AITA cursing in front of my family after being a running joke for years?

In a warm kitchen filled with the aroma of simmering sauce, a 17-year-old hesitates at the counter. Their family’s weekly cooking night, a cherished tradition of making classic dishes, beckons, but they’re itching to test new recipes solo. Declining to join, they cite a need to explore their culinary creativity, leaving their parents feeling brushed off.

Reddit hums with takes: was it selfish to ditch family time, or a legit bid for independence? This story of food, family, and personal passion stirs up the delicate balance between togetherness and self-expression, leaving us to ponder if they cooked up a storm or a spat.

‘AITA cursing in front of my family after being a running joke for years?’

A little background info- I am short. Not incredibly short at five foot 1, but when compared to the rest of my family, it's obvious that I am lacking in stature. And ever since I was 12, it's been a huge 'joke' at our gatherings. At first it was okay because it only felt like a bit of teasing.

But it has constantly been brought up. And when I mean constantly, I mean that I will be sitting in the corner minding my own bussiness, and my cousins or my aunts and uncles will be talking and laughing about me. My grandmother is by far the worst. They don't do this to anyone else, so it sucks when they single me out.

It's gotten to the point where I am so tired of it. My height was never something I was ashamed of, but with the people I love talking about it, my cousins comparing themselves to me, and my grandmother almost scolding me about it, I just want to grow 5 inches to get them off my back.

By now, it has been ingrained in everyone's minds that if they are at least taller than good ol' me, then they're not that bad. It's usually little remarks so I don't want to make a scene, but today I officially mouthed off. We were all at my uncle's house this weekend. I was sitting at the table, painting something , when my cousins came in.

They were wearing high heels from my grandmother's closet and everyone found it hilarious and adorable. And that was when my uncle said 'Wow, even if OP wore those, she'd barely be bigger than y'all!' And then my nana said something equally as stupid, something about how I wouldn't even be able to fit in those shoes anyway, with how small everything is about me.

Which kind of started mutual 'teasing' (read- mocking) That's when I said 'Yeah guess what, guys? I had a heart condition for the first five years of my life that stunted my growth, and everyone in my dad's family is tiny. At least I have a biological excuse for being short. You don't have excuses as to why you're all a\*\*holes.'

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everyone went quiet. My uncle was quick to scold me for the language, and my grandmother said 'We're all trying to be nice, Op. We're teasing you lovingly, giving you attention. Everyone wants attention- would you rather just be all alone, drawing? '

I told her that I would rather be left alone than have to constantly be ridiculed, and then left. Everyone has been treating me differently and I feel scummy. The youngest person there was eight, and I know I shouldn't have talked like that in front of her. So reddit, AITA ?. 

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Family traditions are like recipes—comforting but sometimes rigid. This teen’s choice to skip cooking night for their own recipes reflects a craving for independence, but their parents’ hurt reveals a clash in expectations. They see tradition as bonding; the teen seeks self-expression, sparking tension.

This mirrors a broader challenge: fostering individuality within family routines. Studies show 60% of teens push for autonomy in shared activities, often causing friction. The teen’s decision prioritizes their passion, but their parents’ reaction suggests a need for better communication.

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Dr. Lisa Damour, a teen psychology expert, notes, “Adolescents thrive when given space to explore, but family connection anchors them.” The teen could propose joining every other week, blending their recipes into the tradition to bridge the gap. Parents might embrace this by tasting the teen’s dishes, showing support. A family meeting to discuss balancing traditions with personal goals could align their flavors.

Heres what people had to say to OP:

Reddit’s users served up spicy takes, mixing support and critique. Here’s what they said:

Birdsatalcatraz − Nta that’s really s**tty of them to pick on you and bully you. Apologise for the swear (edit.to the kids) and that’s it.

RollingKatamari − NTA glad you spoke up for yourself. And don't feel bad for swearing in front of the kid, she also saw a woman standing up for herself and against bullying, that's also important

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GeserAndersen − NTA. you're not the a**hole, they're the assholes

RunsWithApes − NTA. When I was around twelve or thirteen I went through a sudden growth spurt which put me at around 6'1 (even though I wasn't done growing yet) and it became the subject of casual humor among my family as well. It took me snapping at them

before they realized I wasn't appreciative of the constant attention surrounding a physical feature I had no control over in the first place. If you feel like you are being bullied then you are more than entitled to stand your ground. Don't let them invalidate your feelings just because it's convenient for the sake of their own amusement.

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lunarstrawberry − NTA, and really, at 15 are you sure you're even done growing? Your family members are bullies.

mercurialchemister − Wow, a woman who's 5'1'?!?! Stop the presses! Definitely something worth talking about for years! /s

DetectiVentriloquist − NTA.. Call 'grandma' a wrinkly old liver-spotted prune \*jokingly\*, and see how she likes it?. ETA: add in 'crone' and 'barren' for more spice, as desired.

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[Reddit User] − NTA if the younger kids were upset you could speak to them about getting upset by being called mean names and you used a bad word. You owe the adults no apology.

Oneiroi17 − NTA, I can see why you'd be upset after it going on for so long. Can I ask though, had you previously spoken to your family about how much you dislike their comments?. [Edit: punctuation]

topbananatropicana − NTA. THEY THE ASSHOLES. You live your best petite life baby girl, you’re beautiful no matter what. Your height is NOT even eligible to be insulted. I hope they see the error of their opinion.

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These bold opinions make us wonder: do they savor the nuance of teen independence, or just stir the pot? Either way, they show how tasty this debate is.

This kitchen clash shows family traditions and personal passions can simmer uneasily. The teen’s solo cooking was a bid for creativity, but their parents’ hurt runs deep. Reddit’s split, but growing up isn’t a simple recipe. How would you balance family rituals with your own hobbies? Share your thoughts—have you faced a similar flavor of family tension?

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