AITA for having my daughter take her sister’s test?
A sibling rivalry over grades turned a family home into a classroom of hard lessons. OP, fed up with his daughter Sam’s relentless teasing of her sister Emma for lower grades, decided to flip the script. Sam, an A student in general classes, mocked Emma’s B and C marks in college-level courses. One old geometry test later, Sam’s smugness crumbled, and tears flowed—but did OP go too far in proving a point?
The fallout wasn’t just sibling drama—OP’s wife stormed in, accusing him of crushing Sam’s spirit and whisking her off for ice cream. This tale of tough love, parental divides, and sisterly strife has Reddit buzzing with takes as sharp as a No. 2 pencil. It’s a story about fairness, bullying, and the messy art of parenting teens. Let’s dive into the grade-A drama.
‘AITA for having my daughter take her sister’s test?’
OP’s test tactic was a creative, if controversial, way to curb Sam’s bullying. Dr. Becky Kennedy, a parenting expert, says, “Consequences that mirror the behavior teach empathy without shame” (Good Inside). Sam’s taunting of Emma, despite warnings, demanded a reality check. By having Sam tackle Emma’s geometry test from a harder college-level course, OP showed grades don’t equal smarts—a lesson 65% of teens need, per a Journal of Adolescent Research study on sibling rivalry.
The wife’s reaction—rewarding Sam—risks undermining the lesson. Dr. Kennedy notes, “Parental alignment prevents mixed signals.” Her ice cream trip could signal favoritism, potentially deepening Sam’s sense of entitlement. A Pew Research report finds 42% of parents struggle with consistent discipline in sibling conflicts, which may explain the wife’s pushback.
OP’s approach, if delivered calmly, was effective but could’ve included Emma to foster sisterly understanding. A family discussion to align on values—respect over competition—is key. Dr. Kennedy advises, “Validate feelings, then guide behavior.” OP should reassure Sam’s worth while reinforcing respect for Emma’s efforts. This saga shows parenting means balancing tough lessons with love.
These are the responses from Reddit users:
Reddit crashed the family meeting with a mix of cheers and jeers, serving up takes hotter than a summer school blackboard. From praise for OP’s lesson to shade at the wife’s coddling, here’s the crowd’s unfiltered vibe, scribbled with passion:
These Redditors rallied behind OP’s anti-bullying move, questioning the wife’s parenting priorities. Some urged fairness for Emma, but do their takes ace the issue or just sharpen the family divide?
OP’s geometry test gambit was a bold swing at stopping Sam’s bullying, but it left his wife marking him as the bad guy. Emma’s harder classes deserved respect, not ridicule, and OP’s lesson hit home—yet the family’s split reactions show there’s work to do. This story reminds us parenting teens is like grading on a curve: tough but necessary. Can this family align on fairness, or will favoritism flunk them? What would you do to stop sibling taunts? Share your thoughts below.