AITAH for calling my mother a whale?

r/

This requires a LOT of background.

In childhood my mother was obese. Growing up she never let me forget that obesity runs in the family and constantly encouraged me to eat healthy and stay thin, which isn’t the problem. I have always been a thin person, and I was actually a malnourished child due to an autoimmune disease, as I was finally diagnosed and gaining a healthy amount of weight, the purge on my body caused my stomach to bloat often. I distinctly remember being told at 11 years old to “suck it in” so that she could “post our family Hawaii photos to Facebook.” In teenagehood, getting seconds at dinner would cause me to be oinked at, and constant comments of my body would cause me to develop an eating disorder at the age of 13. I am now 20, still struggling with my body image, even though I am still thin.

My mom eventually lost a bit of weight due to a condition she developed in my mid-teens. And ever since then, she has become a Regina George judgemental ahole. A slightly bigger girl in a crop top walks by us in the mall? She’s chuckling and making comments about how girls “her size and more” need to learn how to dress themselves. A girl has some acne? She’s making a comment about how gross it is. She just projects her insecurities and makes comments in public that are uncomfortable and would upset anyone that ovehears it. Now being an adult, I call her out on it, but she just deflects and says she doesn’t judge people “that much”.

I have nothing against bigger people, by the way, I believe all bodies are different for a reason and are beautiful. I am not a judgemental person.

Here’s the story, my family are conservatives, I’m a lesbian. I’ve never felt accepted by my family, and have distanced myself a bit since coming out, especially since the comments they made when I was closeted were a lot worse. My mother has no shame in saying the n-word (we are white), f-slur, or other derogatory stuff. I have tried to educate her and explain that maybe she shouldn’t be saying those words, but her favorite slogan is “I’m an adult, nobody gets to tell me what I can and can’t say.” Alright.

We got into a political debate the other night, she was telling a story and decided to say the f-slur, I reminded her how uncomfortable her saying that made me, and she said her iconic slogan said above. We got into it for a bit, and I said she wouldn’t appreciate me saying hurtful words to her, she asked what I meant and I said “you wouldn’t like it if I called you a f-ing whale to your face.” The room immediately got into an uproar, and my family said I took it too far. I say play stupid games win stupid prizes. I have no regrets, I have put up with their insensitive and derogatory comments for years and I am sick of it. I have raised myself for years as my mom tries to relive her teenagehood fantasy, starved myself in my teens to appeal to my family’s standards, and otherwise been the perfect daughter, and it still isn’t good enough because I like to kiss girls. I haven’t spoken to them, and when I told my friends what happened they were definitely shocked and cringed, but none of them really had opinions on if I was right or wrong.

AITAH?

Comments

  1. Educational-Arm-8351 Avatar

    She’s been body-shaming, slur-slinging, and cruel for years, you snapped once and suddenly you’re the problem? Nah, that’s just called holding up a mirror.

  2. PrairieGrrl5263 Avatar

    NTAH. Mom had to FAFO. Well, she found out.

  3. Fancy_Average5440 Avatar

    Certainly NTA. And please remember, you are under no obligation to spend time with people who disrespect you and bring you down. Cutting cords can be life changing — life giving, even. ✌🏼

  4. Lionwoman0819 Avatar

    TOTALLY RIGHT FUNNY HOW THEY DONT LIKE THEIR OWN MEDICINE!!!!! good for u

  5. Dramatic_Dish1400 Avatar

    NTA!!!! i dont even need to tell you that though because you already know. taste of her medicine doesnt taste so good but it sure as sh*t isnt your problem

  6. Own-Object-6696 Avatar

    I’m just wondering why you talk to your family at all. NTA

  7. Last-Campaign-3373 Avatar

    You’re good. Frankly, I’m surprised you lasted as long as you did before snapping.

    That being said, are any of your family reasonable at all? Is it possible to have a constructive conversation with them about what’s going on here? Because that would be ideal. You deserve to speak your peace and be listened to. However, if that’s off the table, you might want to separate yourself from them for your own peace of mind instead of having petty arguments, because that’s what this will descend to after a while. NTA

  8. Sparks-Aflame Avatar

    Not even KIND OF the asshole. How old are you? Because if there isn’t a 1 in front of your age, you are a god damn saint for dealing with it for that long and this being the ONLY TIME you’ve snapped back.

  9. Daydreaming_demond Avatar

    NTA. the amount of self control you’ve had up to that point is fucking impressive. Stay the hell away from that toxic jerk of a mother as much as possible.

  10. Flimsy-Surprise8234 Avatar

    You’re NTA you’re just funny. And you’re right. If human decency won’t make her shut her mouth (clearly she feels outright pride in being a shithead) then fear of embarrassment is worth a shot! 

  11. Typical_Currency_418 Avatar

    NTA. Your mum sounds like a very nice lady…not!

  12. Mueryk Avatar

    Personally I would have called her a Cow or Heifer as many bigots are more Agrarian types and that insult also leans to calling her property or meat as well.

    NTA. Low contact or better is the way to go. Talk to them only when they have something to offer and make Orca noises at her when she gets uppity.

  13. Kayhowardhlots Avatar

    Truthfully, that’s fucking hysterical. NTA.

  14. Winter_Chapter_4664 Avatar

    Your definitely not in the wrong anyone in your shoes would snap

  15. okdray Avatar

    NTA and technically you didn’t actually call her a whale…..
    although you should’ve!