Teen Turns Around Cousin's Birthday Disaster, Faces Unfair Criticism From Mother And Aunt

"All I wanted was to ensure that my cousin's special day wasn't completely ruined."

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• July 14, 2023

Birthdays are universally celebrated occasions, a day full of joy and surprises, eagerly awaited by all, particularly by young children. The celebration becomes all the more special when loved ones join in to share their happiness.

But, imagine the disappointment when a carefully planned party finds no attendees. OP, a 16-year-old boy, was supposed to hang out with his buddy Alex later that day.

But when he saw his cousin waiting all alone at his own birthday party, his heart sank. None of the kid's friends had shown up, and his cousin was looking pretty bummed out.

So, OP had an idea. Why not take his little cousin to the arcade with him and Alex?

It might just save the day. His mom was cool with it, so off they went.

They had a killer time, and his cousin perked right up. But when they got back home, OP got an earful from his mom and aunt.

They thought he should have stuck around for family time instead. OP didn't get it. He just wanted to make sure his cousin's birthday wasn't a total bust.

Despite the scolding, OP was left scratching his head.

Did he mess up? Or was he just doing what he could to cheer up his cousin?

Read the full story below:

OP asks:

The day started off on a promising note with OP assisting his aunt in setting up for his little cousin's birthday bash.

. The sight of his cousin, alone amidst the untouched decorations and treats, was a heartbreaking one for OP.

Mom and aunt criticized him for altering the day's plan and maintained that the birthday boy would have had a better time with family.

OP posted an edit:

OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the a-hole:

OP did his cousin a huge favor

OP created a good memory to replace the bad one

This Redditor shared their experience:

Distracting him was the right thing to do

"I hope the adults can see this for the lovely gesture it was."

His mom is at fault here

OP was just a kid trying to do right by his little cousin. He saw a bad situation and stepped in, transforming a disappointing day into a fun one.

In my opinion, OP deserves a pat on the back rather than criticism. He showed empathy and took action when he saw his cousin hurting. It’s easy to second-guess decisions, but at that moment, OP made a choice out of love and concern.

He wasn't the reason the birthday party flopped; he was the one who tried to salvage it. Sure, family time is important, but it wouldn't have replaced the void left by the absence of his cousin's friends.

OP might have gotten some heat for it, but in our book, he was definitely not in the wrong.

Damjan