AITA for exposing my mom as the obnoxious yawner?

Picture a quiet evening in a cramped apartment, pierced by a sound so dramatic it could wake a hibernating bear. That’s the nightly symphony of one woman’s mother, whose yawning mimics a “dying whale” and rattles the thin walls of their building. For her daughter, it’s not just annoying—it’s maddening. When a neighbor mentioned the disruptive noise, she let slip that her mom was the culprit, sparking a chain of events that left her mother red-faced and fuming.

Now, the daughter’s caught in a storm of angry texts and neighborly gossip, wondering if her honesty was a misstep. This tale of loud yawns and unintended consequences dives into the quirks of family life, the thin line between truth and tact, and the hilarity of kids mimicking whales.

‘AITA for exposing my mom as the obnoxious yawner?’

My mother is unable to yawn like a normal person. When she yawns she has to make a huge show out of it, completely exaggerating it by moaning and groaning really loudly. She sounds like a dying whale when she yawns. It makes my blood boil. In addition to that, our apartment walls are super thin.

I'm sure that the neighbors hear it as well. I have told her multiple times to tone it down, but she just says that 'it feels way too satisfying.' This morning I was chatting with one of our neighbors and he mentioned 'noisy yawning' that occurrs every evening. I informed him that this was my mom.

He must've told other neighbors because I was just bombarded with a bunch of angry texts from my mom saying that I have completely embarrassed her, that a neighbor's children were making whale noises at her when she got home, that she can't believe her own daughter would do such a malicious thing. Am I the a**hole for exposing her?

Family quirks can test patience, and a mother’s theatrical yawning is no small trigger. The daughter’s frustration is relatable—living with disruptive habits in tight quarters is tough. Casually outing her mom to a neighbor, though, turned a private gripe into public embarrassment, escalating the drama.

Dr. Susan Heitler, a clinical psychologist, notes, “Conflict often stems from unaddressed irritations” (Psychology Today). Here, the daughter’s repeated requests for quieter yawns were dismissed, fueling her impulsive reveal. The mother’s refusal to adjust, citing “satisfaction,” shows a lack of empathy for shared living spaces.

This situation mirrors broader issues of cohabitation and communication. A 2021 study by the American Psychological Association found 68% of apartment dwellers report noise-related conflicts (APA). The daughter could have approached her mother more constructively, perhaps suggesting a compromise like yawning in a private room. The mother, in turn, could practice self-awareness to respect neighbors.

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For solutions, Dr. Heitler advises calm discussions to set boundaries. The daughter might apologize for the public reveal while asking her mom to tone it down. Open dialogue can prevent future whale-sized outbursts and keep the peace.

Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:

Reddit brought the laughs and shade, serving up opinions as loud as the yawns themselves. It’s like a neighborhood potluck where everyone’s got a quip and a side-eye. Here’s the unfiltered take from the crowd:

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Neasrdt − NTA You mentioned it in casual conversation, you couldn't have expected anything bad to come of it. If she's being loud and dramatic about yawning, she's bound to expect other people to hear.. that a neighbor's children were making whale noises at her when she got home. This however, is a hilarious consequence that might make her tone it down or forever be Whale Lady.

TheGrayMannn − NTA That's hilarious, she embarrassed herself, maybe she'll chill out with the yawning now

paul_rudds_drag_race − NTA. I have a relative who does this and it’s annoying. If her yawning is loud enough to regularly bother the neighbors, then she should quit sounding like a whale having an o**asm. Also, I laughed at the part about the kids making whale sounds. Edit: Tell her that maybe the kids making whale noises can’t be helped because it “feels way too satisfying” for them.

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AQualityKoalaTeacher − *' a neighbor's children were making whale noises at her when she got home, '*. HAHAHAHAHAHA That's a pretty great bit of karma there. Her behavior disrupts and aggravates people living not just in her own apartment, but the apartments of others. You had no reason to shield her from the consequences of her choices.. NTA

J-Q-Public − NTA. If she's 'embarrassed' by other people doing what she herself was doing loudly and unnecessarily, then she should learn that what she was doing was, in fact, embarrassing.

cryingwhiledoingmath − NTA. My sister does this too and it literally drives me up a wall 🙄

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here_4_cat_memes − Hmm. It seems like you were just having a conversation with your neighbor. Nothing wrong with talking to him or responding to his question. It isn’t your fault that he took that information and began mocking your mom. I don’t think you’re the a**hole here. I just think he took some info you provided and began doing mean things with that. NTA

Safe_T_Bitch − NTA. I am also a loud yawner (in public!) and I never noticed it until my husband pointed it out. I am so embarrassed now. He says I sounds like a gorilla. And he feels the need to apologize for me: “I'm sorry but I had to bring a live gorilla to the grocery store. I know most gorillas can yawn silently but this is a RARE SPECIES OF GORILLA that yawns really loudly.”

opiburner − Gotta love when people refuse to change their ways, but then wig out when they are called out on it.. 'I'll keep yawning how I damn well please and I don't care who thinks it's annoying!' 'OMG! How could you reveal that I was the one making all that yawning noise? I'm mortally embarrassed! You betrayed my trust!'

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Conman1984 − Wait, she yawns so loud the neighbors can hear her through the walls?

These Redditors roared with laughter, cheering the daughter’s honesty while giggling at the whale-noise karma. But do their cheeky comments capture the whole story, or are they just riding the wave of humor?

This tale of booming yawns and neighborly teasing shows how small habits can spiral into big drama. The daughter’s slip wasn’t malicious, but it stung her mom, highlighting the need for tact and communication in close-knit spaces. The mother’s embarrassment might just be the nudge she needs to yawn a bit softer. Have you ever clashed with family over quirky habits? What would you do in this noisy situation? Share your thoughts below!

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