On the r/AmItheA**hole subreddit, one dad recently shared his story about his son unknowingly using his summer job money to pay for the expensive dinners he enjoys.
The OP explained that his son really loves meat and driving, so he often borrows the OP's car to buy meat. However, he didn't realize that he had been covering the cost as the OP gave him the credit card attached to his account.
Things took a turn when the son, eager to buy a dream car, found that his income from a part-time job had been going towards the very meals he loves. He got angry.
Now, the OP is wondering whether he was in the wrong for expecting his son to pay for the meat he has eaten.
The OP asks:
OP opened a bank account for their son when he started his first part-time minimum wage summer job
OP's son unknowingly covers the cost of the family's frequent meat purchases with his own income from a part-time job
OP's son uses the sports car borrowed from the OP to buy meat with a credit card unknowingly linked to his account
Now he doesn't have enough money for the car he wishes to buy
OP is questioning whether they are in the wrong
OP should have communicated with his son about the expenses and dietary choices instead of using a covert financial strategy
Redditor accuses the OP of stealing from his own child
Commenter accuses the OP for secretly using the son's income to cover meat expenses
The OP is responsible to provide for the son under 18
The son's expenses were the OP's responsibility
Spending the son's income without informing him is unequivocally wrong
The OP violated trust by using the son's saved money without proper explanation
The OP had an obligation to support his teenage son's need for calories
It's not a right move
What are your thoughts on the situation? Do you believe the OP's approach is fair, or do you think there could have been a better way to handle the financial aspects with their son?
Have you encountered similar situations in your own life, and how did you navigate them? Share your opinions and experiences below!