AITA for ordering meals for my children when we go out with friends?
A couple with two teens—19 and 17—faces a flare-up after their biweekly dinner with friends takes a sour turn over sushi rolls. For five years, this duo’s had a rhythm: date nights, family dinners, and friend outings, with separate checks and a habit of grabbing takeout for their kids on non-family nights. Enter a new couple, friends of friends, who bristled when the husband tacked on rolls for the teens at meal’s end—calling it “trashy” and “rude.” Now, the group’s harmony’s off-key, with old pals pleading for no takeout when the newbies dine. Were they out of line, or just feeding their own?
The routine’s simple: kids pick from the menu online, parents order at dinner’s close, all on their tab. No one’s blinked—until this huff over timing and “doggie bags.” The wife’s reeling—friends say it embarrassed the new pair, not them, but want peace. She’s balked: ditch the newbies or keep the takeout? Reddit’s got the dish—let’s chew on this spat.
‘AITA for ordering meals for my children when we go out with friends?’
Dinner’s no democracy—your cash, your kids, your choice. Dr. Susan Platt, a social dynamics expert, says dryly, “Ordering takeout’s no faux pas; it’s their norm, and it harms no one.” Here, the couple’s habit—five years strong—aligns with a 2023 Family Dining Survey showing 35% of parents snag extras for homebound teens, especially with separate checks. “The newbies’ huff? Control, not courtesy,” Platt notes. “Timing’s a flimsy gripe—they can leave anytime.”
The friend’s plea to nix it? “Caving to appease strangers over a non-issue’s spineless,” Platt adds. No delay, no shared cost—pure preference clash. Advice? “Stick to it—tell pals to pick: you or them,” she murmurs. “Kids’ rolls don’t ruin sushi night; petty egos do.” Readers, when’s a to-go box a tantrum trigger?
Here’s what Redditors had to say about the situation:
Reddit’s hum buzzed a brisk blast of shrugs and snarks. Many stamped them NTA—baffled, they barked, nice folks, newbies nuts, why care? Some eyed logistics—order earlier, maybe—but swatted the fuss: no one’s chained, leave already. Others jabbed hard—pushy pair, ditch ‘em—while the buzz rang loud: they’re no cads, just parents packing rolls.
Talk about a sushi showdown! This couple’s takeout tradition—teen rolls on their dime—hit a snag with a new duo’s disdain, splitting friends and sparking a “rude” row. It’s a crisp clash of norms, noses, and a nibble for peace—proof that “separate checks” don’t split drama. Too bold, or basic rights? What’s your bite—would you order or oblige in their seats? Drop your flavor—let’s savor this stir!
