One always wants to be available to family when they're in need of help.
Particularly if family members are going through a hard time when extra help is all the more important.
But what if giving that extra help just isn't possible?
Redditor Realistic-Effort-687 wanted to be there for their sister and niece after they suffered a devastating loss.
But they soon realized they couldn't offer the help needed, as their doing so could potentially put multiple people in physical danger.
But after being scolded by their sister, the original poster (OP) took to the subReddit "Am I The A**Hole" (AITA), where they asked fellow Redditors:
"AITA for not wanting to drive my niece because she has Tourette's?"
The OP first disclosed that their niece suffers from a diagnosed condition, while they face an undiagnosed problem of their own.
"I'll keep this quick, my niece has Tourette's syndrome, which makes her prone to making a lot of loud noises unexpectedly."
"I'm a decent driver, a good one, maybe."
"But I need focus."
"I don't play music in my car and I don't drive anyone else most of the time because I don't like having conversation when I'm driving, it's just distracting and could be fatal."
"Just to reiterate, I almost never drive anyone because of that last bit."
"NTA This is a safety issue."
"She should be thinking about her daughter's safety in this situation!"
"What if you get startled and swerve into a vehicle and her daughter is severely injured, paralyzed or gawd forbid killed?"
"Would she be spouting off about ableism then?"
"Ableism is a huge issue but this situation is not the time to deal with it."
"Tell her sorry but you're not changing your mind and you won't be driving her daughter again."-MiserableQuit828.
But after their sister, with whom the OP had a rather tenuous relationship, suffered a tragic loss, the OP found themselves obligated to overcome their fear of driving other people.
"However my sister's husband recently passed away and she needs someone who can drive her daughter to school."
"To be honest, my sister's always been a sour spot for me."
"She's done a lot of sh*t to me throughout the years, but I've always had to find it in my heart to forgive her."
So the OP decided to brave their fear of driving with another passenger, but did so unaware of a vital piece of information surrounding their niece.
"She's also just rude and entitled 99% of the time."
"She didn't tell me that my niece has Tourette's and because I work an intense job where I work A LOT, I didn't know either."
"Cue me driving her for the first time and she won't stop talking."
"I'm doing my best to stay focused but I have to tell her to stop."
"She does, but 10 minutes later she makes a massive screeching sound which makes me dent my car on a mailbox."
"I get shocked easily, and even if I know what something is, in the half second between me hearing it and my body reacting, I can't stop myself from reacting to it."
Realizing that driving their niece to school put the safety of both of them at risk, the OP felt they had no other choice but to stop.
"I told my sister I can't drive her daughter to school if that's what she does on a regular basis."
"I realize she can't stop that, but I need to make sure I'm a safe driver."
"She's going off on me now because I'm being ableist and cruel."
"AITA?"
In the comments section of the post, the OP shared a heartbreaking revelation of where their overt caution when it comes to driving likely stemmed from.
"Normally I'm a decent driver, I've managed to avoid some serious crashes, but the therapy might be spot on, both my parents died in a car accident right before I started driving."
Fellow Redditors weighed in on where they believed the OP fell in this particular situation by declaring:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You're The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
Even though the Reddit community was sympathetic to the OP's niece and sister, they were otherwise in agreement that the OP was not that a**hole for refusing to drive their niece to school.
Most agreed that the OP's reasons were more than justified, as they were thinking of the safety of their niece and themself.
"NTA."
"A 5000lb projectile going 45 miles an hour is a weapon."
"Your first priority is safety - yours, your passengers, everyone on the road (or sidewalk)."
"You are never obligated to compromise that."- bunnyball88.
"NTA."
"For both your safety and the child's safety, it's best if you don't drive her to school."- nathashanails.
"NTA - your sister won't like you any better if you kill her kid in a collision."- Patient_Company_2375.
"NTA."
"You tried."
"Trying multiple times could lead to a serious accident."- niennabobenna.
"NTA."
"I have Tourette's and my tics are mostly screeches, it is distracting for people."
"If you're easily distracted or jumpy, it's not safe for either of you."
"It's not ableist you acknowledge that you can't drive safely with sudden sounds, especially considering there's already been damage to your vehicle with one incident."-InsectLord.
"NTA- if you're genuinely worried about your comfort and safety, when you're driving, with your own vehicle, then you shouldn't feel pressured to drive anyone, no matter the circumstances."-lacklusterlambkin.
"NTA, safety comes first."
"If you can't drive safely in a specific condition, then don't drive in that condition."
"If possible, make sure your niece understands it's not her fault though as she can't help it."-BusydaydreamerA137.
"NTA."
"If you need to focus while driving, you're not being an ableist but realistic."
"She needs to find someone who is able to drive despite her tics - not your responsibility."-PikaJadey.
"NTA."
"It's too dangerous for you to drive with others."
"Just say no."- PuzzleheadedTap4484.
"NTA, I have a brutal startle reflex, I absolutely understand that safety has to come first."-whatsmypassword73.
"NTA."
"This is a safety issue."
"Your niece's condition aside, you don't owe your sister anything."-hello-mr-cat.
"NTA."
"Safety doesn't care about feelings."
"I don't consider that ableist, I consider that looking out for the well-being of others."
"I am curious though, why can't your sister take her daughter to school?"
"If she can't does the school not have some form of accommodations for transport?"- MedicalStude.
A few suggested that it might be in the OP's best interest to seek help to overcome their fear of driving other people, particularly after learning what triggered this.
"NTA."
"But also if you're scared of even talking to someone because it 'could be fatal', you might want counseling and driving lessons."-QuackLikeMe.NTa.
"If you can't drive safely with her in the car, you shouldn't be driving with her in the car."
"End of story. "
"That said, it does sound like you need some serious practice behind the wheel."
"Distractions happen and you need to be comfortable enough to deal with them as they arise."- NUT-me-SHELL.
"NAH."
"I saw your other comment about your parents deaths in car wrecks."
"I am so sorry to hear this and I'm sure that has traumatized driving and even riding in cars for you."
"I am so sorry for your loss."
"I hope you can get some help."
"It's no fun to be that stressed and it sounds like you may have PTSD."- leslielantern.
"Nta."
"But you might want to consider therapy for this anxiety you have while driving."
"Saw where you said both parents died in accidents."
"I'm so sorry for your loss and that definitely explains your anxiety about driving."
"Still think you could benefit from therapy though to help with this and maybe you can enjoy driving."-Devine900
There were even a few who felt the OP simply wasn't under any obligation to drive his niece to school, and shouldn't have been given a hard time about it regardless of the circumstances.
"NTA."
"You don't owe your sister favors."- s1m0n_s3z.
"NTA."
"Your sister's past abuse and your ideal driving conditions aside, you're not obligated to give rides to her daughter."
"You were kind enough to do it the once, and found out it was unsustainable."- notpotat000.
"NTA."
"You tried."
"But it didn't work."
"So your sister needs to make other arrangements for her daughter's transport."- ForgottenTroll.
"NTA."
"NO MEANS NO."
"It is a complete non explanatory sentence."
"Let them deal with it."- Friendsarenonhoomans.
"NTA."
"Stand your ground."- RideTheWindForever.
Other's were shocked that the OP's sister neglected to tell them that her daughter has Tourette's.
"NTA."
"Your sister is AH for not warning you about Niece's condition."
"Your sister literally risked your life (and her child's) by not being honest with you."
"And she's Extra AH for trying to guilt you into making her life easier at the cost of yours."
"And you are NTA for wanting to be a safe driver."- RevKyriel.
"NTA."
"Your sister is for not telling you her daughter has Tourettes."-dichingdi.
It is a shame the OP's sister felt the need to act out the way she did, though it's more than likely owing to her grief.
Hopefully, the OP's sister will come to realize that their decision out of concern for her daughter's safety.
Woman Asks If It's Wrong To Hold Grudge After Mom Told Her When She 8 Years Old That She Wished She'd Aborted Her
While some people view having and raising children as the greatest blessing, some parents hold their children's existence against them for their entire lives.
And when they feel that way about their children, they're unfortunately typically pretty honest about it, cringed the members of the "Am I Overreacting?" (AIO) subReddit.
Redditor heavelymango knew from the time she was young that her mother did not really like her and significantly favored her sister.
But when her mother told her at the age of eight that she wished she had aborted her, the Original Poster (OP) held on to that grudge for years after the fact.
She asked the sub:
The OP had a grudge against her mother.
"I (22 Female) have been holding onto a grudge due to something my mom told me when I was roughly eight or nine years old."
"Growing up, I was a rebellious kid and always felt as if my mom favored my older sister. My sister would always get whatever she wanted."
"I know she was born with Down syndrome and always needed more attention and care, but if my sister wanted my tablet, for example, she would have it for the whole day while mine was limited to 30 minutes so she could have it."
"As a kid, I lashed out more because of this. She could take all of my things, but I could never use hers."
During a heated moment, the OP's mother said something unforgivable.
"Eventually, this led to an argument with my mom. I don't recall the whole thing, but it was related to my sister and how I felt my mom didn't care about me or give me the same amount of attention."
"The fight got heated, and I probably told my mom that I hated my sister and her."
"I remember she said back, 'I never wanted you from the start. I knew I should've aborted you when I had the chance.'"
" I didn't know what aborted meant at the time, and I remember I looked it up, and it made me cry. I never forgot it, and it lingers in my mind whenever I am home."
The OP's mother pressured her to "let it go" and move on.
"Even growing up, I still brought it up, and she would get mad, saying I need to let it go and how I'm stubborn for not just forgetting what she said."
"There was even a time in high school when she took me to a therapist, and she complained about how I never dropped what she said."
"She says I need to move on from it because it has affected my relationship with her, and she wants to fix it."
"I know I'm older now and it was so long ago, but it still hurts, and I feel like it's made me not want to have her in my life in the future, and I have told this to her."
"How I don't want her in my life once I move out, get married, or have my own kids."
Fellow Redditors weighed in:
Some reassured the OP that this sounded like a core memory more than a grudge.
"The axe forgets. The tree remembers."
"It sounds less like you're holding a grudge and more that this is a formative, core memory for you."
"It won't stop being a core memory (unless maybe with the help of a lot of therapy). Has your mom ever apologized for saying that? Because you don't have to forget to forgive, but if she's not remorseful for saying that terrible thing to her young child (not just remorseful that you remember it), then she probably needs therapy (or is a narcissist/sociopath/similar)."
"You are certainly not obligated to 'get over it.'" - Hot-Can3615
"This is not a 'grudge'; it is pain that is still felt to such a degree. If she said it, then she was thinking it. She'll probably never apologize, but that doesn't mean your pain is or was invalid." - Fast_Register_9480
"NOR. This kind of thing needs a real apology. Like she needs to acknowledge the damage and genuinely care about it. Brushing it off won’t make it go away." - TentacleWolverine
"NOR. Did she really want to fix things? She basically just told you to get over it from the start instead of giving you a sincere apology."
"That isn't working on anything. She wants you to get over it so she can pretend that she never said it, so she doesn't have to feel bad about what she did. It doesn't sound like she cares much about how you feel."
"She just doesn't want to deal with it. For that reason, I would still have issues with what she said." - Chemical-Ad6809
"If your relationship with your mother is being affected by the actions of your mother, your mother is responsible for fixing it."
"You should know you probably aren't ever going to get closure, but you don't have to swallow it down. It helps to be the person you needed when you were younger out loud to yourself, but especially to others."
"For example: My name is Liz, and my mom told me to go ahead and do it already and save us all the heartache when I finally had the courage to tell her about how much I've been struggling with self-harm and suicidal ideation. I'm never going to forgive her for that, and we have never been close as a result of her actions."
"You aren't holding onto a grudge; you have a core memory of your mother distilling her feelings into a world-shattering sentence."
"You did not have a secure attachment before and can't have one now because of the deep trauma. You do not apologize for being stabbed."
"Find another therapist. I mean it. Someone who cares about your well-being wouldn't force you to apologize for being verbally abused as a child. I'm 29 now, and I lived through it. I still struggle with suicidal ideation daily, but once I stopped relying on my mom and unstable sources for support, my life got better immediately."
"You want things for comfort and familiarity. Don't let your mom or your therapist gaslight you into crossing a boundary."
"It might help to ask for a written five-part apology from your mom. 1. Acknowledge what you did 2. Say why it was wrong 3. Promise not to do it again 4. Ask how to make amends. 5. Share your feelings at this time if there's anything you'd like to say."
"My mom can be a good person and a bad mom and role model. Being in your own company is so much better than poor company." - PotLuckyPodcast
Others hoped the OP would go no contact with her mother sooner rather than later.
"NOR. It’s emotional abuse. And you do not owe her closeness after that, especially as she refuses to be accountable for that and try to make it up to you."
"She knows you have her number, and she can’t forgive you for knowing what a colloidal b***h she is."
"It’s unlikely that will change; it will at least be turned back on you with her the victim."
"Stop expecting her to apologize. If she doesn’t pay your bills, ghost her." - SnooCheesecakes2723
"My mom said something similar. My brother and I were adopted, and when I was a teen, in front of a church lady, she said, 'We didn't even really want you, but the people didn't want to split y'all up, so we just took you, too.'"
"Me and the church lady were shook. When I say my falbbers were ghasted. Like huh? She didn't remember saying that when I brought it up years after the fact."
"I also got grounded two times for two separate nine weeks (for C's on my report card) and a three and a half to four months (for smoking at 16 and getting caught because she liked to just pop up out of nowhere), and we just had a talk about that, and she didn't even remember."
"She said, 'No, I didn't. I never grounded you for that long,' and when I gave my rebuttal, she said, 'Well, if I did, it definitely wasn't for no nine weeks or months,' and this started because she was praising me for reading so much and liking books. I said, 'Well, when you were grounded like me, that's all I could do (no TV, no friends outside of school, no music, nothing but my room and books)."
"There's a reason I only call or answer her calls once or twice every few weeks. And I only call to get food, really..." - ManicalMoe
"‘Fine, I'm sorry’ is not an apology."
"Whilst I’m sure it was said in anger, most things said in anger have a grain of truth. There are also some things that no half-decent parent ever says to their children, no matter how angry they are, and this is one of them! It also sounds like she has made repeated similar comments of not wanting you as her child."
"I understand her eldest had a disability, but this is no excuse for neglecting and emotionally abusing her younger child. Lots of families deal with a child with additional needs whilst still managing to prioritise their other kids. Children with Down syndrome are capable of understanding ‘that’s your sister's, not yours; give it back’ !! It sounds like your mum has mental health issues?"
"Do you have a present father or other family you can turn to?"
"Protect your peace. Your mum has hurt you time and time again, honestly, for no real gain other than momentarily satisfying her anger. You owe this woman nothing." - Background_Term9810
"I went through something similar. When I was a little girl, my mother used to make comments that implied she didn't want me, though it was never that explicit. 'I only had you because your brother wanted a sister,' and 'My figure never recovered after you; after your brother, it did.'"
"Each comment stayed with me, but I never addressed it with her. I tried to move on and leave it in the past. She did a lot of horrible things throughout my life, but her behavior was always ignored because that's the precedent my dad set, where she can do essentially whatever she wants."
"A few months ago, she came to see me because I was desperate for help and sick. Instead of helping, she made my life so much worse. I won't go into details. At one point, I could no longer keep it inside, and I told her that she is a narcissist, to which she responded with, 'It would have been better if I had never had you.'"
"In some ways, it felt really good to hear her come out and say it. It felt good to hear the truth I've always known."
"I don't know what you should do, but I've chosen to not forgive."
"Every time I forgave, I just let her know that she can get away with whatever horrible things she had done. Her apologies were never real apologies. She always found ways to blame me or others for whatever she had done."
"And I'm truly just done with it. As sad as it is to not have a mom, it's sadder to pretend that you have one when in reality you don't... quite the opposite, if anything." - Neos_Mom
"So, OP, what will hurt more: keeping her and the grudge in your life or making a break and going low or no contact with her?"
"Frankly, we've no idea of what she might have been dealing with at the time, but regardless, what she said was said only to cause pain and suffering. 'Sorry' doesn't magic that intent away."
"Me, I think spending time alone or with friends or in therapy away from her might be what you need here. You might come to some sort of acceptance, but if this is something that's just going to keep coming between you, then stop trying to have that relationship." - Tal_Tos_72
After the OP received feedback, she shared a few clarifications from her original post.
"I wanted to clear some things up, take accountability where it's due, and provide some much-needed context from many people commenting the same questions."
"I want to be completely honest. We had many arguments, and I was a rebellious kid. I acted out and argued with my mom."
"I don't want to give off the impression that I was an entirely innocent kid who never did anything wrong and my mom just snapped out of nowhere. We both said hateful and hurtful things to each other during our fights."
"Growing up, the only way she would accept an apology was if I got on my knees and begged her for forgiveness. If I ever asked her to apologize to me, she would say, 'I have nothing to apologize for; you should be the one begging for my forgiveness.'"
The OP had a lot of physical memories, too.
"Things also would turn into physical arguments, not just verbal ones."
"There were times when she would get so angry she would get physical. Like yanking me by my hair, twisting my arms, or throwing things at me (like remotes, a bug spray can, or a radio)."
"When she yanked my hair, I would fight back just to get her to let me go, and she would scream that I was trying to kill her and she would get me arrested. When she twisted my arm, and I begged her to stop because it felt like it was going to break, she would say she hoped it did."
"When she threw objects at me, she would say she wished they would hit my face."
"I remember in middle school, during an argument, she said she wished she could break my face and that she hated it because I look like my dad. I won’t lie, whenever she said things like that, I would say nasty comments about how she chose to have him put us in her."
While the OP wasn't financially ready to move out yet, she hoped to as soon as possible.
"Why haven't I moved out yet? The main reason I haven't been able to move out is financial."
"I wasn't making enough to support myself without worrying about whether I’d end up having to crawl back home."
"Thankfully, I have recently found a better-paying job. My plan is to move out between mid-to-late October, or early November at the latest."
"The only reason I can't leave this exact second is because I have a few legal/administrative things to get cleared up so I’m completely untied from my mom, which will take a few weeks."
The OP also had proof that her mother liked her sister better.
"Has my mom ever admitted to favoring my sister? Yes."
"In arguments, she has explicitly told me that she doesn't see me as her legitimate daughter, and that she adored my sister more and forever will. She has also called me a 'monster,' told me there is a certain type of evil inside of me, and said she was afraid I would be just like my dad and try to harm them."
"She would even tell me that she was telling family and friends these things about me, but then later claim she 'just said it in the moment' and wouldn't be crazy enough to actually tell people that."
"Because I was so confused growing up and didn't know if she was lying or telling the truth, I started avoiding our family when they came over."
"Naturally, that just made things worse because she would get mad at me for avoiding them (even now as an adult), completely ignoring the fact that she was the one who lied about what she told them."
Unfortunately, the OP didn't have support from her father.
"What about my dad? My dad is not in my life."
"He was around sporadically, but never as a stable parent. My parents separated before I was born and divorced when I was two or three."
"Growing up, it was just constant back-and-forth toxicity, with him telling me how toxic my mother was, and her telling me the same about him."
"He would mostly only come over to see my sister, and often used me to care for her if he wanted to take her out to eat. Ultimately, my dad didn't care about anyone else other than my sister (and his drugs)."
"I hope this can clear some questions on the original post. I know I didn't provide many details as I originally should have. I honestly didn't want to post something too long, and I honestly did not expect it to be noticed."
"Thank you all for taking time to talk to me and share your thoughts."
The subReddit fully sided with the OP, pointing out that no matter how heated the moment was, it would never excuse the terrible things the OP's mother had said to her.
If the OP's mother really wanted a relationship with her, she'd drop the defensiveness and demands, offer a genuine apology, and work hard to be better for both of her children.
That takes a very rare kind of person to pull off, and it didn't sound like the OP's mother had that in her.
If you or someone you know is struggling, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
To find help outside the United States, the International Association for Suicide Prevention has resources available at https://findahelpline.com/i/iasp