We are all taught from a very young age that “sharing is caring.”
A very valuable lesson, as sharing and generosity are vitally important.
What could be taught earlier is that not everything should be shared.
As some items are just too precious or delicate, they should not be required or expected to be shared.
Redditor grunty_gal was recently given a very thoughtful and personal gift for their birthday
When the original poster (OP) showed this present to their parents, they expected it to be shared with them.
Something the OP was unwilling to do.
After being called “selfish” by their parents, the OP took to the subReddit “Am I The A**hole” (AITA), where they asked fellow Redditors:
“AITA for refusing to share my birthday gift?”
The OP explained why they were less than eager to share their birthday present with their parents:
“I recently received a bunch of chocolate for my birthday from one of my friends.”
“The chocolate was a thoughtful gift that was carved into my favorite animals.”
“When I came home that day, I told my parents that my friend had given me chocolate for my birthday.”
“When my mom asked me to share I refused and told her it was a birthday gift for me.”
“She then went on about how kids these days are selfish and that when she was a kid, she always thought about her parents when she received something.”
“She said it made her feel sad that I wouldn’t share and that I don’t care about anyone.”
“When I asked my friend about the situation she said that she bought the gift for me and not for my parents.”
“When I showed my mom the text she started laughing at the fact I would ask my friend.”
“She then told my dad about it and when I explained to my dad that it was a birthday gift, he said that was no excuse.”
“I feel really bad now.”
 “I got five pieces of chocolate that were hand carved into my favorite animals.”
“I don’t want to say how old I am but I am a minor.”
“AITA?”
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
The Reddit community stood firmly behind the OP, agreeing that they were not the a**hole for refusing to share their birthday present with their parents.
Everyone agreed that if anyone was being selfish, it was the OP’s parents, for expecting them to share what was a very special present specifically made for the OP:
“How old are you?”
“Doesn’t matter, if your friend gave you a set of game cards, would they want some of them, too.”
“How about a sweater, will they want to wear it?”
“Their reasoning is flawed and they should be ashamed for asking you to give up part of YOUR gift.”
“Shame on them, you have no reason to feel bad, they are the ones making this an issue by being greedy and pulling the parent guilt card on you, and it is working.”
“Just don’t let it.”
“NTA.”- Grymflyk
“Reading your comment – you’re a minor who received 5 pieces of chocolate from your friend for your birthday – you are NTA.”
“Hide them.”
“Enjoy them.”
“Your parents are AH’s and can buy their own chocolates whenever they want.”- BlondDee1970
“NTA.”
“It’s a gift to you, and you don’t owe any of it to them.”
“The entitlement is weird, tbh.”- LittlestMissTiny
“NTA, well they now taught you to keep secrets.”
“If you get something nice hide it from them.”
“Nice food don’t eat near them ect.”- Objective_Attempt_14
“NTA, your parents are acting like entitled brats.”
“Ignore anyone who says you should ever share your birthday gift, regardless of what it is.”- xpoisonvalkyrie
“NTA.”
“Let them know that they are your role models, and they have never shared one of their gifts with you.”- Separate-Parfait6426
“NTA.”
“Good god, your parents are awful.”
“They’re pushing you around because they can, and that sucks.”
“You’re good not sharing your birthday chocolates with them or anyone else.”- your-mom04605
“NTA.”
“What a childish thing for her to get upset over.”
“I could see a child-aged sibling maybe having this issue, but she’s grown?”
“Like babe, go by some damn chocolate if you want some so bad, wtf lmao at her grown age.”- Phat-A**ests
“Your parents are a-holes, and honestly, I think your mom is lying.”
“I bet she didn’t have a choice except to share with the family because that’s what was expected.”
“NTA eat it all yourself.”- justhewayouare
“When in a few years your parents are posting about how you don’t talk to them anymore, I hope someone pulls this up from your post history.”
“NTA.”- AcmcShepherd
“If my son receives a gift that can be eaten and he chooses to offer me some, I will still check if he is sure because it was his present.”
“I can’t imagine demanding he shares it.”
“That’s really entitles behavior.”
“NTA!”
“Enjoy your chocolate.”- No_Professor606
“NTA.”
“But your parents are.”- Cute_Recognition_880
“If you have something you want to share that one thing, but adults attempting to bully their child into sharing a gift from their friend, another child went out of their way to get you something and they are trying to take it from you is really sh*tty.”
“Enjoy the gift you got and as others have said you can always call your grandparents and tell them unfortunately some adults can only be shamed into acting right by those older than them or other adults.”
“NTA.”- Snowey212
“NTA.”
“I’d never ask my daughter to share her birthday present with me.”- Alarming_Bar7107
“Your parents are the selfish 1s, NTA it’s fine if when she was a kid she willingly offered her parents stuff, but you aren’t her and trying to guilt trip you like that is kinda f*cked up.”-betweenboundary
“NTA.”
“Buy them a bag of crappy chocolate from the $1 store.”
“Put it into a cute bag/container from the $1 store.”
“Tell them it was your birthday present.”
“They’ll enjoy it a lot knowing that they took it from you.”- youjumpIjumpJac
“NTA.”
“Your parents are though.”- OutsideEnvironment97
“Go ahead and look up the definition of dysfunctional family dynamics.”
“Expecting children, especially minor children, to be responsible for the feelings and reactions of the parents is in there.”
“There are like 8 different kinds of dysfunction and that’s one of them.”
“Absolutely NTA.”
“Don’t let your parents manipulate you with guilt.”
“That’s a bad dynamic to be in, and I’m sorry you have to deal with that.”- AngerPancake
“Aw NTA, it’s your birthda,y you’re allowed to be a tiny bit selfish.”- actualchristmastree
“NTA.”
“When my niece was about three, she went through my jewellery box like a pro.”
“There was only one thing in there that I would not have given to her because it was a gift from my mum, who died when I was a teenager.”
“That was, of course, the thing she wanted.”
“When I said no because it was a present, she immediately understood and didn’t ask again.”-Violet351
“I mean, are they always like this?”
“If this is the norm for them, I don’t see why you would’ve thought they’d conduct themselves differently just because it’s your birthday.”
“Next gift-giving event, give them a consumable of something they really like, but take half.”
“When they ask, just tell them you thought it was for sharing, and they’re not greedy people.”
“NTA, in the future, keep your good fortune to yourself.”
“If this is their response over candy, I dread their thoughts when it comes to money or bigger, more expensive items.”- andronicuspark
“Your parents are freakin adults who can buy their own candy.”
“Why do these people need you to give them your gift?”
“NTA.”
“Happy Birthday, October sib!”- sweetT333
“Is there any reason they can’t get their happy asses in a car and get their own chocolate?”
“NTA.”- teach_wisely
The OP later returned, simply to speak in defense of their parents, following the backlash they received from the Reddit community:
“Please stop hating on my parents.”
“I posted this to see who was in the wrong or if I crossed the line, not to have people say my parents are bad parents.”
“I understand that some people have childhood trauma because of horrible parents, but I don’t think my parents are like that.”
“Thank you again for all of your responses, and I understand I could’ve handled this better.”
The OP’s friend gifted them something special, which they were more than happy to offer to their parents if they wanted to.
But the OP’s parents should not have expected, let alone demanded, partaking in this gift.
Based on the OP’s update, it seems that this was a rare, somewhat out-of-character moment for the OP’s parents.
Hopefully, their behavior was more indicative of a toddler than it was two grown adults.