17-year-old daughter refuses to invite neglectful parents to school event in her honor after she wins an art competition, they show up anyway: ‘I ignored them and walked away’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Oct 30, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

One of our favorite trends on the internet is those videos of parents filming their kids on stage as they look for them in the crowd. Nothing gets to us more than the moment when the young children lock eyes with their parents in the crowd and their entire face lights up with excitement.

Parents–always show up for your kids. There is nothing like it.

The parents in the story below, unfortunately, did not show up for their daughter for almost 17 years. They have always favored their younger daughter, and the eldest was neglected. So, after countless times of them never showing up to anything, the 17-year-old decided she would no longer invite them.

When she won an art competition for her school, the teen invited her boyfriend and his parents instead. However, her parents ended up showing up to the event anyway, and were mad when their daughter left with someone else's family. Later, they confronted their daughter for not appreciating their presence, yet she refused to apologize or forgive them for years of neglect.

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  • Should she forgive her parents because they showed up to one event they weren't even invited to?

    Keep scrolling to read the full details and share your opinions in the comments below.

  • 01

    AITAH for telling my parents and grandparents nobody invited them to see me get my award when they got jealous that I ignored them in favor of my boyfriend's parents?

    A few days ago I (17f) won an art competition my school signed me up for (with my permission).
    via Miyiyee
  • 02
    N
    via FatCamera

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 03
    One of the competition organizers came to my school to present the award to me and notice went up on my school's socials about it.
    via Miyiyee
  • 04
    My boyfriend's (17m) parents told me they'd be there and couldn't wait to celebrate with me afterward.
    via Miyiyee
  • 05
    It was huge for me because nobody ever comes to stuff like this for me and it told me they actually cared about me and didn't just say nice things for my boyfriend's sake.
    via Miyiyee
  • 06
    After the presentation of the award was over and things went back to normal I went to hug my boyfriend and his parents and I enjoyed being celebrated.
    via Miyiyee
  • 07
    We went out for dinner after and I felt so special. When I was still at school I saw my parents and my maternal grandparents in the audience.
    via Miyiyee
  • 08
    But I didn't go over to them and didn't even look their way again when I saw them.
    via Miyiyee
  • 09
    They were jealous when I saw them again after I got home. My grandparents were still there too, and they and my parents asked me why I ignored them and asked who I was with and why were they there and why would I leave with them instead of my own family.
    via Miyiyee
  • 10
    They asked me why I didn't tell them. They said they showed up to celebrate me and I celebrated with others instead.
    via Miyiyee
  • 11
    I told them nobody invited them and they could take their jealousy and deal with it like they always said I had to, because I didn't owe them my attention for finally showing up.
    via Miyiyee
  • 12
    They told me the point was they showed up and I ignored them in favor of a random couple who showed up.
    via Miyiyee
  • 13
    I told them my boyfriend's parents had supported me more than them and they actually told me they were coming and followed through.
    via Miyiyee
  • 14
    My parents said I was being disrespectful and not acting my age and my grandparents said I should appreciate their time as they're getting older and it's not easy to fit everything in.
    via Miyiyee
  • 15
    It pissed me off and I just walked away from them. Since I know background will be important here but I knew this would be a kinda longer post I wanted to write the current stuff first.
    via Miyiyee
  • 16
    So now for background. I have a younger sister (14) who was born with several disabilities and medical issues.
    via Miyiyee
  • 17
    My parents and both their families always favored her and ignored me as a result. When anyone came over they'd focus on my sister.
    via Miyiyee
  • 18
    They would bring her presents most times, even for a casual visit. Her birthday was a huge deal.
    via Miyiyee
  • 19
    She got presents on my birthday and several times they brought something just for her and nothing for me on my birthday.
    via Miyiyee
  • 20
    Everyone fussed over her and it ki ed me to be ignored. The little attention I got never felt loving.
    via Miyiyee
  • 21
    My parents could never find time for me. They could never find the money to put me into activities.
    via Miyiyee
  • 22
    They could never invest in my education or anything for me. None of my grandparents or aunts and uncles would make up for my parents focus on my sister.
    via Miyiyee
  • 23
    I invited family members to school plays and stuff and they were always busy. Nobody could come to any of the events my school hosted.
    via Miyiyee
  • 24
    Certificate of Completion. Career Counseling Department Exise Kastrati Anas Alates ISP P
    via This And No Internet 25

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 25
    My parents would never let me stay home those days either. They always said I'd be in their way.
    via Miyiyee
  • 26
    I always remember the time we made invitations for our school's music show. I was in first grade and I made my parents, both sets of grandparents and two of my aunts and uncles invites.
    via Miyiyee
  • 27
    None of them came and they didn't even really read them. I found my parents invite in the trash the next morning and I cried.
    via Miyiyee
  • 28
    My mom found me crying and asked why I was making noise and she told me I needed to lay off because she was stressed enough.
    via Miyiyee
  • 29
    I spoke up about my feelings a few times and the answer I always got was that I was jealous and my jealousy was for me to deal with because it was unreasonable.
    via Miyiyee
  • 30
    And I should be understanding and realize that my sister has needs that are more important than mine and that their attention will always be hers first because nobody knows if she'll wake up tomorrow.
    via Miyiyee
  • 31
    Eventually I stopped trying and then I met my boyfriend's family last year. We started dating two years ago and he introduced me to his family after we dated for a year.
    via Miyiyee
  • 32
    They were sweet and I spend time with him, our friends or his family most of my free time.
    via Miyiyee
  • 33
    I have a job too. But I stopped expecting or wanting my family to be there for me.
    via Miyiyee
  • 34
    It's why I never told them about my award. AITAH?
    via Miyiyee

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