We all have passions that, given the opportunity, we would drop practically everything else for to go to a related event, like a game or performance.
But most of us, even the most passionate among us, would draw the line at skipping an important day like Christmas to have that other experience instead, pointed out the members of the “Am I the A**hole?” (AITAH) subReddit.
Redditor BlancheDevaheaux was a big football fan and was elated when she received a ticket for an NFL game on Christmas Day.
But when her husband criticized her for accepting the ticket, the Original Poster (OP) wondered if she was wrong for wanting to go to a game instead of spending time with family.
She asked the sub:
“AITAH for considering going to an NFL football game on Christmas Day?”
The OP was a huge football fan.
“I (34 Female) am a diehard, like the star is tattooed on me, Dallas Cowboys fan. Yes, please drag me (I need Jerry to go somewhere), but I love this team for life.”
“My best friend’s family gets suites at FedEx Field every other season, but because they think they’re good now, they’ve been buying them more frequently.”
“My husband doesn’t have a team and follows players instead, but does enjoy and watches with me due to my passion for the game.”
“Last year, I was invited to join my friend and his family for a game in the suite but instead gave the spot to my husband. He had never been to a game before, and I wanted him to experience this, especially in a suite.”
“He had a wonderful time and thanked me profusely for letting him go. I was happy to give this to him and spent the day at home with the kiddos.”
When the opportunity came up again, the OP really wanted to go. But there was a catch.
“Fast forward to now. My best friend got married and made me his Best Woman.”
“His gift to me as a thank you for everything is suite tickets to see Dallas on Christmas Day.”
“I immediately asked my husband, and to my surprise, he got upset, like full-on said, ‘How could you consider going? This is a family day, and I would never do this.'”
“My best friend also had a ticket for my husband, and he said, ‘No thanks, it’s Christmas.'”
The OP kept trying to convince her husband, but he wasn’t okay with the plan.
“I tried to compromise and bring up our current Christmas traditions. My mom’s side of the family is from Eastern Europe, and we typically celebrate on Christmas Eve.”
“I told my husband that we can celebrate on Christmas Eve and would still do the morning wake-up with the kids (they are eight, seven, and two-and-a-half) with breakfast and opening presents.”
“I also told him that normally the kids are playing with their toys after the initial wake-up and will be zoned out the rest of the day.”
“Plus, my daughters would spend the afternoon with their mom to see her side of the family.”
“He told me to do whatever the h**l I want and walked away from me.”
“I chatted with my parents, and they are 50/50 on it but understand my desire to go because this isn’t an opportunity that comes around often, if at all.”
“AITAH?”
Fellow Redditors weighed in:
- NTA: Not the A**hole
- YTA: You’re the A**hole
- ESH: Everybody Sucks Here
- NAH: No A**holes Here
Most said YTA, because the OP was putting a football game ahead of Christmas.
“You have three kids. Christmas absolutely is about family, and your children, at that age.”
“Huge football fan over here (and mom), but YTA.”
“This is why it’s s**tty that they’ve even started playing football on Christmas. I like it too (not as much as my husband, but still,) but sports are on my television like every day between hockey and football during this time of year.”
“I’m a good sport about it, and we watch on Thanksgiving, but I put my foot down on Christmas. Absolutely not.” – Mysterious-Impact-32
“I think it’s really uncool that your friend, who knows you have a family, only offered you two tickets for a Christmas Day game, meaning the kids would all have to go to someone else on Christmas Day; who does that?!”
“I would never dream of offering a friend a solo experience on such a major family holiday. Is there not another game you can attend? Respectfully, your friend threw a grenade into your family.”
“I understand you’re torn, and I’m a very staunch supporter when it comes to couples having their individual independence, but it’s Christmas. Spend it with your family. Soft YTA, but I really think your friend is the problem here.” – adventuresofViolet
“YTA. Only because you have kids and are therefore responsible for making Christmas and Christmas Eve for them.”
“Christmas isn’t about you anymore. Or any of the adults. You are the magic of Christmas.”
“I am not on board with how adults act like bratty, snotty kids around Christmas; it is my biggest pet peeve. Adults are old enough to make their own food and buy their own things, and not rely on holidays forcing them to see people. If they want to see people, they will make it happen throughout the year.”
“Kids don’t get that control over their lives or time. You are responsible for making it happen along with your husband. Your kids will remember the year you were not there. All because of … sports.”
“I actually changed my answer when I saw you have kids. I would have gone NTA because adults acting like Christmas is the end of the world is the worst. But that’s not your situation.” – Stunning_Patience_78
“YTA. Don’t go to a football day on Christmas and leave your husband alone. Like, no.”
“You have three kids, biological or not, no.” – SoccerProblem3547
“YTA. I’m sorry, I know you’re a big fan, but leaving your kids and the man you supposedly love on CHRISTMAS is s**ty.” – Gold_Statistician500
“I love football, but I would never think of going to a game on Christmas and bailing on my family. YTA.” – Advocatefordeviledeggs
“I’m a big sports fan and a mom. This is a tough one. But I have to say YTA.”
“I would have discussed this with my husband before agreeing to spend Christmas Day at a game.”
“I don’t know where you’re coming from, but getting to and from Northwest Stadium (it’s not called FedEx Field any longer) isn’t easy. You’ll be gone most of the day.”
“I personally would rather spend the day with my kids, even though watching a football game in a suite is super fun. But that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t rather go to the game. But you really should have discussed this with your husband.” – IHaveBoxerDogs
But a few could understand where the OP was coming from and pointed out that Christmas could be celebrated differently for one year.
“NTA. For heaven’s sake, just do ‘Christmas’ on the day before or after. It’s a calendar, not a law book. The day won’t be less magical for them or create any fewer memories if it’s held 12/26, as noted by OP’s own family traditions.” – WhoFearsDeath
“It sounds like the kids are OP’s stepdaughters and will spend Christmas with bio mom, though. Not that it makes OP less of their mom, but the kids aren’t being left without a mom/family time.”
“I personally think NTA and OP made some valid points for compromising (celebrating on Christmas Eve, etc), but I’m not a Christian, so I don’t take it very seriously.”
“I understand I’m probably the minority on that, but given OP’s family situation, I don’t think she’s harming the kids.” – throwawaysunglasses
“I do not understand why everyone is saying YTA.”
“Definitely NTA. You are ALLOWED to have an experience and enjoy yourself, and your family should be supportive. Just because it’s on Christmas doesn’t make it any more different, especially if you’re planning to celebrate it on Christmas Eve.”
“No idea how old your kids are, but I highly doubt they’ll care once they get their presents that you’re gone for one day.”
“Not sure why you’re getting dragged over this.” – anaboogiewoogie
The subReddit could totally empathize with the love that the OP had for football and what a cool opportunity it was to go to this particular game in person. That said, they also argued that the OP should love her family and spending time with them on a special holiday at least a little bit more.
Perhaps arrangements could be made to keep the Christmas magic going, either by starting the festivities a little earlier or extending them into the day after Christmas, so that the OP and her daughters could go to their other engagements on Christmas Day without worrying about missing the time with their immediate family.
But if the OP missed Christmas without making any adjustments to the holiday, she’d potentially be missing out on time with her kids, while they were still very young, that she might not be able to get back. She had to decide whether that was worth a game or not.