AITA For Walking Out Of Christmas Dinner After My Parents Gave My Sister Car? - Best Reddit Stories

AITA For Walking Out Of Christmas Dinner After My Parents Gave My Sister Car? - Best Reddit Stories
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AITA For Walking Out Of Christmas Dinner After My Parents Gave My Sister A Car?
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Growing up, I always felt overshadowed by my older sister Rachel, the "golden child." While she basked in our parents’ attention and generosity, I was left to fend for myself. Rachel got the best clothes, extra money for outings, and endless praise, while I learned to budget, work hard, and be independent. Over time, I became used to being the overlooked sibling, but that didn’t make it any less painful.

One Christmas, everything came to a head. Our parents gifted Rachel a brand-new car—a symbol of independence I’d been saving for years to achieve on my own. It felt like a slap in the face. When I expressed my hurt, I was labeled ungrateful and dramatic, so I walked out. That moment marked a turning point. I went low-contact with my family, started therapy, and focused on myself. A few months later, I finally bought my own car—a modest, used Honda Civic—but it meant the world to me because I had earned it on my own terms.

Meanwhile, Rachel began to realize the price of being the favorite. The car our parents had given her wasn’t truly hers; it came with strings attached. They used her as a chauffeur and controlled her every move, guilt-tripping her whenever she pushed back. One day, she confessed her frustration and admitted, for the first time, that she understood why I had been so angry. While it wasn’t a full apology, it was a step toward repairing our fractured relationship.

When our parents decided to sell Rachel’s car without consulting her, it became her breaking point. She moved out, taking control of her life for the first time. Over time, Rachel and I began to rebuild our relationship. We bonded over shared experiences of parental manipulation, and for the first time, I saw her as a person navigating her own struggles rather than the golden child I had resented.

Today, I’ve stayed no-contact with my parents and found peace in creating a life that’s entirely my own. Rachel and I, once divided by jealousy and favoritism, are now closer than ever. Our relationship isn’t perfect, but it’s real—and it’s proof that even the deepest wounds can start to heal when both people are willing to grow.
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#redditfamily #reddit #familyrelationships #redditstories

[aptbbakerst]

I went through something similar. I was the eldest in the family and over time I became Cinderella (housemaid, babysitter, cook, mowed the lawn and go to person in the family) and I was treated differently than my siblings. I am not going into the family drama, but my parents taught me an important lesson. If you want something, go out and find work because we aren't buying it for you. So if wanted to attend a football or basketball game which was inexpensive back then, I had to babysit or use my lunch money. If I wanted to attend theater plays or concerts at school, I found out I could usher and once everyone was seated, I got to sit down and watch the show. I learned to problem solve and be independent. My siblings got anything they wanted in the mean time. Now as adults, I live independently while my siblings lived near my parents to sponge off of them. I have been in no contact since 10 years ago do to the toxic dysfunction of my family. It was seriously affecting my health.

[PaisyCat]

How dare they ask OP for money to fix the car the parents bought sister? Not her car…Not her problem…

[theprinceofsnj]

Reminds me of what happened to me. When my grandfather passed, my grandmother traded all of my grandfathers vehicles in on a new pickup truck for my older brother. I was told I'd get a new car when I turned 17. 3 years later I turned 17. Guess what? No new car. I got a gold chain. I did see a new car 6 years later. And I bought it myself.

[Nerdificent]

The independent/responsible one that can 'handle anything' on their own is likely that way because they had no other choice.

[jasondouglas]

There's always a favorite.
Parents want to live vicariously through their popular kid and treat the other like trash

[erickaennis]

I honestly don't feel sorry for Rachel. No, she doesn't owe Op any apology about the car. BUT, she was well aware of her parents' favoritism. She benefited from it. And she never stood up for Op or defended her. Her chauffeuring her parents around was just repayment for all the perks she got. Call it karma for her complicity.

[angelawood]

My mother preferred my younger sister she then announces she is leaving her house to my sister when she dies but my brilliant sister said you have to leave, it to both of us if you leave it to me I will give her half. Thats when I knew my mother was not the best, but my, sister was wonderful.

[katehenry]

How can you feel "lonely" by getting away from toxic people? Its like pulling a BIG thorn out of your foot.

[rmhartman]

The inverse of "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" is "the self sufficient one gets ignored"

[amandaely]

I don’t think you realise that you’re the lucky one. Rachel is stuck in the cycle of love prison! 😂

[joannegregory]

Sometimes being the favourite is harder, constant pressure and expectations, i have 3 kids and i cant imagine ever treating them so differently they are all unique in their own ways and have different strengths, i would never had pitted them against each other its disgusting

[Okiedokie]

There are way too many of these golden sibling stories.

[Panwere]

It absolutely doesn't surprise me that not only was the OP overlooked, but that Rachel was in reality being used worse than the OP ever had been.

[Cheshyre.]

AI got a little confused there and whipped around and reiterated the story at Christmas as if it didn't happen when they met up for coffee.

[r.s.hindman]

I have to give a thumbs up because they correctly pronounced the name Rachel and use correct grammar

[manxkin]

Let Rachel pay for the damage or submit it to insurance. Sorry, but OP is also an adult who lives on her own. I don’t know why she expects so much from her parents, including the car. Yeah, Rachel was the spoiled child but it all went south. Time for Rachel to move out on her own. Geez Rachel! Move out! Well it’s about time!

[Justin-A-Carter]

The only reason the sister met up with op, because the whole time she was the golden child. Everything was great. She was spoiled. Loved on. Giving all the attention. And now that it's negatively affecting her life. She's now reaching out trying to butter

These parents are horrible, you don't give something to somebody then hold it over their head. If I was the sister I would drop the keys in the mailbox and an envelope and write a letter saying. "This car, thanks for it. But now you can cram it straight up your ass because I'm done being your chauffeur and go to girl, you made a contention and brutal relationship between me and my sister because you had to play favorites, now you have no children that want to be around you. Leave me alone and take this car and do what you will with it." THEN LEAVE.

Edit:
Good... But I wouldn't have given the parents that power as soon as they started having strings attached to that gift. That keys if that car would be popped right in their hand...

Glad the sisters are getting a relationship.

[nbenefiel]

Rachel should move out and leave the car with her parents.

[maureenlewin]

Why the hell do all these bleeding people need to go to therapy….save money, grow a pair and move on ffs!!

[met]

A lot to think about here.
First, I really don't think your sister owes you an apology for getting the car she didn't ask for it.
She may owe you an apology for other things but not really this.
I understand what it's like to be the stable one in the family. You don't get what others get because they need it more. You are strong and reliable and you get what you need by yourself.
Also, if your sister works from home, why do they need to borrow money to get her car repaired?
First the parents have no right to take back an adult child's gifted car to sell it.
What they probably should have done was buy a second car for the house and allowed the child to use it. Then it was still there's to do with what they wanted