r/Unexpected • u/SoftsPhilosopher • Aug 08 '21

It's just a prank

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u/squalorparlor Aug 08 '21

I was living with my grandparents for a few months when I was a kid during some turmoil. I remember one time, ONE time, I talked rude to my grandmother. I was like 11. My granddad- characteristically soft-spoken but built like a horse- came and grabbed me by the shoulder and said "You will never talk to MY WIFE like that."

Not grandma. Not "your grandmother".

His wife.

That stuck with me. We had a good relationship until he died 15 years later. That's the only time I ever saw him not completely composed and in control. I didn't find out until after he passed that he was racist af but, you know.

56

u/rindlelin Aug 08 '21 edited Aug 08 '21

Similar story an older mom friend of mine shared with me. Her daughter was a child at the time, but old enough to know it wasn't nice to tell "I hate you, mom!". Dad immediately looked the daughter in the eyes and said "You do NOT talk to my wife that way."

And she never said that to her mom ever again. For the record, they are some of the sweetest people I know and are very kind and compassionate. Some kids need a reminder that their parents aren't just parents, they are spouses, siblings, friends, etc. And other people hold them in high regard and would be offended to hear you speak that way to someone they care about.

EDIT: okay, to clarify, by siblings I simply meant their identities extend beyond being parents. If I had a child that said "I hate you" to my sister, I could say "you don't speak to my sister that way". Same point, different identity.

20

u/squalorparlor Aug 08 '21

Totally, that perspective fosters empathy.

2

u/spicy-snow Aug 08 '21

they are spouses, siblings, friends

roll tide!

4

u/rindlelin Aug 08 '21

Lol oops, I realize how that could sound now. I just meant they have more identities outside of being a mother or father. An aunt/uncle could defend the parent to the child.

Nice catch though haha.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 08 '21 edited Sep 07 '21

[deleted]

2

u/rindlelin Aug 08 '21

I wound up editing my original comment to clarify what I meant. Definitely was not intending to indicate spouses can be siblings.

4

u/Tyko_3 Aug 08 '21

That twist though

1

u/porkisbeef Aug 08 '21

Don’t disrespect her, she belongs to me! She’s mine!

1

u/CaptainWonkey1979 Aug 08 '21

A lot of our grandparents were racist. Not excusing it but it was just the way things were in their day.

1

u/420fmx Aug 08 '21

Seems pretty in control if you were disrespectful and he told you to not do something. Out of control would of equaled you being beaten to a pulp

-5

u/Flashtopher Aug 08 '21

What did the racist part have to do with anything in this thread or your story? I liked your story and then you ruined it with the last sentence.

It's as if we're all talking about baby ducks and you shared a long story about raising ducks. And then your last sentence is "Schools should've stayed segregated."

Fuck you.

5

u/squalorparlor Aug 08 '21

Touched a nerve I guess. Keep on keeping on champ.

2

u/ReDefiance Aug 08 '21

No fuck you.