Parents Refuse to Buy New Car for Accident-Prone Son, But Their Alternative Gift Causes a Family Turmoil When His Twin Sister Gets a New Vehicle.

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In a story of family dynamics, the Original Poster (OP) narrates his journey navigating through a familial disagreement that arises when their twins graduate high school. OP and his wife decide not to give their son, who has a history of reckless driving, a car as a graduation present like they do their daughter, creating tension and division within the family.

A Milestone Reached

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OP’s twins, a boy, and a girl, celebrate their high school graduation, a remarkable milestone in their lives. When they turned 16, both were given a car to share by their parents.

Differing In Responsibility

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However, OP’s son managed to crash this shared car six times, effectively totaling it on the final occasion. On the other hand, his daughter had a clean driving record throughout her high school years.

A Tough Decision

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As the twins’ graduation approached, OP and his wife planned on buying them new cars as gifts. Given the son’s poor track record with the previous car, they debated repeating this gift.

A Fair Trade

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Ultimately, they chose a safer alternative for him, deciding on a new gaming PC instead. They hoped this would soften the blow for him, and he would still be excited about this instead of nothing.

The Big Reveal

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As graduation grew closer, the daughter was told she’d be taken car shopping. The son was told they didn’t feel comfortable buying him another car just yet and proposed the idea of a new gaming PC.

Not What They Were Expecting

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The son, however, didn’t react well to this news as they had hoped. He was furious and felt he was being treated unfairly, despite his record.

A Clash of Opinions

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Upon learning about the discrepancy in the gifts, the son expressed his discontent, stating that it wasn’t fair for his sister to get a car while he didn’t.

His Defense

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He argued that as a teenager, it’s natural to make mistakes, implying that his car accidents were part of growing up. Despite his plea, OP and his wife stood firm in their decision.

The Grandparents Enter the Scene

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Unsatisfied with his parent’s decision, the son sought support from his grandparents, who he hoped would advocate on his behalf. He conveyed his feelings of unfair treatment to them, emphasizing his sister’s car gift compared to his gaming PC. His grandparents, swayed by his argument, agreed that the situation didn’t seem fair.

Parental Conviction

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Despite the grandparents siding with their grandson, OP, and his wife remained resolute in their decision. They were determined to hold their ground, believing they were making the right choice for their son’s safety. Still, they made it clear to him that he was not completely left without a vehicle.

The Olive Branch

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Understanding their son’s frustration, OP offered a compromise: the son was free to borrow OP’s car whenever necessary, as OP worked from home and didn’t require the vehicle frequently. This solution was a way to ensure the son had access to a car when needed while still sticking to their initial decision.

Reaching Out For Advice

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When OP takes his situation to an online forum for feedback, he is met with an overwhelming amount of opinions. Most agree that giving his son a car is not the right thing to do, and have plenty of criticisms for his driving record.

A Question To Ponder

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OP is also questioned on whether it is a safe option for his son to use his car at all. Even though he may not need it during the day, it could potentially be a decision that gets someone else hurt. He is left to wonder about how his son will ever be able to move on and become a safe and dependable driver.

Was Buying One Child A Car And Not The Other Appropriate?

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The readers in the forum had a lot of mixed views on the matter. Here are some of their responses:

Forum Responds

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One reader said, “Life’s not always fair. He’s clearly shown that he can’t handle the responsibility of having access to a car, and now he is facing the consequences of his decisions.”

Another Commenter Thinks

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Another responder wrote: “ I would be concerned about letting him borrow your car if this is how he drives.”

A Third View on The Story

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A different person states, “Your daughter has shown she can take care of a car responsibly. Your son has not. Crashing a car six times is not a few mistakes. It’s a pattern of recklessness.”

A Final Perspective on the Matter

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Another viewpoint on the story: “You are enabling his upcoming 7th crash in which he could injure or kill people. Rewarding his bratty entitled attitude is one thing, and your prerogative; enabling him to endanger innocent parties is another.”