16-year-old faces backlash for reprimanding grumpy dad during family game night: 'Stop acting childish'

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jul 6, 2025 9:00 PM EDT

Individuals who think that everybody else should have a bad day just because they are having one are some of the most insufferable types of people out there. Unfortunately, they are also quite a common breed, and most people know one, if not have one in their immediate family. 

Spending your time walking on eggshells just because of somebody's moods is never a pleasant experience, and it goes without saying that it can become frustrating to deal with. This is doubly true if you live with a person like this and have to spend all your downtime moderating their emotions.

Sometimes, it feels like the best thing to do is to tell them to snap out of it. However, this is a plan of action that can easily backfire and cause even more drama. It is not necessarily going to make the person reconsider their behavior and how it affects others.

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  • 01

    AITA for telling my dad to “shut up and stop ruining everybody’s evening”?

    I (16M) still live with my parents, my siblings (27F and 25M) do not, they visit sometimes but it's rare for us all to see eachother. They are both visiting right now. Yesterday we were all playing a board game and my dad was annoyed about something (can't remember what, but it wasn't anything major) he kept huffing, making weird remarks and overall bringing the mood down. This is not the first time he has done something like this and I got fed up. I told him to "Stop acting childish, shut the h
    via _oliVeo_0519
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10525606656
    via Luke Southern

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

  • One teen faced the consequences of this after he grew tired of his dad's behavior when his older siblings came to visit, and they were having a family game night. His father was in a bad mood because earlier in the day, he had had a disagreement with their mom.

    This resulted in him being miserable and passive-aggressive as they played games together, leading the 16-year-old to tell him to shut up and stop ruining everybody's evening. The dad wasn't happy and their mom sided with him, leaving him wondering if he took things too far.

  • 03
    Edit: I adressed these things in the comments, but I understand not everyone reads all of them. My dad is the kind of guy that cannot take criticism esp from someone he thinks is "inferior" to him. there had been other, somewhat similar situations where I tried to be kinder/ more respectful, but when I do that he doesn't take me seriously. He was in a foul mood because my mom and him had a disagreement earlier and his mood worsened by not doing well in the game. I fully understand that he is my
    via _oliVeo_0519
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    via Robert Coelho
  • 05

    Outsiders mostly sympathized with the teenager.

    Global-Squirrel999 NTA. I can see the argument for ESH, but your dad has the responsibility to control his emotions. It's not your responsibility to "walk on eggshells" around him and appease him when he is getting weird. He needs a therapist, or maybe a psychiatrist. Sounds like he's got something going on if he can't perceive the issue here.
    via Global-Squirrel999
  • 06
    SadiaElora Yeah, it's exhausting when you're expected to manage their moods all the time.
    via SadiaElora
  • 07
    HauntingForMeal It drains you fast, and then they act like you're the problem for being tired.
    via HauntingForMeal
  • 08
    Fioreborn It's easy to see why your older siblings don't visit much
    via Fioreborn
  • 09
    FantasticBreadfruit8 Yeah this has "dad is a narcissist and makes everything about him" written all over it. OP was enjoying a rare visit with his older siblings (and we see why it's rare) and dad couldn't handle that so he tried to ruin everybody's time. OP could have handled it better, but it sounds like this is a pattern. This, specifically: My mom is taking his side, saying that I just made him more mad for no reason That REEKS of "you know not to make your father mad! He can't control himse
    via FantasticBreadfruit8
  • 10
    Spacer_Spiff NTA. You call your dad out on acting like a child he then gets upset, like a child, and goes to his room to sulk, like a child. The only child I see here is the adult acting like a child.
    via Spacer_Spiff
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    ScarletNotThatOne NTA. There's nothing about being 16 that takes away your right to tell your father when he is stinking up the place.
    via ScarletNotThatOne
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    CrimsonKnight_004 NTA - You're the child in the situation. It's not on you to walk on eggshells around your reactive and emotionally immature father. Sometimes, it's helpful to be blunt and let people know you're not just going to put up with their temper tantrums. It's not your responsibility to parent your parent. It's not your responsibility to coddle him when he's in a bad mood. He is the adult and could've gone to his room and cooled off if he was upset for some reason. He could've spoken t
    via CrimsonKnight_004
  • 13
    Independent-Library6 NTA, you're supposed to be the child, and he's supposed to be the adult. If he can't be an adult, he gets treated like a child.
    via Independent-Library6
  • 14
    gracefularthur314 I bet his siblings wished they could have said this to their father. Good for you kid. Sometimes parents need a reality check
    via gracefularthur314
  • 15
    Red-Writer_19 NTA being a parent or older isn't an automatic to respect. Was your reaction quick and maybe a bit harsh, yes, but emotions were clearly high and this isn't a one time thing. Being an adult means even if you have a cr p day you don't try and take down everyone else's day just because you did. BEING A PARENT ISNT AN AUTOMATIC DOOR TO RESPECT especially when they aren't respectful
    via Red-Writer_19
  • 16
    HolSmGamer ESH. He shouldn't be making the mood worse for everyone because he is upset. However, you shouldn't act like a brat to your father and need to learn how to communicate your feelings better. It would have been better to say "hey dad, can you please keep it down or go to another room? I don't usually have my siblings all here and your attitude is dampening the mood."
    via HolSmGamer
  • 17
    InevitableSeat8693 Probably a better way to phrase it, but NTA.
    via InevitableSeat8693
  • 18
    Cultural_Way_1058 Dear old dad is supposed to be the adult. Sounds like you're more of one than he is. NTA
    via Cultural_Way_1058
  • 19
    Jaysnewphone Nta. He was being childish about a game. When called out he ran to his bedroom to pout. Now he's acting like he's the victim. I'd refuse to play games with him because he complains and is annoying. Then he runs off to cry.
    via Jaysnewphone
  • 20
    NTA comewhatmay_hem Seriously, men like your dad just make life miserable for everyone around them and they deserve to get called out.
    via comewhatmay_hem
  • 21
    GeomEun Tulip NTA Teens should absolutely be able to let parents know when they are acting childish. Sometimes adults need that reminder. If you tried softer methods before that didn't work, than sometimes you have to be more forceful. I know my mom used to be very controlling, enabled by my dad. Polite redirection or requests did not work when she overstepped. Snapping did. She stopped being as invasive.
    via GeomEunTulip

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family drama aita brother siblings board games dad argument family sister reddit thread Reddit mom son
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