A man angered his father, his father’s wife, and her son after a heated exchange about their eating habits. He refused to change the location of a birthday meal, and a family row ensued.
The man shared his story on Reddit, explaining that he’s 22 and his father married a woman called Kathleen when he was 15. She has an 18-year-old son, Benjamin, and the pair are notoriously fussy eaters. The poster clarifies that some of the food restrictions are health-related. He claims Benjamin is allergic to peanuts and shellfish. However, Benjamin primarily eats pizza and burgers and doesn’t like fruit or vegetables. Kathleen allegedly has no food allergies, but is “super picky” and avoids fish and staples like bread, rice, and potatoes.
The poster explains they are usually limited to a small selection of middling takeout joints. Their diets made restaurant trips awkward, so he doesn’t bother going anymore. The man claims he recently had a birthday dinner with his girlfriend, friends, and family. His dad wanted to come and expected Kathleen and Benjamin to receive an invitation. The poster told them they could attend, but they had no say on the venue.
The Father’s Family Members Were Unhappy With The Food Arrangements
Kathleen was allegedly unhappy with the restaurant choice. She told the poster that the venue, did not meet their “needs and requirements.” Instead, she suggested a restaurant out of state. The man firmly refused, pointing out that it was his birthday after all. In response, Kathleen called him hostile.
The poster’s father and Kathleen were even more dismayed when they learned that some of the father’s friends flew out for the meal, even though they rarely do the same for other food plans. The man wonders if he should have been more accommodating, as his restaurant choice has caused so much drama.
The story garnered over 1,500 replies, almost unanimously in the poster’s favor. One user writes, “They sound insufferable. If all their diets are so restrictive then they can’t go out for a meal. Stay home and meet up for some other event. But you shouldn’t have to spend your birthday at Taco Bell because she eats like she has an ED, and he eats like a 5-year-old.”
Many comments share similar sentiments, although others point out that shellfish and peanut allergies should be considered. Multiple replies simply say, “Your birthday, your rules.”