Yesterday, I was on a road trip with my family. I was really looking forward to it because we were going to Connecticut to go to some stores and I would get to shop with my mom, which I don’t get to do often. Anyways, we got to Macy’s which was a part of a big mall. Up until then, everything was going well and I was goofing off with my mom and we were having a good time. As we were stepping out of Macy’s and into the mall, my mom told me she was going to be joining a prayer meeting for a half hour and said she couldn’t talk during that time. We’re both Christian, so this wasn’t new to me, as I understand that it’s hard to listen to two people at once when you’re in a meeting. I also understand that her faith is important to her, as it is also important to me.
When she told me, I said, "Aw man, we usually never get to talk when we’re at the store" but I made sure it was in a silly tone, not in a angry or upset tone. I do admit I struggle with tone interpretation and how I express myself through tone, but I made sure that my tone was positive rather than negative. I even had a grin on my face. My mom replied by saying, "don’t be like that, you know I take the things of God very seriously," and said some other things. I started to freak out because her response was negative and I wasn’t fully serious and I already knew what she told me.
Anyways, I hurriedly said, "oh no, I didn’t mean it that way, I was joking!" Then she said I wasn’t joking and I kept explaining that it genuinely wasn’t serious to me at all and that I really didn’t mind and that it wasn’t a big deal to me cause I was genuinely freaking out so bad. Anyways, she goes, "stop or get the hell away from me." I stopped in my tracks and walked the opposite direction, back to the car. On my way back to the car, I sent my friend a message about what happened because I was honestly so shocked at what happened. Once I got to the car, my dad made me give him my phone and asked if I told anyone about what happened just now. I said no because I thought he meant was I texting them while in the car cause I was on my phone in the car before he made me hand my phone to him. He said I lied and I explained I did reach out to a friend when I was still inside.
Anyways, he told me I was a liar and that he can’t trust me because I talked about what goes on with my family to my friend and that I must keep my phone in my bag for the rest of the trip. It was a three-hour trip, so I was genuinely bummed. My mom came back and she was saying that I was letting the devil use me by making her upset before her prayer meeting and how I kept going on when she was about to join. I tried to explain how it wasn’t how I meant it at all, but it was no use. My dad told me that they never have any issues like this when I’m not with them on trips. I have such major regret for saying anything, God, I wish I could go back in time and just not have said anything and maybe things would have been better. Am I the A-hole?
You’re NTA. Mom needs to lighten up and both your parents sound iron fist level controlling.
>Anyways, she goes, “stop or get the hell away from me.”
That is not something I would expect to hear a devout Christian to say to her child.
It caught me so off guard I’m still in shock about the whole thing
NTA. A harmless joke got turned into a full blown character indictment the reaction was way more intense than anything you actually said
NTA. Weird level of escalation here. From all your comments about how much you monitor your tone it sounds like this is a common occurrence? It really shouldn’t be.
It does happen quite often I’d say. For a couple weeks, things were going quite well, and then this happened and I’m devastated. I do have issues with tone, I am also autistic. In spite of everything, I do try to make things easier for everyone else and explain myself in hopes it would make everything a lot better but it doesn’t seem to help.
Ah christians, I swear. I would like you to show this reddit post to your mom by me.
Dear OP’s mom,
Why would you go to a prayer meeting in the middle of a road trip with your family. That is your family time. Which from what OP mentioned, you don’t spend quality time with her as it is. valuing strangers above family is not the Christian way. I bet you’re the type that claims to be Christian and has John 3:16 on your instagram and yet does the most hypocritical non-christian things in real life. Your daughter, joking or not, has every right to call you out on your behavior. That’s not “Devil’s work” seriously what is wrong with you?
Now go give your daughter a hug.
\- Kit Kat bar
NTA……you did nothing wrong so don’t beat yourself up about it. I feel sorry for you, but this is not a fight to die in the hill for. I’d lay as low as possible and move out as soon as you’re old enough.
NTA that was one hell of a jump your mom took.
also how old are you? your parents sound controlling. I would reconsider going on these trips if they have reactions like that!
I’m 20 years old, turning 21 in two months. I don’t think they’d consider even taking me with them again after this. I probably wouldn’t go either.
That’s the problem with Christians, they like to take offence at everything and anything.
NTA based on this snippet. I’m sorry that your parents act like this.
NTA, you should get out of there asap.
NTA
” My mom came back and she was saying that I was letting the devil use me by making her upset before her prayer meeting ”
Get out of this cult wtf?