Just to put things into perspective: I'm nearly 22 and still live at home with my parents in order to save money while attending college. I am independent in every way other than paying rent. Anyways... my mom purchased a $25 voucher to a restaurant here in town nearly two years ago. She called the voucher company to verify if it was still valid being so old and they claimed that it didn't expire. I told her to verify the validity of the voucher with the restaurant directly as they may no longer use the voucher companies service thus the voucher could possibly no longer work there. She didn't assuming if any issue arose, the manager would comp her the $25. We preceded to eat at the restaurant, got the bill only to have our waiter prompt the manager to come over as the voucher was no longer valid with that restaurant (they quit accepting vouchers nearly a year ago). My mom and the manager got into a quiet, yet moderately heated argument about them not honoring the voucher, but instead only comping us $10 instead of the full $25. Of course she was angry and my brother and I are somewhat passive people who avoid needless arguments if at all possible; needless to say we felt embarrassed while the argument was happening and were sure she was drawing attention. We left and during the car ride home, I proceeded to tell my mom that it was shitty the manager didn't comp the full amount, but that it was partially her fault to rely on a third party company to speak for the immediate business where the voucher was to be used. She should have called the restaurant and verified with them whether the voucher was valid prior to going there due to it's age. To me it's common sense to do so as policies and deals seemingly change with time. She ended up crying stating that I'm always embarrassed by her and that I am too critical of her when all I did was assert my opinion on how the situation could have been avoided. She hasn't talked or even been in the same room as me by choice for the past two days.... I don't get it.
Women, mothers to their children in particular, are sensitive. Men are too, we just are horrible at showing any emotion, especially pain. Apologize and tell her you didn't mean anything by it and make sure she understands you just think she could have handled things better. Assure her you aren't embarrassed by her and that you were simply making a point. It is too easy to feel like a failure in this world, don't ever let somebody you love feel like this. Peace
There must be something else bro, this was the last straw maybe? I'm just guessing here. Anyway, she's your mom, try to make up with her asap.
Yeah, you were wrong. You were rubbing it in her face with a big fat (veiled) "I TOLD YA SO!" Be nice to your mom. IMO you owe her some flowers
Dude there is nobody in this world who loves you more than your Mom, I can guarantee that. Even if she doesn't always show it, to her you are like something that was once a part of her, and I guarantee you she thinks you are the most graceful thing to walk the earth. So show her some respect. I'd get her a gift or at least tell her you are sorry, definitely make sure that wasn't how you intended things. Good luck man Peace
This, man. She already found out the hard way that she should have called the restaurant first, there was no reason to bring it up again.
I don't think I can actually say if you're wrong or not since it's illogical, in my opinion, to not check with the actual restaurant in the first place. I wouldn't have even called the voucher company at all-- I would have directly called the restaurant and verified it through them only. Third parties aren't directly involved in much and tend to have their own rules about things. So, while I think you're right, I'm sure there are many other people that would probably say that women (especially moms) are sensitive in the first place and that should have been taken into account so...
Hmm. I appreciate all the replies here and take them into great consideration. I have already explained to her that my intention wasn't at all to offend or to be a critic of her. It just seems every time we have a difference of opinion, she ends up crying or taking what I say wayyyyyy beyond the norm. To her credit, she has been deeply depressed for several years as my father (a magician) has the IQ that of an 8th grader. He's basically the third kid in our family. He can't read fluently or write basic sentences and she pretty much runs every business aspect of his life; otherwise, his entertainment business would not survive. I guess with all the built up stress and frustration of dealing with that and not being able to live her own life, chasing her own professional and personal dreams, she just couldn't take any more, despite how small of an assertion it was. I still can't bring myself to apologize as she is overly emotional about everything. I feel it's time to just take a stand and let her know that I'm going to express myself the way I see fit and that she should learn that my intentions aren't personal so quit taking them as so all the damn time. But on the other hand, I feel like I would be a major dickhead if I were to do so. EDIT// Why can't life be like the intranetz... where no fucks are given about a damn thing.
Dude you were completely right. This personally hits home, but let me give you a little bit of perspective from the restaurant side of things. It truly pisses me off when ignorant people just assume things and try to pull a fast one on the company. Your mom was absolutely trying to pull a fast one on the restaurant. She could have brought up the vocher right when she sat down. She knew deep down that their was a good chance it was no good, but she want what was pretty much a free meal. She thought that if she didn't mention it until after the meal they would have to take it even if it was expired as far as the company is concerned. Well your mom raised enough hell to get 10 dollars off (but she was still pissed she didn't get her way) which the company pretty much ate. The company doesn't have a contract with the place who issued the vouchers anymore so they don't get reimbursed for the 25 dollars through that company. Your actually lucky that the company decided to take 10 dollars off, because they pretty much lost all profit to appease customer to get them out of the restaurant without causing more of a scene. I think its our job as moral human beings to tell family when they are being dumb and embarrassing. As a person who delivers pizza, I deal with this all the time. People need to think about the people who work at these places. They don't even consider anyone else but themselves when they try to pull a fast one. Your mom was sitting on a coupon that was 2 years old. She knew that there was a chance that it wasn't good...any reasonable person questions a two year old coupon! She didn't say something about it before the order on purpose. Its predictable. It makes our jobs hell.
Although I can see this happening, we don't necessarily know this is what happened here. Also, if this was how things had happened, she would have just been pissed off when she left. She wouldn't have actually been sad, just super mad things didn't go her way. Thats why I don't think this was how things happened. Just my 2 cents
Shes sad cause she didn't get back up and she knows she acted a fool and is embarrassed. Oh believe me, thats why she didn't show it before ordering....Its classic dude classic. I can smell them people miles away. I smell this lady, she smells of deceit!