Good communication is absolutely fundamental if you want to have a happy and healthy relationship with your family. We can’t overstate just how important it is to actively listen to others when they speak. You can avoid a lot of tension and heartache if you take the time to understand someone else’s point of view, instead of ignoring them completely.
However, some of your relatives might think that they’re always in the right and don’t take your emotions into account. Sometimes, the best way to get them to listen is to do exactly what they ask you to do. Cue some epic malicious compliance.
Redditor u/Free-Will-Hunting shared how his stepfather always buys him clothes that are too small and won’t fit him. Well, the guy had enough of not being heard and took matters into his own hands, shocking the family during his stepdad’s birthday dinner. Scroll down for the full story, in the OP’s own words on r/MaliciousCompliance.
Bored Panda has reached out to u/Free-Will-Hunting via Reddit. We’ll update the article as soon as we hear back from him!
A guy felt frustrated that his stepdad kept buying him clothes that are too small, and pressuring him to wear them
Image credits: Kai Pilger (not the actual photo)
He decided that it was time to teach him a lesson that he’d never forget
Image credits: Helena Lopes (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Free-Will-Hunting
The author told the r/MaliciousCompliance subreddit that he put on the clothes that his stepdad had given him earlier for his birthday dinner. Of course, the clothes were one size too small, and this made his family members’ jaws drop. However, the OP felt that this was the only way to get through to his stepfather, who kept grumbling that his stepson wouldn’t wear them.
However, the first time around, the stunt worked only partially. The guy’s mom told him that it’s perfectly all right if he doesn’t wear the shirts again. But his stepdad bought him some more shirts later. This time around, they were two sizes too small.
In an update to the story, u/Free-Will-Hunting shared how, by the holidays, his stepdad finally got the message loud and clear: all of the clothes he got were his size. “Christmas presents came a bit earlier this year, and all the clothes are my size. Christmas miracles do happen!” the redditor wrote.
One of the best things that parents can do is to actively listen to their children. They should hear out their position and try to empathize with them. On the flip side, adults should try and avoid lecturing their kids. According to psychoanalyst Gail Saltz, from New York City, lecturing isn’t a good way to get your child to listen.
Saltz told WebMD that grownups should opt for “engaging talk and talk that asks what they think and fosters their own thinking process and autonomy.” The focus on having a discussion instead of offering up a monologue. This way, you’re helping them feel independent and demonstrating that you value their opinions.
Meanwhile, a teenager or young adult who is frustrated with being ignored should try to be as specific as they can when speaking to their parents. You should opt for a mix of diplomacy and directness. Be friendly but incredibly clear about how you feel.
And, if possible, try to avoid being defensive—recognize that nobody is perfect, we all have our flaws, and that some of the things we hear might sound judgmental but might be a slip of the tongue. Try not to take things so personally. Try to see things from your parents’ point of view if you can. It’s what helps build a solid foundation for a future relationship.
The author shared some more details about his stepdad in the comments of his post
The post Guy’s Stepfather Keeps Buying Him Clothes That Are Way Too Small, So He Wears Them To His Birthday Dinner first appeared on Bored Panda.
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