I handle the situation badly by getting my son a small tr
    via u/Resident-Soup9839
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    Neutral_Guy_9-21 hr. ago NTA You don't need to justify a slurpee. Your husband must have had a bummer of a childhood.
    via u/Neutral_Guy_9-21
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    Resident-Soup9839 OP. 20 hr. ago You're not wrong on that. My FIL is real piece of work. My husband usually succeeds in being the opposite of his dad, but he definitely has his moments where his childhood is clearly peeking out
    via u/Resident-Soup9839
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    TallLoss2 . 20 hr. ago please remind your husband that preparing your child for "the real world" does not mean giving them a terrible childhood
    via u/TallLoss2
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    ArticQimmiq 19 hr. ago But also, in the real world, adults definitely get themselves treats to feel better.
    via u/ArticQimmiq
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    FluffyBudgie5. 19 hr. ago Literally! I have seen people say that kids are offen held to higher emotional standards than adults, and I honestly agree. OP's kid is totally reasonable to be disappointed over this, and he's allowed to express that (and he's expressing it in a fine, reasonable way).
    via u/FluffyBudgie5
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    "Learning how to handle disappointment" is not the same as learning how to never show it or express it. It's totally normal and healthy to seek comfort if you're having a rough time. (NTA)
    via u/FluffyBudgie5
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    Beowulfthecat · 19 hr. ago And also that "the real world" includes friends and family who care about each other and do kind things for each other. I would hope that you and your partner have had tough days/times made a little brighter through small acts of kindness toward each other, why should your son be forced to go it alone? Plus, your son DID manage his emotions on his own all day. He still enjoyed the rest of the attractions, he didn't ruin the trip over the one thing, that's plenty effect
    via u/Beowulfthecat
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    IrrelevantManatee. 21 hr. ago NTA. Your kid DID learn how to deal with disappointment. He did had to process his feeling about not seing this attraction. And what your son learn is that he can always count on you to be an attentive ear when something is wrong in his life, and that while you can't fix the whole world for him, you will always try to make it better. I think you did a good job.
    via u/IrrelevantManatee
  • 14
    HortenseDaigle . 20 hr. ago that's exactly what a stroll to 7-11 and a slurpee teaches a kid, that Mom cares and is there for him.
    via u/HortenseDaigle
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    Mannings4head · 18 hr. ago And it teaches them to think about others. If someone else is sad and you want to make them feel better, maybe do something special for them. It doesn't have to be a grand gesture. Just something small to show that you care and want them to feel better. If OP's husband really wants there to be a lesson here, there can still be one.
    via u/Mannings4head
  • 16
    FireBallXLV 21 hr. ago Sounds like your husband may be going through a hard time.Or he grew up with hardline parents .Either way you are NTA OP
    via u/FireBallXLV
  • 17
    Crystalfirebaby. 19 hr. ago Buy your husband two slushies just to make up for lost time. Different flavors so he can taste test for his favorite.
    via u/Crystalfirebaby
  • 18
    Resident-Soup9839 OP. 20 hr. ago Yes on the hardline parents. We are NC with ILS
    via u/Resident-Soup9839
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    Errorhappy1939 - 19 hr. ago If the world is a hard place that is even MORE reason for family to be a soft place where you can experience kindness and compassion. If the world is hard and his private home life is hard to "prepare" him for the world then where on earth is a child supposed to turn to feel loved and supported?
    via u/Errorhappy1939

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motherson disappointed disappointment slushie mother field trip parenting dad 7-11 mom slurpee son parents disappointing Father reddit story Reddit
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