Can you believe a mother would behave like this? Mother embarrasses daughter in a store, so daughter plays it off by being petty towards her: 'My mother and her friend just stood there looking stunned.'

Author image for María Cetra
María Cetra • Writer
Aug 15, 2026 6:00 PM EDT

Being petty can be the best weapon against an entitled mother who loves to embarrass you.

I hate those mothers who have a constant need to be the center of attention. Their whole personality is based on main-character syndrome and a need to outstage their daughters. I always found it unfair that these mothers always had this awful attitudes towards their daughters but never their sons. And I really think all this is powered by jealousy. They resent their daughters, so they are constantly trying to bring them down to make themselves look better. But it ends up just looking sad. Nobody wants to see that. A grown woman making their child (no matter the age of the child) feel like they are less than their mother.

In stories like the one u/Master-Hunt6826 shares, I always side with the daughters, because they are right. They have to act petty or take revenge if they want their mothers to stop mistreating and embarrassing them. And the worst part is that these mothers usually get offended by these things. They feel like their daughter taking revenge is worse than what they did. But, in reality, they did deserve that shame they suffered. They were being mean, so they got a taste of their own medicine. That is how the world works. Props for those daughters who know how to stand up for themselves.

If you are a daughter who gets put down by her mother all the time and you are tired of feeling embarrassed. Then stand up. It may be hard and uncomfortable, but it is the only way to stop the cycle. Be petty, vengeful, and embarrass her in front of her friends. She will 100% take offense at it, but it's fine. Giving her a peek at what she does to you is the only way to end this. She will learn to stop it. All this, taking into account that you have already talked to her like a normal person and explained that what she does makes you feel bad. This petty thing only applies if you have talked to her and she continues to do it. In that case, yes, girl, be petty!

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  • I (40F) was at the grocery store with my daughter (11) and my mother (66). My mother and I were sharing a cart, but we were paying for our groceries separately. Her groceries were in the top of the cart, and mine were in the bottom. While we were shopping, my mother ran into a friend of hers, and the two of them started chatting incessantly. At one point, my mother suddenly stopped their conversation and, without actually asking me what I was doing, accused me of putting my groceries in the cart
    via Master-Hunt6826
  • A woman doing grocery shopping. Image for illustrative purposes.
    via Vitaly Gariev

    A woman doing grocery shopping.

    Image for illustrative purposes.

  • For context, my mother has a habit of trying to embarrass me in front of her friends, so the fact that she made this accusation while her friend was standing there felt very intentional. Fine. Since she and her friend were still busy talking, I took the cart-with both of our groceries in it-went to the register, and paid for only my groceries. Then, because I decided a little pettiness was warranted, I wheeled the cart right back over to my mother. Her
    via Master-Hunt6826
  • unpaid groceries were still sitting neatly in the top. I took my bags, left her with the cart, and walked out of the store with my daughter. My mother and her friend just stood there looking stunned. She was worried I was going to make her pay for my groceries, so I made absolutely certain she didn't. I think it was just the right amount of petty.
    via Master-Hunt6826
  • Used_Clock_4627 I love an OP who asks the RIGHT questions. I would have left her a at the store, then and there, and without reusable bags, if that's a thing where you live. But I'm petty AF.
    via Master-Hunt6826
  • A woman buying food at a store. Scene shown is a visual representation.
    via Jeremiah Lazo

    A woman buying food at a store.

    Scene shown is a visual representation.

  • Pixie 1184 Never share a cart again because you don't want to be accused of making her pay for her groceries.
    via Pixie1184
  • Minflick I don't know - petty with an AUDIENCE is pretty d ed petty and sweet!
    via Minflick
  • snafuminder Oh, definitely. "Oh mom, your groceries are here on top and ours are in the bottom of the cart but it's okay. I'll continue to support your independence as your dementia gets worse."
    via snafuminder
  • PILAL2010 More petty: Pat the top of her hand and say, "No, Mum, that's the dementia we talked about. These are my groceries." Then offer the 'friend' a "We really must get going. Being out too long can be upsetting for her."
    via PILAL2010
  • ToothStreet466 My mother is just like this. She announced at a family gathering that I flunked out of college. I asked her why would she lie like that in front of everyone. I had a 3.25 one semester, and I needed to maintain a 3.5 for my scholarship. I worked my a off to raise my GPA next semester. She has a real humiliation k with me only.
    via ToothStreet466
  • Whorible_wife69 Was she maybe hoping the embarrassment would encourage you to pay for hers? I never understood why parents want to embarrass their kids.
    via Whorible_wife69
  • I_need_a_date_plz What does your mom achieve by acting this way? I would have paid for my groceries and abandoned her things at the checkout. I don't need that bulls in my life.
    via I_need_a_date_plz
  • Sufficient_Big_5600 If someone accused me of that or something similar in front of their friend- I would hit the dementia angle. "No, remember this is my space and this is yours!" And then turn to the friend and be like awww shucks "Sometimes she has a hard time remembering things at her age!"
    via Sufficient_Big_5600
  • Recent-Reporter-1670 Why do you stay in contact and entertain such a vile person with this type of habit?
    via Recent-Reporter-1670
  • shadow_dancr Bought her groceries too, then took them home bc you bought them & they're yours now - she has to reshop all of her groceries but w/o you bc your not waiting for her.
    via shadow_dancr
  • CharityNo2634 "Sorry mum I couldn't find the stool softener you like and I think they were out of your diaper brand. I'll see you at home" :)
    via CharityNo2634

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embarrassing friends petty revenge daughter
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