14-year-old daughter asks her mom to tell her the truth about how she looks, 39-year-old Karen mother does not mince her words: 'I told her she was average-looking'

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Nov 10, 2024 8:00 AM EST

Sure, honesty may seem like the best policy, but this Karen of a mother took things way too far.

At first, when reading about her seemingly genuine concern over her teenage daughter's body insecurity, one might think that this is an attentive, caring, and decent parent. However, when her daughter asked her to honestly tell her the truth about how she looks, this Karen thought it would be a good idea to tell her that she is, in fact, only average-looking. Her supposed point was to inform her daughter that most people in the world are average-looking, but as one might expect, this "truth-telling" moment did not sit well with a 14-year-old. 

When the mother shared her side of the story on Reddit, people eviscerated her in the comments section, and rightfully so. Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best reactions from other mothers and daughters. For more, check out this post about a husband and wife's heated argument over money.

Advertisement
  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10426524160
    via Taylor Smith

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    AITA for telling my 14- year-old daughter that she's average-looking?
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642
  • 03
    I (F39) have a very insecure daughter (F14) who has a depressingly unhealthy obsession with her looks. She often avoids mirrors and pictures because her mood instantly drains when she sees herself.
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642
  • 04
    She constantly asks her father and me if we think she's pretty and we always tell her the same thing, that she's a beautiful girl inside and out. As I understand how most teenage girls are with their body image as I was one at some point myself, my daughter's vanity is not only becoming exhausting to those around her,
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642
  • 05
    but I fear it's causing her to slowly lose herself. Yesterday, I decided to sit her down to chat with her about this, to discuss what's bothering her,
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642
  • 06
    and to see if she's willing to visit a therapist. She told me she didn't want to talk about it, but as her mother, of course, I'm going to be worried about her, so I insisted. She finally agreed.
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642
  • 07
    A few minutes into this conversation, she asked exactly this, "Mom, I want you to be completely honest with me. That means no sugarcoating. The kids
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642
  • 08
    at my school think I'm ugly and say I look like a bird because I have a big nose. Do you really think I'm beautiful, or are you just lying?" I'm an honest person, so I gave her the most honest answer I had. I told her she was average- looking like most people in the world are, and that it's not a bad
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642
  • 09
    thing to have an average appearance. She immediately got up and left without saying a word and just went into her room for the rest of the night. Today, she has been cold and distant, and I think I upset her, which wasn't my intention at all. AITA?
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642
  • 10
    S... Of course YTA. "I'm an honest person" is a weird reason to sit a child down and essentially confirm, in her mind, that you are liars and she is as ugly as the other kids say she is
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642
  • 11
    Edit Look. I get why people harp on "honesty" I guess. But this isn't one of your girlfriends asking you for your honest opinion on whether she could be a supermodel. It's not even your kid asking if you think
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642
  • 12
    he's smart enough to get into Yale. This is your child asking if you think she's beautiful while she's being bu ied for being ugly to the point where she can't look in a mirror. I'm not changing my mind about it
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642
  • 13
    S... YTA - Are you "Kate" from yesterday's post by any chance? What is it with parents thinking it's okay to tell their kids they're not attractive?
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642
  • 14
    Like we all know how a lot of relatives exaggerate how brilliant/charming/attractive we are. We take it with a pinch of salt. But if we ask, we're asking you because we know we'll get that answer. We need affirmation.
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642
  • 15
    You know she's insecure, so why make her more insecure. You are not a therapist, do not try to be. Be a mum.
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642
  • 16
    j... Congratulations, you probably just created a negative core memory for your daughter. She's probably going to carry your words around with her for life. YTA
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642
  • 17
    [deleted] YTA she's showing serious MH signs; taking her to a psychiatrist should already be in the works... not you forcing a discussion you clearly don't have the skills to navigate.
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642
  • 18
    GrogdaTheOrc . YTA clearly. She is a teenager and these times are vital for self esteem. You essentially told her she was plain. You lie to her even if she is. This one is probably going to stick for life.
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642
  • 19
    Signal_Wall_8445. YTA You can't possibly be so dense that you don't understand that no amount of you saying you are being honest is going to make her believe you are really being totally honest.
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642
  • 20
    She thinks you will automatically overrate her because you are her mom. So, if your overrating calls. her "average", she now believes you think she is ugly and the kids at school are right.
    via Fuzzy_Future_2642

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

family drama aita parenting motherdaughter family reddit thread daughter Reddit mom Parenting Fail karen
Scroll Down For The Next Article