Having family come to visit can cause all kinds of drama for the host(s). From setting things up to keeping things clean to keeping the peace. But for one mom on Reddit, the pain point is her pantry. The woman who originally posted (the “OP”) said her brother, his fiance, and her 10-year-old daughter planned a weeklong visit to see her and her kids.
Before they left, she — quite hospitably —asked if they needed her to pick anything up for them. Her brother sent a grocery list and said that since his stepdaughter is “picky,” he said his family would plan to cook separately. That was incredibly thoughtful on both of their parts (if I do say so myself): her offering to get things in advance, and him offering to take care of his family’s meal prep.
The List
“The list had a ton of crap that I won’t get my kids like shaped Kraft mac and cheese, Uncrustables, Fruity Pebbles, juice boxes, fruit cups, and cinnamon rolls (they’re a very special treat in my household),” OP said on the “Am I The A—hole?” subreddit.
She told him this list was a no-go because her kids would want the food and she wasn’t going to “deal with the arguments and tantrums” when she presumably doesn’t let them have it. He said these items — especially the cereal and cinnamon rolls — are some of the only things his stepdaughter will eat.
AITA for not getting my step niece sugar cereal and cinnamon rolls
byu/cinnamonrollspost inAmItheAsshole
OP stood her ground and was subsequently called a “food Nazi.” Her brother ended up taking his family to an AirBNB (!!!) and they haven’t visited with OP and her kids (!!!).
So, she wants to know, “AITA for not getting the sugar cereal and cinnamon rolls.”
Reddit’s Reaction
Reddit is usually Team “Your House, Your Rules,” so we expected them to say, “Tough sh*t” to the brother. While you’re at your sister’s house you eat sis-approved foods. But nope, they were fully standing by his side! The top comment — with more than 2 thousand upvotes — had a bulleted list of why OP is the a—hole here. After all, she asked them for a list, she refused to buy anything, and she shouldn’t make her kids throwing tantrums her brother’s problem.
“That’s also a you problem,” they said. “Why did you even bother hosting … Of course they’re not going to bother visiting you anymore, your rules are for your children, not anyone else’s, and your rules are rigid.”
And for anyone thinking the stepdaughter eats this way all the time, this Redditor said they doubt that’s the case.
“These food items are things you’d be able to eat easily while traveling, they’re easily accessible, cheap, and quick to make … I don’t know why this case is such a pearl clutcher … [her step-niece is] most likely eating better meals in the comfort of her own home.”
And let’s not forget, this is a vacation. Redditors want to know why the cousins can’t indulge in some special treats during this special time. Commenters certainly loved being able to do that growing up.
“We loved it when our cousins visited because it meant we could have the Coco Pops! Tastes like a chocolate milkshake, only crunchy!!!! It’d be different if it were a regular thing, but for something like this, bend a little.”
“This👆. We always had raisin bran and cheerios for breakfast, carrot sticks for snacks, water … When we went to my Aunt’s house or her family came to us or we did a long weekend at the beach and we got all the good stuff! Waffles! Chips! And the #1 thing we looked forward to the most… Coca-Cola.”
Regardless, it’s not OP’s place to dictate her step-niece’s diet. Especially not in such a stringent way.
“Ok almond mom,” one person said, referencing the ultra-toxic trend, “I get that their list isn’t the best but staying at your house doesn’t give you the right to try and change a child’s established eating routine. You sound like the Mom who raises kids who gorge on junk at friends’ houses because they never have it at home and grow up to have complicated food issues.”
All of this family division over some Fruity Pebbles? Buy the damn cinnamon buns and invite your brother over, OP. You can have carrot sticks when you fly out to see him.
Before you go, check out some of Reddit’s most ridiculous grown children.
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