The pandemic isolation has been hard on people. Thankfully however social media and video app technology made it easier than ever to stay connected.
Some use these platforms to stay in touch with family and friends while others use it to get laughs by hopping on the pranking trend.
But what if a prank went too far? Could it affect your family life?
Reddit user quietwinterrain found themselves dealing with the fallout from one such prank. They turned to the “Am I the A**hole” (AITA) subreddit to see if others thought their actions were justified.
They asked:
“AITA for telling my wife to grow up and staying Christmas with our daughters at my ‘abusive’ parents without her?”
The Original Poster (OP) explained the situation:
“Wife (40) and I (42), together for 23 years married for 17, we have 4 daughters together (16,15,13,11). Our relationship is good, we don’t fight and we don’t have any major issues.”
“When we had our oldest, we decided that she would stay at home with her and our future kids. It worked well until last year.”
“As our daughters got older, they didn’t need that much attention from her. It caused some problems.”
“She was used to being a ‘full-time mom’, but our daughters are quite independent for their ages. So she got a lot of free time on her hands and didn’t know what to do.”
“We discussed things and I told her that this would be a good time for her to finish her master’s degree but she wasn’t very keen on that, so she joined the gym and a few book clubs.”
“Then our oldest introduced her to TikTok, and she got addicted to that. She started posting stuff about our private life, but hey, she wasn’t bored and she was happy so I went along.”
“I even participated in a few. Then she started doing pranks on me.”
“It was particularly ‘funny’ because I get scared very easily.”
“The pranks started to get more elaborate. I told her to stop and we had a lot of heated arguments about this.”
“In March, I was taking a bath. She got into the bathroom and dumped a bucket of ice on me (while recording the whole thing).”
“I freaked out, got up very fast, slipped and hit my head pretty hard on the tub. I am a big guy (6’4 248 lbs) so it was pretty bad.”
“I woke up in a hospital two days later, apparently. I got a hematoma from the accident and had to get brain surgery.”
”I had to stay in the hospital for almost two weeks. I’m still doing physiotherapy sessions and don’t have total control of my left arm.”
“She finally stopped using Tik Tok. She did apologize multiple times.”
“She never did another prank.”
”After the accident, the previously good relationship that my wife had with my family (my mom has 3 sons, I am the oldest and we started dating very early, so my wife was the daughter that my mom never had), took a pretty big hit.”
“They got into a few fights with her and I had to step in and ask everyone to calm down a bit.”
“On to the issue, my wife and I alternate holidays between her family and mine. One year we go to Christmas with her family the next one we stay with my parents.”
“The pandemic isn’t hitting that hard around here. We are taking safety measures.”
“We don’t live in the US.”
“This year we are supposed to stay with my parents but she doesn’t want that. My family still makes some snarky comments and my brothers are pretty passive-aggressive with her.”
“The thing is my brothers joke about the accident. I am able to joke about the accident now.”
“My wife hates that. It looks like after the accident her sense of humor died.”
“The biggest problem is my mom. My mom used to adore my wife but now she is super cold towards her.”
“She isn’t rude or anything like that, but since the accident, she always keeps my wife at arm’s length. Which is why I think my wife is acting like this.”
“She doesn’t want to go to my parents this year because of that. I told her that I am going with or without her.”
“She told me that I can’t take our daughters without her. We got into a fight and I told her that I am going.”
“She told me that she won’t drive me there (I can’t drive since the accident). I called my brother and he is ok with driving us there.”
“Our daughters are very excited to see my family.”
“We got into a fight and she is currently not speaking with me, her sisters think I am a jerk and that I am being too harsh on her because the ‘lockdown was hard on her’.”
“I told a coworker about this and he is on the fence.”
“So Reddit AITA here?”
Redditors weighed in by ruling:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
The subReddit agreed OP was NTA.
Redditors felt OP’s spouse had some introspection to do and needed to deal with the consequences of her actions.
“Wait. Lockdown is hard on her? Almost dying is hard on you!”
“I do question the family get together in the middle of a raging pandemic though. NTA about the post.”~ OboesHay
“NTA. If anyone is being abusive here, it’s her.”
“Not just for your ‘accident’ that she caused 100%, but for keeping you and your daughters from seeing your family because they are, quite rightfully, pissed off at her for almost killing you.”
“Lockdown is hard on everyone, but that doesn’t excuse her behavior at all.”~Jaded_Cryptographer
“She almost killed her husband and somehow she is making herself the victim. OP is definitely NTA, but the wife is definitely TA.”
“Little wonder his family is pissed at her. She needs to take a long hard look at herself.”~Far_Administration41
“Yikes. NTA but, uh, your injury was back in March and it looks like the resentment is growing worse, not better over time.”
“You won’t solve this by going to Christmas without her. You also won’t solve it by giving in to her demands.”
“Y’all might need some couples counseling here.”~ Kerostasis
“NTA: she has permanently disabled you for views on freaking Tiktok. She needs to put on her big girl panties and deal with your family being pissed off.”~californiahapamama
When making videos make sure it’s always with consent and safe. We hope OP continues to heal from such a serious injury.