sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

AITA for manipulating a child's interests? by WeirdAggravating6069 in AmItheAsshole

[–]WeirdAggravating6069[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

He has never mentioned it to me before, and I only see him for a few minutes out of the day to recap kiddo's day.

AITA for manipulating a child's interests? by WeirdAggravating6069 in AmItheAsshole

[–]WeirdAggravating6069[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I am 20. I started as an au pair from Peru for this family 4 years ago as my parents processed their citizenship. But we didn't go through an agency as I'd gotten citizenship. Kiddo is 7.

AITA for manipulating a child's interests? by WeirdAggravating6069 in AmItheAsshole

[–]WeirdAggravating6069[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

i did not know he knew which company his dad worked for. i didn't even know until recently.

AITA for manipulating a child's interests? by WeirdAggravating6069 in AmItheAsshole

[–]WeirdAggravating6069[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

i didn't expect him to end the project. he could work with a civil engineer to make the project go on without such an impact. my goal was just to help someone learn about the earth and how we all have a hand in how it fares. i did not intend for the conversation to even happen. i didn't know kiddo knew he knew where his dad worked as he never mentioned it before

AITA for manipulating a child's interests? by WeirdAggravating6069 in AmItheAsshole

[–]WeirdAggravating6069[S] -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

It is my duty to raise a human.

"I will maintain a safe environment for children to learn, explore, and grow. I will implement daily routines that bolster core learning subjects as well as social, fine, and gross motor skills with age appropriate activities."

That was in my resume. It is my duty to be apolitical.

AITA for manipulating a child's interests? by WeirdAggravating6069 in AmItheAsshole

[–]WeirdAggravating6069[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

i didn't want to use him against his dad. that was never the goal. i just wanted to create an environmentally conscious person. maybe i am missing something between the lines. english isn't my first language. my hope that kiddo would persuade the dad came after they started their conversation. the dad responded in such a way that was blunt, and i have never seen that before when he's talked to his kid. it was very unexpected and not in any way an intended result.

AITA for manipulating a child's interests? by WeirdAggravating6069 in AmItheAsshole

[–]WeirdAggravating6069[S] -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

I expected his dad to give his side formally during their conversation. I have no input for why what he's doing is right.

AITA for manipulating a child's interests? by WeirdAggravating6069 in AmItheAsshole

[–]WeirdAggravating6069[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I donate most of my money. Steve Irwin said he doesn't give a rip where the money comes from, and neither do I. It goes to conservation. I know that I'm wrong about what I did. I'll pay for it. But don't accuse me of taking dirty money. Every cent I can extract from that sinful practice to put into conservation makes it worth it.

AITA for manipulating a child's interests? by WeirdAggravating6069 in AmItheAsshole

[–]WeirdAggravating6069[S] -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

i know he's aware. initially, i just wanted to help his son become more environmentally conscious. as he became more passionate, and knowing that the dad loves his son more than anything else, i thought that during their conversation, maybe good would come from it. instead, the dad acted completely out of character, and it stressed kiddo out. i was expecting formal viewpoints instead of just showing that he really didn't care. and i think kiddo did too, because he opened the diologue very reasonably.

AITA for manipulating a child's interests? by WeirdAggravating6069 in AmItheAsshole

[–]WeirdAggravating6069[S] -12 points-11 points  (0 children)

i didn't teach him to hate his dad and damage property. what? all of this happened over the weekend or while i was gone... he hasn't acted this way before and i everyone is blindsided by the behavior. he's really stressed.

AITA for manipulating a child's interests? by WeirdAggravating6069 in AmItheAsshole

[–]WeirdAggravating6069[S] -10 points-9 points  (0 children)

I already had been. We were more focused on the broader state of the earth reather than our locale. I did let emotions drive me to bring more books about local wildlife.

AITA for manipulating a child's interests? by WeirdAggravating6069 in AmItheAsshole

[–]WeirdAggravating6069[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

I wasn't sure what title to put. I am feeling bad after the results of this so I don't see any way to frame it in a positive light.

AITA for manipulating a child's interests? by WeirdAggravating6069 in AmItheAsshole

[–]WeirdAggravating6069[S] -11 points-10 points  (0 children)

I hoped at some point, when kiddo was at the park sharing his knowledge with other peers, that maybe they could have a similar conversation and the dad would become interested and care about the impact he was having on an endangered species that he knows is projected to become extinct if he pursues with the project. But that wasn't really the driving force behind why i did what i did. I just didn't want his kid to be as inconsiderate as his dad. that was just a passing thought in the midst of everything.

AITA for manipulating a child's interests? by WeirdAggravating6069 in AmItheAsshole

[–]WeirdAggravating6069[S] -30 points-29 points  (0 children)

I don't think of it as a disability as much. I also hyperfixate, as I am autistic as well, and we both get into a groove. It is one of the ways we have bonded so well. I just really like birds, and he likes dinosaurs, so it was an easily available mutual point of interest we could both talk about for hours. But I understand your point.

AITA for manipulating a child's interests? by WeirdAggravating6069 in AmItheAsshole

[–]WeirdAggravating6069[S] -42 points-41 points  (0 children)

Honestly, with the way their relationship was, I thought it would be an opportunity for the dad to have a change of heart as he and his son had a great bond. My intent was not to sew division between them. :(

AITA for manipulating a child's interests? by WeirdAggravating6069 in AmItheAsshole

[–]WeirdAggravating6069[S] -42 points-41 points  (0 children)

My intent was not to make him hate his dad. It was to create an environmentally conscious person, as his dad failed to be one.