AITA for making a big deal over popsicles?

Imagine a classroom buzzing with excitement, kids clutching melty ice cream cones, while 7-year-old Sally, with her dairy allergy, sits on the sidelines, eyes wide with longing. For years, her clever parent swooped in with a fix—freezeable juice pops, a frosty lifeline so she could join the fun at school ice cream parties. A simple deal with the school kept her grinning, a stash of 30 pops lasting all year, until a new teacher turned the tables in a chilly twist.

This year, the pops dwindled fast—down to three by October! Dropping off a fresh pack, the parent chuckled about the ice cream frenzy, only to learn the teacher’s been handing Sally’s special treats to other kids for “sharing” and “fairness.” A sting of frustration flared—Sally felt left out before, but now her fix is fair game? Buckle up for a frosty showdown that’s more than just popsicles!

‘AITA for making a big deal over popsicles?’

This parent’s quest to keep Sally included melts into a sticky situation, blending love, fairness, and a dash of classroom drama. Here’s the original Reddit post, chilling us with the full scoop:

My daughter 'Sally' has a dairy allergy. She's been going to the same school since kindergarten (she's 7). For some reason Ice cream parties are a common thing there, between birthday treats, holidays, and just random treats they have icecream a lot.

After the first couple times of dealing with an upset kid because she couldn't have any ice cream and everyone else did, I went and talked to the school and asked if I picked up some of those tube juice pops that you can freeze whenever (don't know the actual name) if they could give her one of those during their ice cream parties.

They agreed and I just drop off more whenever her teacher tells me they're running low, or in the beginning of the school year. It's only October and I dropped off a pack of 30 in August which usually lasts all year and she even brings some back home her last day of school. So her teacher emailed me a heads up that there were only 3 left, seemed strange but I grabbed a pack when I went grocery shopping.

So yesterday when I dropped them off with the teacher I jokingly said 'wow you guys must have ice cream every other day, wish they did that when I was in school'. She said 'oh, no we've only had icecream a couple times but some of the kids saw that Sally had a popsicle they wanted one of those instead' I said 'yea but Sally CAN'T have ice cream, that's why I buy the popsicles '.

She said 'yes, I understand but it's not really fair that she gets to have a popsicle and the other kids have to have ice cream. I like to encourage sharing and this way Sally will feel good knowing she shared with her classmates '. I said again 'it's fair because she CAN NOT eat ice cream, the other kids can.

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If she didn't have a dairy allergy the popsicles wouldn't even be here, and fairness didn't seem to be a big deal when all the other kids were getting icecream and Sally couldn't have anything'. She was like 'well that was before she was in my class'. I basically gave up and left. I was telling my wife and she said 'it's just popsicles who cares if some are given away'.

It's not about the popsicles though, it's that the school didn't care when everyone else got icecream and Sally couldn't and basically had to sit there and felt left out, but now because she has popsicles 'it's not fair'. This was never an issue before she had this teacher either. I'm going to see how long this bag lasts and then maybe I'll start sending only 10 at a time or something.. AITA for making a big deal over this? Maybe I'm overreacting.

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This popsicle predicament is a quirky clash, with a parent’s heartfelt fix for Sally’s allergy turning into a classroom free-for-all. The teacher’s “sharing is caring” spin sounds sweet, but giving away Sally’s special pops—bought for her needs—feels like a brain-freeze blunder, especially after years of her watching ice cream pass by.

This ties into a bigger scoop: accommodating kids with allergies in schools. The CDC notes 1 in 13 U.S. children has a food allergy, and schools must balance inclusion with safety, per the 1973 Rehabilitation Act (Source). Sally’s pops were her ticket to join in, not a treat buffet—sharing them muddies the waters of fairness.

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Child psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour says, “Equity means meeting each child’s unique needs, not splitting resources evenly” (Source). Dr. Damour’s take chills the teacher’s logic—Sally’s allergy sets her apart, and her pops aren’t a bonus for all. The parent’s not icing anyone out; they’re guarding her spot! Try this: chat with the teacher, clarify the pops are Sally’s medical fix, and suggest the school fund extras if sharing’s the goal. Monitor the stash, maybe send smaller batches.

Heres what people had to say to OP:

The Reddit gang scooped up this tale with gusto, tossing out fiery takes and a sprinkle of sass—here’s the coolest from the crowd, served with a frosty wink:

worryaboutYOUhoe − NTA. If the teacher wants everyone to share, she can buy the popsicles herself. Especially since she was bold enough to argue with you after asking you to buy more when they were bought for a specific purpose for your child.

SufficientPick7252 − NTA. I understand that it may be 'just popsicles' , but if you are supplying them to the school they shouldn't be contacting you to bring more because they are handing them out to other students. The school should supply the 2 options then if they want students to have a choice.

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annrkea − NTA. The Y T A commenters are wrong. This isn’t about you nitpicking over pennies. This is about the school not respecting your daughter and stealing the accommodations you sent in for HER USE. F**k ten, I would send ONE at a time until they get the picture. If you want to treat her class, that’s your business and only with your consent.. And for the record, I’m both a parent and a teacher.

StAlvis − NTA. That teacher **STOLE** from a little girl.

0biterdicta − NTA. You were under the impression you were paying to accomodate your daughter, not to supply the whole class with popsicles.

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seregil42 − NTA. You're paying for this out of your own pocket. What the school is doing is stealing from you. Doesn't matter if they are relatively inexpensive. It would have been one thing had they contacted you in the beginning to ask if it would be okay to give away some popsicles, but they didn't. They need to either reimburse you or stop giving away your stuff.

As for kids who may be upset that they don't get a popsicle? Tough. They need to have it explained to them that your kid cannot have ice cream and that these popsicles are brought so she can partake in the fun.

basylica − NTA- you are 100% right and its total BS. I agree and would take that stand for my kid too. However my kids are teens now and i wanted to throw this thought in for you. Imagine you are your daughter and everyone has ice cream which SUCKS because you cant have it. Even with popsicle you hate the fact you cant be the same as the other kids, wish you could have ice cream.

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Lets face it in elementary school anything remotely different gets picked on and we ALL know ice cream is superior frozen treat generally. Now picture 5 other kids eschewing ice cream in favor of same treat as your kid. Now she is no longer pariah enjoying her subpar treat but one of a group of kids enjoying a special treat for an elite club.

So even with popsicle provided she is still left out of the group, but a couple kids joining her instantly elevates her social standing to something to be envied.. Something i might not have thought of 10yrs ago, particularly while in mama bear mode. At the price of the popsicles id bite the bullet here, not for the a**hole teacher but for my kid.

But depending on age id ask kiddo “does it bother you when other kids get a popsicle like you do?” This may actually be a GOOD thing at the cost of a few bucks. We dont want our kids to feel peer pressure and cliquey but the fact is elementary school age kids, particularly girls, can be little assholes.

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jinxdrain − NTA, oh the entitlement. In the real world, if you brought a popsicle to work you would not be expected to share The teacher owes you $. It's not a lot, but it's the principle. She gave students someone else's property without permission. I do believe that's theft. She also is missing the teachable moment as to why some people seem like they're getting special treatment but it's really nobody's business but theirs.

vanastalem − NTA. It's unfair that food you paid for is being given to other students. When I was in elementary school one of my classmates was diabetic. He had snacks he ate during class that nobody else was allowed to have (we just ate during lunch, you couldn't just bring snacks to eat whenever) because of his medical condition & they were paid for by the parents.

Dunka_Chino − NTA. They have no business giving away her stuff without asking you first.

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These chilly opinions pack a punch, but do they melt the core issue? Is this a popsicle pilfer or a lesson in fairness gone cold?

From a loving fix for Sally’s dairy-free days to a teacher’s unexpected handout, this popsicle saga freezes us in a debate of fairness and heart. The parent’s fight isn’t just for juice pops—it’s for Sally’s chance to feel included, not sidelined, in a sea of ice cream. The teacher’s twist chills the plan, leaving us to ponder: who’s really got the cold shoulder here? What would you do if you found yourself in a similar situation? Toss your thoughts, laughs, or clever fixes in the comments—let’s break the ice together!

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