M(18) here. Recently i had some disagreements with my parents on things that are too trivial to mention here, and one of those, particularly me not spending enough time with them, led to a fight. In the middle of it i went on a rant about how when i was 15 he sold my dog and didn’t tell me about it until went to see her at our workshop (we live in an apartment and the dog spent its time at our workshop cause there’s a big yard there. I would go see it, feed it and play with it around 2 times a week, and dad would constantly spend his time there so he was the one who mainly took care of it.).
After i finished ranting he told me to "let the damn dog story go", and i told him i never will.
That wasn’t the only time he sold one of my pets, we also had a turtle which he sold and told me it escaped when i was 8.
My mother took his side and told me to let it go, but i don’t think i ever will. I loved that dog and every once a while Google photos will remind me of the pictures i had, and i would get emotional.
So AITA for holding onto this for so long?
NTA.
Your mom sounds like an enabler of bad behavior. Or maybe I’m projecting my own feelings here. I tried bringing up stuff my dad did and he didn’t apologize, he actually told me none of my childhood memories were real… so smug. My mom of course sides with him and tries bringing up bible verses that aren’t even relevant. What happened to not provoking your kids to anger… They’re the ultimate gaslighting tag team. All I can say is try to not let the anger get to you if your feelings are being invalidated.
NTA
I wouldn’t spend much time with them either. And if my dad told me to get over something awful he’d done it’d be quite some time before he heard from me again.
Are you independent from your parents yet? If you don’t depend on them financially, seeing and spending time with them is a decision you get to make. If they don’t treat you with respect, then you can choose to see them a whole lot less.
well considering the dog and the attitude yeah i don’t see time being spent there.
I still live with them as im finishing my last year of high school in my country. We dont fight that often but thats mostly cause i spend as much time away from them as possible.
NTA i would ask for one good reason why you should “let it go” that doesnt ONLY cater to your parents
I should add that she had puppies and my dad also sold them way too early, causing her to get depressed. After that she would rarely listen to anyone so im thinking he got tired of an “unruly” dog and sold her.
But then again, that only caters to him.
God im so sorry you had to go through that, i just hope they all got a better life away from him :(( idk how he expects you to not judge him for this
ESH
Selling a child’s pet without their knowledge is a guaranteed way to cause a rift in the relationship. That said, it sounds like your dad did the majority of the care for the dog and that’s a significant burden. Additionally, it sounds like you still live at home so might be unwise to bite the hand that literally feeds you.
he was 15… And the father did not give him any option to keep it
I mean I am all for not seeking beloved pets, but who was the one that paid for the food and care of the dog? The parents. I don’t like that they sold the family pet but we don’t know the families financial situation or whether they could afford to keep it. At the same time there could have been the option for the kids to get a part time job at the time to pay for the care