AITA for being mad over double standards in my marriage?
AITA
Mom gets called out for letting their 8-year-old daughter briefly watch her baby brother. A week later, Dad does the same thing but insists it's "different" because the daughter wanted to watch him this time.
Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to the world's newest game show: "Who's the Most Responsible Parent? 🎉 Okay, maybe it's not a real show, but it's certainly being filmed live and unscripted in this one household.
Round 1: Mom Takes a Stumble
So, a week ago our dear protagonist (the mom) asked her 8-year-old daughter to keep tabs on her little brother, age 10 months, for like 5 minutes. She didn't ask her to recite Shakespeare or solve algebra. Nope, just a quick, "Keep an eye on your bro while mommy picks up her adult LEGO mess from the floor."
Hubby walks in and—whoa, Nelly!—gives her an earful about responsible parenting. "Accidents happen quickly," he says. "What if he chokes on a baby-sized turkey leg or something?"
Mom, being the responsible adult that she is, goes, "Fair point, Mr. Parent of the Year," and adjusts her habits accordingly. Crisis averted, right?
Round 2: Dad Pulls a Fast One
Fast forward to today: Mom's in the kitchen, whipping up some treats because someone has to bring home the bacon (or in this case, the cookies). She asks Dad to keep an eye on the baby. She walks in on him later, and he's glued to the TV. No baby in sight.
Wait for it… the 8-year-old is watching the baby, in her room, across the house, in a place so far away you'd need a GPS to locate it. Ah, but here's the kicker: when Mom calls him out, he says, "But that was different."
Different? How, you ask? Because the 8-year-old wanted to watch the baby this time. Because, you know, the desire to be responsible makes you automatically more capable. I want to be a millionaire, but last time I checked, that hasn't magically deposited dollars in my bank account.
The Great Debate
Dad thinks Mom is overreacting. Mom thinks she's living in some parallel universe where logic took a vacation. "Am I wrong for being mad about the double standards?" she asks.
I think it's time for the comment section to weigh in!
Comment 1: The Logic Leap
"Dude, if wanting to do something automatically made you good at it, I'd be an Olympic gymnast by now. Seriously, the inconsistency here is maddening."
Comment 2: The Gender Gap
"Is it just me, or is there a tiny bit of old-fashioned gender role action happening here? 'My daughter can't possibly watch the baby if Mom asks, but if I say it’s fine, then it’s fine.' Ugh, next!"
Comment 3: Accidents Have No Preferences
"Whether she wants to watch the baby or not, accidents can still happen. Dad needs to get off his high horse and join the rest of us on Planet Common Sense."
Comment 4: Equal Opportunities
"If Mom's wrong, Dad's wrong too. Double standards are like mullets—business in the front, hypocrisy in the back."
So there you have it, folks. Mom, you're NTA (Not The A-hole). Dad, well, time to read up on your Parenting 101 manual. Tune in next week for another exciting episode of "Who's the Most Responsible Parent?" 🎉