AITA for getting my disappointed son a slurpee?

Shirley Stafford Hours
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When life doesn’t turn out as planned, even the smallest gesture can work wonders. An 8-year-old boy, filled with excitement for a class trip, faced an unexpected disappointment when the attraction he’d longed to see was closed. His day took a bitter turn, leaving him crestfallen despite discovering other enjoyable parts of the outing.

Seeing his downcast eyes, his mother decided that a little treat might brighten his day. With a short walk to the local 7-11, she offered him a slurpee—a small, sweet gesture meant to remind him that even when things go wrong, there are always moments of comfort waiting just around the corner. This tender act highlights that sometimes, kindness is all it takes to help soften life’s little blows.

‘AITA for getting my disappointed son a slurpee?’

My 8 year old son had a class trip yesterday. He was very excited in the days leading up to the trip mainly because of a specific attraction he was hoping to see. Unfortunately, the attraction is closed for renovations for the next couple of months, so he didn't get to see it. Though there were other things he liked and enjoyed, he was still super disappointed.

When he got home, I asked him how the trip was, and he told me how disappointed he was that the thing he was most looking forward to wasn't available. I felt sorry for him- that sucks! And it was a nice day and we live 3 blocks away from a 7-11, so I offered to take him for a slurpee and he agreed.

While it didn't make up for everything, it made his day a little bit better, and I was happy I could do that with such a simple little gesture. Well, my husband thinks I was wrong because kids need to learn how to manage disappointment and I didn't give him that chance. I would agree if, say, I had taken him to Target and bought $100 worth of toys. Or, say, called the place and reamed them out for being disappointing.

But it's just a slurpee, it costs a little over $1 and is close to home, so not some big production. It is in no way proportional to the disappointment, it was just a small thing to uplift his day a little. My husband argues that in

It wouldn't be an excuse to run up the credit card, but it is not crazy or unusual to get oneself a slurpee or a chocolate bar on a tough day. Anyway, just wondering who's right here? AITA and did I handle the situation badly by getting my son a small treat because he was disappointed?

Handling disappointment is a universal challenge that both children and adults face daily. In this scenario, the mother’s decision to treat her son to a slurpee is not about sheltering him from reality but rather about acknowledging his feelings and offering a moment of solace. Research in child psychology suggests that positive reinforcement in response to emotional setbacks can help children learn that kindness exists even on tough days.

In modern parenting, small gestures are often used to teach children that while setbacks are inevitable, they can be mitigated by self-care and thoughtful support. For instance, behavioral expert Dr. Laura Markham explains, “Showing empathy and offering a small reward can help children understand that disappointment is temporary and that support is always available.” Such a reminder fosters resilience without dismissing the child’s feelings.

Moreover, this approach mirrors adult behavior—when faced with setbacks, adults might treat themselves to a favorite snack or coffee to cope with the stress. It is a way to momentarily uplift one’s mood while planning the next steps. The slurpee, in this case, acts as a symbolic gesture that a rough day can be made a little sweeter with care and understanding.

Additionally, psychologists argue that these small acts serve as early lessons in emotional self-regulation. By experiencing comfort immediately after a letdown, the child can associate self-kindness with recovery. These moments do not replace the essential learning of how to handle disappointment over time; they complement it by teaching that support is always within reach, whether through self-care or caring relationships.

Ultimately, parents must find a delicate balance between encouraging resilience and providing comfort. This situation exemplifies how minor indulgences can contribute positively to a child’s emotional well-being. The takeaway is that nurturing a child’s spirit through empathy does not spoil them; it rather equips them with the knowledge that life’s challenges can be softened by warmth and small moments of joy.

Here’s how people reacted to the post:

Here are some hot takes from the Reddit community—candid, humorous, and unfiltered. The discussion is overwhelmingly supportive of the mom’s decision. Many redditors argue that it’s a simple, heartfelt gesture that reassures a child without undermining his ability to cope with disappointment. They note that adults treat themselves to small comforts every day and that there’s no harm in extending that same kindness to a child in need.

Neutral_Guy_9 − NTA. You don’t need to justify a f**king slurpee. Your husband must have had a bummer of a childhood.

IrrelevantManatee − NTA. Your kid DID learn how to deal with disappointment. He did had to process his feeling about not seing this attraction. And what your son learn is that he can always count on you to be an attentive ear when something is wrong in his life, and that while you can't fix the whole world for him, you will always try to make it better. I think you did a good job.

FireBallXLV − Sounds like your husband may be going through a hard time.Or he grew up with hardline parents .Either way you are NTA OP

sxrxhbender − NTA. When my husband has a bad day, I like to pick up his favorite candy/drink on my way home for him. Not because he expects me to, but because I like to do nice things for people I care about. In the

You weren't teaching him to expect gifts when he's disappointed, you were doing a small, sweet gesture for someone you care for. If anything, you're teaching your son that going out of your way to do something kind, even something as small as getting a slurpee from the gas station, can mean a lot to people and is a nice thing to do.

Confident-Try20 − NTA. Let me get this straight. Son was sad, son came to terms with it and Mom made it a better day!! He's upset you made your son happy? Weird but okay. Yes your absolutely right because all adults treat themselves, me included so why should your son be an exception because dad wants to make this into a life lesson..?

At 8 years old? Jeez, he sounds like he has a screwed view of the world if he's trying to teach a life lesson about disappointment to an 8 year old. Let him have a childhood at least before tour husband ruins him with his screwed vision of the world. At least he as an amazing mother there for him no matter what. You are doing great mama so don't stress about the little things.

toxicredox − So, you son, at age 8, articulated clearly that - while there were some cool things he saw and enjoyed, he still felt REALLY disappointed that he didn't get to see the thing he'd been excited to see for a while. I mean... sounds like he handles disappointment just fine to me. Better, in fact, than some adults.. I don't see rewarding that kind of behavior as a bad thing at all. NTA.

Tangerine_Bouquet − NTA. Does your husband believe that you should *never* buy your son a slurpee, even separate from this disappointment/bad day? It *was* a learning experience. Your son learned that you care about his feelings, and that he can talk to you, and that maybe little things can *help* him handle disappointment.

CosmicGreen_Giraffe3 − NTA. You are exactly right. As adults we DO treat ourselves when we have a rough day. We indulge in dessert or a glass of wine. We watch trash tv. We sometimes indulge before what we predict will be a rough day by treating ourselves to Starbucks or our favorite breakfast.

By doing something small like getting a slurpee, you taught your son how to give himself a pick-me-up without going overboard. Your son also handled this very well. He didn’t claim that the day was ruined or he hated everything. He acknowledged that there were parts he liked, he just wished he had gotten to see the thing he was excited about, too. That is a very mature perspective.

makethatnoise − I use Slurpees as a bribe for my 7 year old, and have for years. We unexpectedly had to help someone move for four hours yesterday, I told my son if he was good he would get a Slurpees. Homeboy had the best attitude and helped the entire time.. NTA, at all.

Inner-Nothing7779 − NTA Dad here. You are not wrong. It's a slurpee. Most adults definitely treat themselves on rough days. A chocolate bar, a glass of your good whiskey, Starbucks, a bath, an extra half hour of video games, etc. We all do things for ourselves on bad days to make them better. It's normal real world behavior.

Not to mention, your husband is trying to teach your kid to internalize his feelings. There are far too many men that commit suicide because they grew up hearing their dads and moms tell them to suck it up and deal with it. That expressing their negative emotions and not learning how to actually deal with them is wrong and weak.

In conclusion, the act of getting a slurpee for a disappointed 8-year-old is a subtle yet powerful demonstration of empathy and care. Rather than teaching the child to “just suck it up,” the mother provided immediate comfort—a small reminder that setbacks can be made less bitter with a little kindness.

What do you think? Should parents always encourage self-soothing, or is there room for a treat to help manage disappointment? Share your thoughts and join the conversation on how best to navigate the ups and downs of everyday life.

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