AITA for not buying my niece a concert ticket for Christmas?
She Bought One Concert Ticket — And Sparked a Family Guilt Spiral
A mom faces an AITA-style dilemma after buying her daughter a concert ticket but not her niece, sparking family guilt and debate.
A mom planned a special concert night with her daughter, but one phone call from her sister-in-law turned it into a Christmas moral dilemma.
The Backstory and Early Dynamics
The mom and her husband decided to surprise their only child with a concert ticket for Christmas.
It wasn’t just a gift — it was an experience.
She planned to attend the concert with her daughter, partly because her child needed supervision, but also because she genuinely liked the band and wanted to share the moment together.
A short trip, an overnight stay, and a memory just for the two of them.
The Moment Things Shifted
Things changed when her sister-in-law called to chat about New Year’s plans.
During the conversation, the mom casually mentioned the surprise concert.
That’s when the tone shifted.
Her sister-in-law sounded disappointed and hinted — more than once — that her daughter would have loved to go too.
She even asked whether tickets were still available.
The mom felt immediate guilt.
She knew her family’s financial situation was different, and she worried that saying “no” would come off as selfish or insensitive.
The Final Confrontation (Internal, Not Verbal)
After hanging up, the mom checked the website.
Tickets were still available.
Now the real conflict hit:
If she bought one niece a ticket and gave it at the family dinner, the other niece would feel left out.
But if she didn’t buy any extra tickets, would she look uncaring?
It wasn’t about money.
It was about fairness, expectations, and whether she was obligated to turn a personal parent-child moment into a group event.
The Fallout
After reading feedback and sitting with her feelings, the mom made her decision.
She chose not to buy the extra ticket.
Not out of spite.
Not out of cost.
But because the experience mattered — and changing it would take away what made it special in the first place.
She still loved her nieces deeply, but this moment was meant to be just hers and her daughter’s.
What Reddit Thinks
Verdict: Mostly NTA (Not the A-hole)
Redditors would likely side with the mom, while acknowledging the emotional complexity.
Sample reactions:
- “NTA. Parents are allowed to do special things with their kids without funding the whole family.”
- “It’s understandable your SIL felt disappointed, but that doesn’t make it your responsibility.”
- “This is one of those situations where guilt doesn’t equal wrongdoing.”
Some commenters might suggest a future outing with the nieces — but not turning this trip into one.
A Final Thought
At what point does kindness turn into obligation — and are parents allowed to protect moments that are just for their kids?
