Husband accuses wife of favoritism on Christmas, after she secretly buys $1,200 iPad Pro for daughter without consulting him, while claiming a $500 Nintendo Switch for their son a "very big" gift: 'This will only make the situation between our kids worse'

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Dec 16, 2025 6:00 PM EST

Christmas time can bring out a whole array of strong emotions: from joy to jealously…we see if all over the Holidays! 

Because as we welcome in the weeks leading up to the special day, we are also welcoming the drama that comes with dietary requirements, gift requests and who will be placed on Santa's Naughty vs Nice list. It is day that is filled with a lot of excitement, yet equally brings in a large amount of pressure to 'get it right'…Now, many people do, while some parent's may miss the mark ever so slightly…

This mother may be considered one of those parents, accused by her husband of showing obvious favoritism towards their daughter this Christmas season. This couple agreed that they'd be getting their son a $500 Nintendo for Christmas, despite his wife emphasizing that it is a "big gift", they knew it would make him happy. As for their daughter, the husband found a great iPad Air valued around the same price…But when his wife went behind his back to upgrade his daughter's gift to a $1200 iPad Pro (with accessories), he insisted that it wasn't fair to buy her a gift that cost double her brother's…reminding her she better have kept the receipt!

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  • Let's just say this mother's been put on the naughty list…and if she has any chance of making it onto the Nice list before Christmas day, she best be shifting into a more festively 'fair' approach regarding her gifting choices. The teen children already have a little rivalry going on, and despite their son receiving a great gift, we're not so sure he's going to be too joyful when he learns his mom doubled the budget for his big sister! 

  • 01
    A family exchanging Christmas gifts
    via ivashstudio

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

  • 02

    AITA for buying my daughter a more then twice as expensive Christmas gift then my son?

    I (41F) have a daughter (15) and a son (13) with my husband (49). Let's call them Emma and John.
    via Secret_Art3964
  • 03
    Emma and John do not have a good relationship (sibling rivalry, accusing of being the favorite child and so on).
    via Secret_Art3964
  • 04
    My Husband and I decided to buy my son a Nintendo switch 2 plus a game for Christmas.
    via Secret_Art3964
  • 05
    We spend a little more then 500$. In my opinion this is a big gift and exactly the thing that will make him the post happy.
    via Secret_Art3964
  • 06
    My husband wanted to buy my daughter an iPad Air and the pencil as a gift and I agreed to that.
    via Secret_Art3964
  • 07
    But then I found an IPad Pro 512 gb for only 1000 dollars so I bought that instead and told my husband only after buying it.
    via Secret_Art3964
  • 08
    With the pencil it will cost us nearly 1200$. My husband freaked out when I told him.
    via Secret_Art3964
  • 09
    He said that this is unfair to John and will only make the situation between our kids worse.
    via Secret_Art3964
  • 10
    I told him that Emma will need the iPad for college and stuff and that this device will last many years and that each kid has individual needs and wants but he is still angry and even accused me of favoring my daughter.
    via Secret_Art3964
  • 11
    Woman wrapping Christmas gifts on the dining room table
    via Karola G

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

  • 12
    Now he is threatening to return the iPad unless I fix the problem I created. AITA?
    via Secret_Art3964
  • 13
    I really think that gifts don't have to be the exact same value every time and that it's no big deal.
    via Secret_Art3964
  • 14
    Edit: I have the idea to buy AirPods for my son to even it out a bit.
    via Secret_Art3964
  • 15
    Switch 2+ AirPods is really everything he wanted.
    via Secret_Art3964
  • 16
    Flashy_Okra305 Well considering you intentionally didn't tell your husband you were getting the pricier version, you KNEW it was wrong. YTA. she doesn't need the brand new 1200$ iPad. Get her an older Pro or the air instead. Considering how your husband responded, you have a history of favoring your daughter and it sounds like the reason your kids hate each other is you.
    via Flashy_Okra305
  • 17
    BlondDee1970 YTA. Saying it's for college at 15 is laughable. You're 100% favoring your daughter.
    via BlondDee1970
  • 18
    FAYCSB YTA. You're getting her a gift that's twice as expensive because she's going to college... in three years? Your children will notice if you don't treat them equitably.
    via FAYCSB
  • 19
    Couple having a argument inside their house
    via studioroman

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

  • 20
    family_black_sheep An unspoken rule for parents at Christmas is you buy the same number of presents when they're little, because that's what they notice, and spend the same amount when they're older because that's what they notice.
    via family_black_sheep
  • 21
    Circus-wolf Geez cant imagine why your kids would argue about favoritism. Edited to say. Yeah YTA
    via Circus-wolf
  • 22
    YTA. Agitated_Pin2169 You bought an extremely expensive gift without consulting your husband, you doubled what you agreed to spend and you don't see the problem? Also as a long time iPad user, I have never had the battery on one last more than a few years so no way is the iPad pro going to last Emma 7 or so years, so the college excuse makes no sense. Return the pro, get the iPad air.
    via Agitated_Pin2169
  • 23
    Oberyn_Kenobi_1 YTA and your excuse is crap. Your daughter is 15, that iPad is not for college. It'll be 3 years old by the time she gets to college and 7 years old by the time she's done, assuming four year degree. It's going to be outdated and she'll want or need a replacement. Also not sure why an iPad would be necessary for college anyway as opposed to a nice laptop. But regardless, it is NOT for college.
    via Oberyn_Kenobi_1
  • 24
    molotovmerkin It's not a big deal TO YOU. Hmmmm... perhaps this attitude is part of why your kids have developed this rivalry? Either way, you're dismissing something that is only going to fuel the fire of competition/inequity between them. YTA.
    via molotovmerkin
  • 25
    DozenPaws Weird how $500 gift for John is a "big gift", but it's "only $1200" for your daughter. We all know you are the reason there are accusations of favouritism. YOU ARE FUELING THE FIRE AND YOU ARE LOVING IT. Pretending to clueless and all. Disqusing.
    via DozenPaws

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poor-excuses christmas gifts favoritism expensive differences Parenting Fail
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