Selfless acts are becoming increasingly rare, but a child caring for her brother is a heartwarming example of kindness. It is important to recognize and reward such behavior, as it will help to nurture her good character.

A user asked the forum, “Am I a jerk because I got my daughter a $80 dress?”. Read the complete story to decide for yourself.

BACKSTORY

18. watching movie with kids
Image Credits: Deposit Photos

The Original Poster’s (OP) family just got back from a week-long cruise, and he says that there is still some tension about this. He and his wife took their 20 year old son, 16 year old daughter, 13 year old son, and 7 year old son.

WHAT DID THEIR OLDEST SON DO?

Family with kids eating Thanksgiving dinner. Roasted turkey and pumpkin pie on dining table with autumn decoration. Parents and children having festive meal. Father and mother cutting meat.
Image Credits: Deposit Photos

Their oldest spent most of his time on vacation doing his own thing, having breakfast and dinner with the family but being seldom seen otherwise.

HOW OP AND HIS WIFE SPEND THEIR TIME?

Portrait Of Romantic Couple Toasting Red Wine At Dinner
Image Credits: Deposit Photos

He and his wife enjoyed spending time with their kids but also did some couple’s activities.

THEIR 13-YEAR-OLD ENJOYED

Teen girl furiously eating her food with ketchup on her face
Image Credits: Deposit Photos

He says that there are clubs on the boat for kids, and their 13yo really enjoyed them, but their 7yo didn’t and kept wanting to spend the day with his sister, who they had given carte blanche to do her own thing as long as she ate with them and answered when they messaged her.

WHAT DID THEIR 13-YEAR-OLD DO?

Lonely,Sad,African-american,Schoolgirl,Crying,While,All,Her,Classmates,Ignoring
Image Credits: Inside Creative House, Shutterstock

She was a good sport and took her little brother on most of her adventures, swimming with her, taking him to trivia, and doing animation classes with him.

WHAT DID OP THINK ABOUT THIS?

Image Credits: Deposit Photos

He felt like this was very sweet of her and showed a great deal of maturity. On the second to last day of the cruise, he took her to the gift shop and told her to pick out whatever she wanted as thanks for looking after her brother.

SHE WAS EXCITED

shocked curly hair.
Image Credits: Deposit Photos

He says that her daughter was very excited and picked out a dress.

The dress was $80. She wore it to dinner that night, and when she told her mom that he had bought it for her, his wife gave him a weird look.

WHAT WAS HIS WIFE’S REACTION?

pretty blonde woman shrugging with a dumb, crazy, confused, puzzled expression, feeling annoyed and clueless.
Image Credits: Deposit Photos

He says that after dinner, she asks him why the hell he did that.

He explained that it was a reward for looking after her brother. His wife said that they couldn’t buy an $80 dress for their daughter and nothing for their sons.

WHAT WAS HIS EXPLANATION?

young pretty woman feeling clueless, confused and uncertain about which option to pick, trying to solve the problem
Image Credits: Deposit Photos

He said that they didn’t get them anything; they took them on a cruise.

He says that his wife said that he was an idiot. He says that he doesn’t think it is wrong.

He also added that he got some trinkets for the younger boys, about $20. His wife thinks he messed up and should apologize to the boys. But he refuses.

WHAT WAS OP’S FINAL THOUGHTS?

young handsome man pointing forward at camera with both fingers and angry expression, telling you to do your duty against orange wall
Image Credits: Deposit Photos

He says they took their adult son on a vacation that cost thousands of dollars, and he has no reason to resent his sister being rewarded for being thoughtful.

He also added that if they got their 7yo and 13yo a really expensive souvenir, it would probably be lost or broken.

OP says that his wife still thinks that he is a jerk.

OP’S CLARIFICATION

Photo portrait of upset shocked woman with open mouth isolated on pastel pink colored background.
Image Credits: Deposit Photos

He clarifies that they didn’t ask their daughter to babysit her brother. That’s not the case. What kept happening was that she would tell them her plans for the day, and 7yo would say he’d rather do that than go to the kid’s club, and she would agree to let him come with her. So it was more just her being a nice sister than actual babysitting.

He also added that she could always drop him off at the club. He wanted to reward her because he thought it was so sweet of her not to do that and to make her brother feel good about his cool older sister wanting to hang out with him.

Now OP wants to know if he is a jerk.

IT IS A GREEN FLAG

Stressed casual young woman isolated in a white background
Image Credits: Deposit Photos

“Green flag, green flag! What a thoughtful way to acknowledge your daughter. You’re right, and your 20-year-old son got a free vacation, as did your 13-year-old and 7-year-old. Your daughter graciously did a service for the family.

Not a jerk. Your wife does not seem to want to recognize that your 16-year-old daughter is not the built-in babysitter. What extra service did her brothers do to warrant extra gifts? At least she didn’t make a scene in front of your daughter and addressed it with you privately.

Just read your edit; I think I like your daughter even more. No one asked her to watch her brother, and she was just nice enough not to say no when he said he wanted to hang out with her.”

SELFLESSNESS MUST BE ENCOURAGED

Frustrated young girl shrugging shoulders isolated over gray background. I do not know where to spend her vacation, what destination to choose.
Image Credits: Deposit Photos.

“Yeah, not a jerk at all. I have four kids, and 1 of them never asks for anything and always offers to help, so they get extra stuff ever so often because selflessness should be encouraged.”

IT IS VALUABLE

Shocked businesswoman in black formal jacket white shirt grabbing to head. Portrait of surprised young businesswoman looking at camera and keeping his mouth open while isolated on white
Image Credits: Deposit Photos.

“If your wife is concerned about all of her children getting “equal treatment,” this should also include their responsibilities. It was very sweet of your daughter to spend time with her brother and allow you and your wife to have some alone time.

I’ve seen this very often (and I have experienced it first hand) that the women in a family are expected to contribute as caregivers for the elderly and the youngest in the family. The fact you acknowledge her work is very valuable and sets her a great example.”

More From Mrs Daaku Studio

Bright,Living,Room,With,Beige,And,Olive,Sofa,,Love,Seat,
Image Credits: Artazum, Shutterstock

Thrift stores and goodwill stores are great, but there are many weird instances of people finding things. Read – Goodwill Workers Share 16 “Weirdest” Things They’ve Ever Found, It’s Hilarious!

She Demands Her Sister Stop Wearing Silk Nightgowns. Says It’s Inappropriate. Should She Just Stop Wearing Them?

Two sisters teenager fighting at home angry pulling long hair
Image Credits: Deposit Photos

Sisters can be difficult sometimes, and here is one case for you to judge. Read – She Demands Her Sister Stop Wearing Silk Nightgowns. Says, “It’s Inappropriate.” Should She Just Stop Wearing Them?

Father Corrects Teacher’s Pronunciation of Daughter’s Name, School Accuses Him of Questioning Authority

Image Credits: Deposit Photos.

Schools can act arbitrarily sometimes, and here is a case. Read how this Father Corrects the Teacher’s Pronunciation of Daughter’s Name, School Accuses Him of ‘Questioning Authority’. Does This Make Sense?

He Inherited His Brother’s Insurance and 401K, Refused To Share It With Brother’s Widow and Kids. Thinks He Is Right

Portrait of an annoyed woman
Image Credit; Deposit Photos

He Inherited His Brother’s Insurance and; 401K. Refused To Share It With Brother’s Widow and Kids. Thinks He Is Right.Read more.

Woman Cancels Credit Card After Boyfriend REFUSES to Return It, Is This Financial Abuse?

angry hatred
Image Credits: Roman Samborskyi, Shutterstock

Woman Cancels Credit Card After Boyfriend REFUSES to Return It. Is This Financial Abuse? We think it is, but we need to hear from you. Read here.

This article was originally published on Mrs Daaku Studio.

Similar Posts