AITAH for crying when i opened my presents?
Imagine unwrapping a Christmas gift with bated breath, only to find… Grinch pajamas two sizes too big and a watch you specifically said you didn’t want. That’s the holiday reality for a 15-year-old girl who dreamed of a budget laptop, some Steam cash, or even a litter box for a kitten she’s longing to adopt. Instead, her mom handed her a pile of “meh” and a side of disappointment, wrapped in festive paper.
She’s not a brat—she’s grateful for the effort—but this haul feels like a slap in the face. While her little sisters scored a nail salon set and a Nintendo, she’s stuck with perfumes she’ll never spritz and gift cards she’ll regift. Her mom’s excuse? “You’re too old for games, and girls should love cosmetics.” Cue the tears and a ruined day. Let’s unwrap this mess.
‘ AITAH for crying when i opened my presents?’
Gift-giving gone wrong can sting, especially when it’s mom missing the mark. This teen asked for simple, thoughtful things—a €100 laptop, Steam funds, or cat supplies—but got a haul that screams, “I don’t get you.” Her mom’s insistence that games are for kids and cosmetics are for girls feels like a script from the 1950s, not 2025. It’s less about the stuff and more about feeling unheard.
Psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour, an expert on teen development, notes, “Adolescence is when kids start defining themselves—gifts that ignore their interests can feel like a rejection of who they are” (source: NPR interview, 2022). This girl’s tears weren’t entitlement; they were frustration. Her mom’s guilt-trip—“You ruined my day”—flips the script, dodging accountability.
Globally, teens are gaming more than ever—51% of European teens play regularly, per a 2023 report (Statista). Her 7-year-old laptop’s a dinosaur; expecting it to limp along is delusional. Mom’s pushing a stereotype, not a gift. Advice? She could sell the unwanted loot online and fund her own joy. Mom needs to listen—really listen—or this rift will grow. What’s your take, readers?
Here’s what the community had to contribute:
The Reddit crew chimed in with gusto: “Here’s the tea from the Reddit squad—unfiltered and ready to roast.”
From “sell the junk” to “your mom’s clueless,” these takes are a mixed bag of sympathy and sass. Do they hit the nail on the head, or are they just festive venting? You tell me.
This Christmas left a teen with a lump of coal disguised as perfume and a mom who’d rather play martyr than Santa. Was she wrong to cry over gifts that ignored her wishes? Should mom rethink her “girls don’t game” vibe? They’re both licking wounds now, but maybe a heart-to-heart—or a Steam gift card—could fix this. What would you do with a gift haul that missed the mark? Spill your thoughts below!
