“Dramatic” woman refuses to go on family trip after sister’s 3-word comment

A woman’s decision to skip a family vacation after being publicly insulted by her sister has been applauded by netizens.

The 25-year-old woman and original poster (OP), Reddit user TahliaTryst, recounted the incident on r/AITAH, explaining that she has always had a “rocky relationship” with her 27-year-old sister.

“She’s always been the ‘golden child’ in our family—straight A’s, great job, married with kids, you get the idea,” she wrote. In contrast, the OP shared that she has struggled with college, bounced between jobs, and is currently working retail while figuring out her career.

Their sibling tension reached a boiling point at a recent family dinner after her parents announced plans for a vacation to celebrate their anniversary.

“It sounded nice until my sister started joking about how she hopes I can actually afford to take time off,” the OP recalled. “She then followed it up by saying, ‘It’s okay, we all know you’re the family failure, but at least you’re fun to have around.’

“Everyone laughed. I awkwardly smiled, but inside, I was done. This isn’t the first time she’s made comments like that, but it hit differently this time.

“After the dinner, I told my parents I wasn’t comfortable going on the trip. They tried to brush it off as my sister ‘just joking’, but I told them I’m tired of being disrespected.

“Now my whole family is upset with me. My sister texted me saying I’m being “dramatic” and that I’m ruining the trip for everyone. My parents said they understand I’m hurt, but I should come and ‘not let her get to me’.

“I really don’t want to go, but now I feel guilty for upsetting everyone.”

Redditors were quick to rally around the OP, with many condemning her sister’s remarks and criticizing her parents for dismissing the incident.

One wrote, “Your sister is a total jerk, and your parents are enabling her behavior. Seriously, ‘family failure’? That’s brutal. Don’t let them guilt-trip you into going on a trip with someone who actively disrespects you.”

Another user added, “Don’t go, tell your sister at least you are not the ‘family AH’.”

The Impact of Sibling Rivalry

According to Newsweek, sibling rivalry can become especially harmful when one sibling is repeatedly favored over another, leading to long-term emotional strain.

Licensed therapist Rebecca Phillips told the publication, “Constant comparison can erode self-esteem, particularly when one sibling is cast as more successful or valuable than the other.”

A similar situation was reported by Newsweek, where a brother refused to attend his sister’s graduation after a family argument, sparking an almost-identical debate over family loyalty versus personal respect.

Newsweek has contacted TahliaTryst for comment via Reddit.

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