'AITA for bailing on Christmas dinner because of my uncle's 'jokes?''
"AITA for bailing on Christmas dinner because of my uncle's 'jokes?'"
30s male here. I’ve been out of work for a bit and I’m actively looking, doing interviews, all that. It’s not a secret, but I also don’t really want it to be the main topic at family stuff. We had a family Christmas dinner this weekend. I went, brought a bottle and dessert, was polite, helped clear plates, tried to just get through it.
My uncle (50s) started with the usual “so when you getting a real job then” type comments. I did the normal laugh-it-off thing and said I’m on it. He kept going all night. Stuff like “must be nice having a permanent holiday” and “maybe Santa can bring you a CV” and “you should try working instead of sitting on that computer”. People laughed, nobody told him to stop.
After the 4th or 5th comment I said, calmly, “can you drop it, I’m here for dinner not to be roasted.” He replied something like “oh come on, it’s just banter, don't be so sensitive." At that point I just got up, said “right, I’m heading off, Merry Christmas everyone," and left.
Now my mum is saying I embarrassed her and I should’ve just ignored him because “that’s how he is” and it made things awkward for everyone. I think he can screw himself. AITA for leaving instead of sitting there and taking it?
Here's what people had to say to OP:
habner70 said:
NTA. If my brother was giving my son crap about not having a job, I would call him out on it. I definitely wouldn't take his side over my own son.
habner70 said:
NTA. What a jerk. Someone there should have stepped up and told him to drop it.
RustyCarWheels10 said:
NTA - if that's how he wants to be, he's more than welcome to behave that. However, you do not have to sit there and take it. And if your mom's embarrassed, that's a more of a her issue than a you issue.
CarelessDistance1478 said:
NTA. You proved you were the most adult person in the room by leaving without further comment. Bravo!
PotOfEarlGreyPlease said:
NTA - you did the right thing in leaving, uncle was out of order and the rest of the family should have backed you up.
TheRealOwl said:
NTA, last Christmas most at my place of employment got laid off(got the job back 3 months later before I ever stopped working so yay), but understandably getting that as a Christmas present was not amusing so family just decided to not mention it unless I did it myself so we just had a pleasant time where nobody shit on anybody else.