When Mom Won’t Listen: How One Teen Served Up a Slice of Petty (and Got Brunch Out of It)
Let’s be honest—every family has its moments. You know, those glorious, fiery, soap-opera-worthy showdowns over dirty laundry, chores, and who really finished the last slice of pizza. But sometimes, those little squabbles are more than just noise. Sometimes, they’re a masterclass in petty revenge—just ask Redditor u/The-real-Slim_shady1, who decided to fight fire with, well, a taste of mom’s own medicine.
What happens when a teenager decides to stop listening to their mom… because mom wouldn’t listen first? Spoiler: There are tears, a confiscated phone, a walk of emotional reckoning, and, in the end, a breakfast date that would make any sitcom writer proud.
The Mother-Daughter Standoff: A Tale as Old as Time
Our story starts with a classic family dynamic: a 17-year-old (let’s call her Slim) and her mom, sometimes at odds, mostly over the usual suspects—chores, fairness, and the logistics of sibling clean-up. Slim admits she loves her mom “to bits,” but sometimes, mom’s anger seems to come out of nowhere. Sound familiar?
On this particular day, things escalated. Slim tried to explain her feelings (spoiler: this rarely goes well mid-argument), but mom doubled down, letting her frustration fly until Slim was in tears. Her twin sister tried to mediate—points for sister solidarity!—but mom stormed off, leaving Slim to stew in a mix of sadness and, soon after, petty inspiration.
Petty Revenge: Served Cold (With Lunch)
While making herself lunch (because food is the ultimate comfort after a family feud), Slim had a revelation: if mom won’t listen to her, why should she listen to mom? So when mom asked her to help with laundry mid-bite, Slim calmly repeated that it wasn’t her laundry—and kept at it until reinforcements (a.k.a. her twin) pointed out the laundry wasn’t even ready. Oops.
Mom, not amused, dropped the classic parental punishment: “You’re grounded.” Slim’s response? A calm, “That’s fine,” followed by a generous offer of her lunch. As power moves go, this one is top tier—maximum chill, minimum drama.
Phone confiscated, Slim asked if she could at least text her choir to say she’d miss rehearsal. Denied. Still, she finished her lunch at her own pace and then—plot twist—suggested a walk with mom. The emotional weather was clearing.
From Standoff to Sit-Down: The Healing Power of a Walk
Here’s where this story takes a wholesome turn. On their walk, Slim explained why she’d been acting up: all she wanted was to be heard. She promised to try harder and acknowledged the hard work of raising four kids. Mom apologized, Slim reassured her that blame wasn’t the goal, and… peace was restored.
The result? Ungrounded, phone returned, and Slim was even able to make it to choir rehearsal. The real cherry on top: the two planned to go to breakfast together the next day—proof that a little pettiness can sometimes be the ticket to honest conversation (and pancakes).
Petty or Necessary? Let’s Discuss
In a mini-update, Slim admits maybe what she did wasn’t “revenge” per se, but it was definitely a little petty—a taste of mom’s own medicine. She calmly ignored mom’s demands for nearly an hour, which, let’s be real, is an Olympic-level act of teenage rebellion. But more than that, it was about drawing boundaries and demanding to be heard.
Is this the healthiest conflict resolution technique? Maybe not. But sometimes, when the usual communication channels are clogged with frustration and shouting matches, a little bit of pettiness can be the reset button everyone needs. In this case, it sparked a real conversation, an apology, and a better understanding between mother and daughter.
The Takeaway: Sometimes, Being a Little Petty Pays Off
So, what can we learn from Slim’s saga? Maybe that parenting (and being parented) is messy, emotional, and sometimes hilarious. Maybe that a calm “that’s fine” can be more powerful than a door slam. Or maybe, just maybe, that standing up for yourself—even if it means being a little petty—can bring you closer to the people you love.
Have you ever dished out a little petty revenge to get your point across? Or do you have a family feud story worthy of a sitcom episode? Share your tales below—because if there’s anything better than a good breakfast, it’s a community of people who just get it.
Original Reddit Post: My mom wouldn’t listen to me so I didn’t listen to her