Grandparents surprise 16-year-old grandson with birthday-booking at his favorite restaurant, parents' favoritism towards 14-year-old son makes them throw a fit, claiming he doesn't like the food there: 'They had three fights with my grandparents over it'

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Aug 10, 2025 7:00 AM EDT

What happened to 'We could never pick favorites'?

The little phrase our parents would say when asked about the children. 'They're both special in their own ways…', they'd tell them.

Although imagine a situation where parents' favoritism is so painfully obvious that members of the extended family have to intervene, just to show the one child a little extra love?

This is the case for these two sons…

Every few weeks, when a special occasion rolls around, the family likes to go out for a celebratory meal. However, there seems to be one very constant condition: The choice of restaurant is solely based on the younger boy's preferences, end of story. 

This condition is even debated to be as essential as the 10th commandment, because even when the older son's birthday comes around, he has no say in where he'd like to eat. So on his 16th birthday, their grandparents decide to come to town and ensure that the restaurant chosen will be one that the older son adores, whether the 14-year-old brother decides to throw a tantrum over the dumplings or not…

This doesn't go down too well with their parents… who decide that the grandparents' sly behavior will forever be recorded as setting an undeniable division in the family tree. 

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  • We have some advice for this overwhelmed teen, struggling with feeling constantly pushed aside by his family…

    Either be open and honest with your parents by addressing the blatantness of their favoritism, or next year, make sure that when you make a reservation for your birthday, it only seats 3 guests…

  • 01
    "They said they knew I didn't ever get treated to it, but my parents couldn't dictate to them"
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02

    AITA for picking my favorite restaurant that my brother hates for my birthday meal that my grandparents paid for?

    My parents never let me eat at my favorite restaurant when we celebrate my birthday or other stuff. My brother doesn't like the food there and they say any celebration needs to include stuff
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 03
    we all like. Which might be fine except they don't have the same standard for him. We always eat at his favorite place. It's this really small pizza shop and the food is awful. Like I should like some of
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 04
    the stuff but it tastes so gross. I'm not the only person who thinks so either but since my brother loves it they don't care if I hate the food there.
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 05
    There are times I have gone and ordered nothing but water and other times where I ordered food and had to force myself to eat
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  • 06
    and felt sick afterward. My dad gets stomach issues from eating there but he tolerates it for my brother.
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 07
    My parents don't even go with any of my top choices, even for my birthday. They always go with choices I'm just okay with because my brother likes them. I
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 08
    have tried telling them I don't like those restaurants anymore and they say I can find something but none of my top five places work for my brother.
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 09
    Stuff we will eat out for are birthdays, awards, graduations and really good report cards (sometimes).
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 10
    In June I turned 16 and my grandparents stopped by for a couple of weeks to see us. They told us they were taking everyone out to celebrate my birthday on
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 11
    my actual birthday and we'd have a nice meal and all the rest, all on them. They asked me when my parents and brother weren't around where I'd like to go and I
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 12
    Cheezburger Image 10538661888
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 13
    told them about the Thai place that's my favorite ever. They said they knew I didn't ever get treated to it but my parents couldn't dictate to them.
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 14
    When my birthday actually came around my grandparents surprised my parents and brother with where we were eating and they took the fall for it. They said
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 15
    they heard us talk about that place before and knew it was my favorite and how they wanted to surprise me. I was excited enough that it was believable.
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 16
    My brother sulked and insulted the food, the restaurant and the staff the whole night. He's 14 btw and we're both guys. My grandparents told my parents
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 17
    they shouldn't let him act that way and they ended up fighting each other because of it. But I enjoyed the food. It was the best meal out I had with my family in forever.
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 18
    Mom and dad told me they knew I chose the restaurant even if my grandparents said it was them. They told me I knew my brother didn't like it. I said he knows I
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 19
    Cheezburger Image 10538661632
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 20
    don't like his favorite but he has to go there. They told me not to turn it back on him, that I'm 16 and that's old enough to know better. They said part of being a
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 21
    good host is catering to your guests. I said he wasn't really my guest though and it p sed them off even more.
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 22
    But they still bring it up and they had like three more fights with my grandparents over it. My brother tried to get revenge by throwing water all over me and
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 23
    trying to make me eat mushrooms (ick). My parents response that it was my fault for the stunt with the restaurant. AITA?
    via Bigolldonnisti
  • 24
    Adventurous-Quit-753 NTA. Good for your grandparents. Also, sounds like your parents are grooming a monster AH Golden Child. If possible, I would try to find other family members to come to your aid to confront your parents' favoritism. Their actions are only going to cause relationship issues with you and other family members in the future if this catering to your brother's every whim continues.
    via Adventurous-Quit-753
  • 25
    infj1013 NTA. Your brother is old enough to know how to behave himself in public, and if he won't do so, then he should lose the privilege of dining out.
    via infj1013
  • 26
    Amazing-Cover3464 I'd flat out, to my parents faces, tell them I know brother is their favorite. They've made it perfectly clear. And that you will no longer consider his taste for your birthday dinner outings because, quite frankly, it won't matter. They'll still favor him no matter what you do, so you might as well make yourself happy.
    via Amazing-Cover3464
  • 27
    Key_Chemistry_4776 Next year don't invite the parents or brother. Just go with the grandparents.
    via Key_Chemistry_4776
  • 28
    fiestafan73 14 is more than old enough not to be catered to like a baby as well. And it's old enough to stay the h I home if you can't act right at a restaurant. NTA but your parents are.
    via fiestafan73

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whatever-he-wants FAIL brother birthday mother special day Thai restaurant favoritism parenting choices family picky grandparents eating feeding Father
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