So I help run a kids/teen activity and at the beginning of the season I went over some rules. Nothing crazy, just basic stuff so things don’t get out of control. Everyone nodded along and said it was fine.
Fast forward to now and one parent asked me to bend one of those rules for their kid. I honestly get why they asked, but it’s the same rule I’ve already said no to other people about. If I say yes to them, then I look like I’m playing favorites, which I really try not to do.
I told them no and explained why. I wasn’t rude about it, but I also didn’t sugarcoat it. After that, word got around and now a couple of parents are acting like I’m being unreasonable and “too strict.” One of them even said I should be more flexible because “every kid is different.”
I feel like that’s kind of missing the point. The rule wasn’t new, and I didn’t just make it up on the spot. But now things are awkward and I’m second guessing myself because it probably would’ve been easier to just let it go.
So… AITA for sticking to the rule even though it pissed people off?
Not enough detail, what was the rule / consequences of breaking it
INFO: What is the rule, and why does the parent think you should bend the rule for their child?
You’re going to need to provide a lot more info here.
What’s the rules, what did the parent ask you bend, what reason was given, would this help the child, what was your specfic response, did something happen that caused the parent to ask, etc. etc.
YTA for being so deliberately vague that no one could possibly know what the heck is going on
Info: what’s the rule and why did they want an exception?
INFO: It matters what the rule was and why and how they asked you to bend it.
Like, if the rule is “no open toed shoes for safety reasons” and mom says “but Anne really likes her princess sandals,” you’re in the right.
If the rule is “no snacks” and mom said “James is diabetic,” you’re a colossal asshole.
Can’t really say cause we don’t know the rule or why the family asked for a change
Nobody can answer.
So by default, YTA.
Without knowing the rule and the reason for the exception it is impossible to judge.
Providing zero detail makes me think YTA, being purposely obtuse because you know this application of the rule is blatantly unfair (say, you miss a practice and can’t play in the game that week… kid has to go to funeral and thus misses a single practice).
Yta because it’s impossible to answer. Not all rules are reasonable so it’s until you actually describe the issue.
INFO
As many others have said, we need to know the rule and why the parent thought the student should get an exception. It makes a HUGE difference if the rule was something like “no smoking” and the parent spoiled their kid, vs the rule was “no phones” and the kid required a phone to help with a disability.
INFO: What was the rule, what was the exception they were asking for and why were they asking for this exception?
YTA for being so vague, and writing like this strongly suggests that YTA on the merits as well.