As kids, the world can be too overwhelming to handle. That’s why we haveparents! They take care of us, teach us how to be good humans, and most importantly, love us like nobody else ever can. And they are always there for us when we need them. So, we can rely on our mom and dad for almost everything.
More info:Reddit
Image credits:Anna Shvets (not the actual photo)
She would attend a ballet recital or two, but that was all, and this really hurt the poster and her sister as they wanted an emotionally available mom over a financial provider
Image credits:u/Silver_Actuator7640
Image credits:MART PRODUCTION (not the actual photo)
The father always pulled off grand gestures for Mother’s Day and spoiled her but the gestures were never reciprocated for Father’s Day
Image credits:Tim Mossholder (not the actual photo)
When mom pointed out this unequal celebration, they called her out for being emotionally unavailable to them, but the woman got angry
What happens in this article is that Reddit userSilver_Actuator7640tells us why the family doesn’t celebrate Mother’s Day for their mom. So, the story began when a couple got married and while the man wanted to have kids, the woman wanted to focus on hercareer. They reached an arrangement where the mom would provide financially while the dad would look after their kids. This was the woman’s idea. And that’s how it went: the stay-at-home dad raised the kids, while the mom would fund their life and show up for a ballet recital or two, nothing more.
So, when Mother’s Day came, they just sent a few gifts to their mom and celebrated it with their ownfamilies. But after Father’s Day, the mother realized that she was not being celebrated as much as the father and told the narrator so, to which she retorted that they didn’t want to as she never put any emotional labor into them. The mother told them about the agreement before having kids but OP smartly pointed out that they didn’t agree with the arrangement as they didn’t want to grow up with an emotionally unavailable mother.
Their mom was mad about this and called the daughters “ungrateful brats”. And although the dad felt bad for her, he agreed with the sisters about not celebratingMother’s Dayfor a woman who didn’t want to be a mom in the first place. He also said that the arrangement was unfair to them. And it really was, wasn’t it?
Image credits:Craig Adderley (not the actual photo)
When OP asked Redditors if she was wrong for her behavior, they all said that she wasn’t, as growing up with an emotionally unavailable mother could be tough on kids.Trust Mental Healthstates, “Daughters of emotionally unavailable mothers can experience a range of emotional and psychological challenges. These can include anxiety, depression, self-doubt, and insecurity.”
She also narrated a beautiful example to express the situation. She said, “Imagine a playground where one parent plays alongside the children every day, pushing swings, playing tag, and cheering them on. This parent’s presence brings joy, security, and a sense of connection. In contrast, the other parent provides all the playground equipment and toys but rarely joins in the play.”
“While the toys are appreciated, the children may feel a sense of longing for the shared experiences and emotional connection that playing together brings. For children to feel truly supported and valued, they need both types of involvement—active play and emotional connection along with material support. This dual support system helps children feel secure, loved, and emotionally fulfilled as they navigate their childhood experiences.”
What an incredible way to put things, isn’t it? And it really makes us feel for the poster. The sisters must have had a challenging childhood with an emotionally unavailable mother. Folks online also applauded the sisters for standing up to her, while they cheered the dad for all that he did for his daughters.
Trupti also mentioned, “At an early age, children rely on caregivers, especially mothers, for emotional validation and support, which lays the foundation for self-esteem and healthy relationships. When this foundational support is lacking, individuals may experience difficulties in trusting others, managing emotions effectively, and forming secure attachments. Such experiences can contribute to feelings of inadequacy or unworthiness.”
The Redditors expressed their sympathies to the poster about how they felt sorry for her but called out her mom for wanting things both ways
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