13-year-old throws a tantrum when her 18-year-old stepsister forgot to bring her a snack when she picked her up from track practice: 'She said her mom always brought a snack for her and pouted'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Jun 4, 2025 8:00 PM EDT

Being a teenager is no fun. Some of y'all might be a little too old to recall the emotional roller coaster of being 13-19, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I experienced such intense emotions as a teenager, and it always seemed like there was no end in sight. I knew consciously that life was supposed to get significantly better once I graduated from high school. Still, once that actually happened, I was surprised at how much of it was simply because I didn't feel everything as deeply anymore. It's not that I wanted to be so emotional in high school, but I just couldn't help it!

Still, even high schoolers have a responsibility to themselves and those around them to try to regulate their emotions. I'm not saying they should hold everything in and never be upset, but yelling at people unprovoked is unacceptable, no matter your age.

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  • 01

    AITA for feeding my dogs before my stepsister?

    I (18F) live with my dad, his wife "Jackie", and my stepsister Mia (13F). My dad was paralyzed from the chest down in a car crash in a car crash 5 years ago. Jackie and Mia moved in 4 years ago. We're a very happy blended family.
    via u/aitathrowaway4444444

  • The young teen in this story had a moment of weakness. She was shocked and appalled that her older sister did not bring her a snack when she picked her up from track practice. One thing led to another, and she had an emotional outburst that one would expect from someone half her age.

  • 02
    48
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 03
    The only issue that I have is that Mia is kinda spoiled. She pretty much gets whatever she wants whenever. She's usually a very sweet kid overall which is why I'm questioning if I'm being an a h le. Jackie left on a business trip last night. Before she left, I told her that I would handle making dinner, bringing Mia
    via u/aitathrowaway4444444
  • 04
    home from track practice, and general tidiness of the house. I would also continue to take care of my two very large Great Danes that I was given my grandmother. My family plays with and snuggles them, but they are my dogs.
    via u/aitathrowaway4444444
  • 05
    A
    via George Pagan III

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 06
    Mia's chores were the dishes after dinner, bringing her dirty clothes to the laundry room door, and taking the trash out. It all seemed fine when Jackie left.
    via u/aitathrowaway4444444
  • 07
    Well I went to pick Mia up from track this afternoon and when she got into the car she asked for her snack. I said we had food at home, but I didn't bring any. She said her mom always brought a snack for her and kinda pouted.
    via u/aitathrowaway4444444
  • 08
    When we got home, she stayed in my car when I went inside. I left with my dogs before she came in. When I returned, she was crying at the kitchen table. I asked why and she said that I hadn't prepared a snack for her and she was so hungry. I told her she always had access to our pantry. She said it wasn't the same because it's always already ready for her.
    via u/aitathrowaway4444444
  • 09
    I went to feed the dogs and she asked where I was going. I told her and she started to scream cry at me that I was heartless and only cared for my "stupid animals" and that I needed to make dinner right that second. She then ran upstairs and slammed the door.
    via u/aitathrowaway4444444
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10513809408
    via Nathan DeFiesta

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models

  • 11
    I called Jackie and told her what happened. She was confused because Mia knows she's always welcome to food. I know she's adjusting to her mom being away. So AITA?
    via u/aitathrowaway4444444
  • 12
    Edit: Update. Not the update some of you were all looking for. Mia came downstairs while I was making dinner about an hour later. She said she was sorry for yelling and gave me a hug. She just had a hard track practice and a difficult pop quiz at school and
    via u/aitathrowaway4444444
  • 13
    was expecting her mom. We made dinner together and are watching a movie with my dad. Thanks for all of your comments!
    via u/aitathrowaway4444444
  • 14
    GSD_enthusiast NTA Mia is a bratty teenager who is testing boundaries. They tend to be AH occasionally and usually quite dramatic. Just continue as usual. I would not make a big deal of it. Feelings are BIG at that age and sometimes the world is just evil. I would fix dinner as planned, remind her to do her chores and ignore the tantrum. Unless she throws another one tomorrow.
    via u/GSD_enthusiast
  • 15
    No-BS4me My 8yo granddaughter makes her own snacks. Mia can manage. Ignore the melodrama. NTA
    via u/No-BS4me
  • 16
    hiskitty110617 My 6 year old can make herself a sandwich, get anything she wants from the pantry and open it. She's been doing so pretty much since 4 because she wanted to though occasionally needed some help. 13 (and able mentally and physically) is beyond old enough to be able to make a sandwich or heat up something in the microwave. I'm with everyone else, I'd ignore her fit and hope her mom realizes she needs a bit more practice being independent.
    via u/hiskitty110617
  • 17
    sluttychristmastree NTA. Kids get hangry, and they get bent out of shape when their routines are messed with. Like you said, she's adjusting to her mom being away, which is also rough. But she's thirteen years old and had access to food. A tantrum was not the way to go, and she's old enough to know better. I would let her know kindly but firmly that while you understand that it's hard to have her mom gone, you aren't willing to be yelled at while you're doing so much for her, and you'd like to h
    via u/sluttychristmastree
  • 18
    cassowary32 If she just came from track practice, I'm assuming she has control of all of her limbs? Was she expected to be carried out of the car too? I'm not sure what made Mia regress 10 years in that car ride but you are NTA. happened at practice???
    via u/cassowary32
  • 19
    AuntJ2583 Probably a combo of teen hormones, being angry, missing her mom, and not expecting the difference.
    via u/AuntJ2583
  • 20
    actually-revan NTA If your stepmom was confused as to why she was behaving that way, then this isn't something that you did wrong. Like you said, she's probably just adjusting to your stepmom not being home. I would just be gentle with her, but not change your habits and routine to completely accommodate her.
    via u/actually-revan
  • 21
    Im_Ur_Huckleberry77 NTAH. It takes 30 seconds to put dog food in a bowl opposed to 5-25 minutes to make food for a human (depending on what it is).
    via u/Im_Ur_Huckleberry77
  • 22
    SparklePrincess NTA. Pubescent kids are gonna lose their good reason some times. for no minds
    via u/SparklePr1ncess
  • 23
    PaleGoat527 This was my first thought then I saw OPs update and it basically confirmed it for me. She had a teenager freak out moment. She's already not only realized and acknowledged it, she had apologized and is moving on. Makes me almost wonder if it's clickbait since what term actually does that? Not me at that age!
    via u/PaleGoat527

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parents of teens teens tantrum dogs tantrums kids Track and Field teenagers track stepmom raising teens dad snacks food sister stepsister mom
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