Single Dad Asks If He’s Wrong For Kicking His Parents Out Of The House After They Mocked His 10-Year-Old Daughter’s Piano Performance — ‘Did I Go Too Far?’
How can someone mock a child for trying their best?
Schnapps2012 | Canva Pro No child should ever be mocked for exploring their interests and trying their best. During the initial formative years of their lives, it’s essential to foster a safe and comfortable environment where kids can grow, explore, and navigate their interests and abilities.
That’s exactly what one single dad is determined to do for his daughter. Unfortunately, some of his extended family wasn't as supportive. After witnessing his parents’ insensitive reaction to his daughter's piano performance, he immediately kicked them out.
The dad detailed his parents’ cruel reaction to his 10-year-old daughter’s piano performance.
The single dad took to Reddit’s AITAH forum seeking advice, explaining that his parents, who are in their 60s, had come over the weekend prior for dinner. His daughter asked to play them a song she’d been practicing during her piano lessons.
“It wasn't perfect, few missed notes, a couple pauses, but she did really well,” the dad wrote. “She looked up at the end, massive smile, and I started clapping and my parents started laughing.”
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They didn’t just emit a slight chuckle but a “massive belly laugh.” I’m sure many of you are wondering what could be so funny about a child excitedly showing her passion for playing music. Still, for whatever reason, these grandparents believed it was the joke of the century.
The daughter was visibly upset by her grandparents' reaction.
“My mom asked if it was her first time playing it and my dad said it had to have been. A dog could have played that better,” the dad wrote. “It was like my daughter was shrinking on the spot.”
Sometimes, things appear funny in the wrong context, and we may feel tempted to giggle or snicker during a school play or a dance party at home.
But a child who feels confident enough to perform a skill she has recently become passionate about is a precious trait to admire, not to mock.
Two grown adults full-on guffawing at their granddaughter’s attempt to share her musical passion without showing the slightest bit of pride or support was not only immature but cruel and detrimental to the girl’s development.
The dad asked if he was wrong for his angry response toward his parents.
As the dad witnessed his daughter’s initial excitement dwindle into shame and embarrassment, he recognized a familiar pattern that he refused to enable. His daughter abashedly admitted she’s only had two piano lessons and is still learning to play with both hands, and his parents’ laughter only grew.
Having had enough, the dad quickly intervened. He grabbed their drinks and demanded they leave at once. They stated they weren’t finished with their drinks and wanted to hear another song, but the dad wasn’t going to continue letting them use his daughter for their entertainment.
He doubled down, full of rage, telling them, “Get your stuff and get the [expletive] out of my house right now."
Shocked by his reaction, his parents argued that he couldn’t protect his daughter forever and that they were only “preparing her for the real world.” He didn’t buy into this manipulation, and he identified how their emotional abuse toward an innocent kid was exactly why he struggled so deeply as a child.
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After his parents left, the dad told his daughter how proud he was of her piano playing.
He asked her to play the song again, hoping to reignite her passion and confidence.
He later informed his parents that he and his daughter would be taking a break from them until they could “behave like decent human beings.”
His family was not too pleased with his protective reaction, claiming that he was raising his daughter to be too soft. But there’s nothing wrong with a dad wanting to support and uplift his daughter. What is wrong, however, is bullying a child into feeling ashamed of her hard work and efforts.
"I don't think I'd even accept an apology from them at this point," the dad added. "This behavior isn't new, it's decades old. But this is the first time it affected my daughter."
Reddit users admired the dad’s intolerance for his parents' behavior.
At the ripe age of 10, kids can be sensitive to teasing and judgment, especially from their own family. This can cause them to feel confused and eventually internalize those feelings as shame.
Contrary to the grandparents’ excessively high standards, no one is born with flawless skills. We are, however, born with passions and callings, be it in music, drawing, cooking — the list goes on. The young girl’s performance will likely serve as a core memory of her musical journey, marking the beginning of what could become an incredible talent with consistent practice and dedication.
“You have to suck at something before you get good at it,” someone commented on the post. “Getting ridiculed can prevent you from ever moving on from the sucking phase.”
The grandparents’ reaction to her excitement introduced the girl to the experience of being taunted for her passion. While this is certainly an element of life, it doesn't need to be modeled by her own family. Rather, parents and family should model how to be kind and respectful with their kids. If it weren’t for her supportive dad choosing to break the cycle, the girl likely would have given up on the skill altogether.
“Who laughs in a 10-year-old's face when they are just starting to learn a new skill?” someone else commented. “Their actions were out of line and uncalled for. Protect your daughter. Keep those horrible people far away from her.”
Francesca Duarte is a writer on YourTango's news and entertainment team based in Orlando, FL. She covers lifestyle, human-interest, adventure, and spirituality topics.