Redditor Yells At Dad After He Taught Her Pet Bird To Say Curse Words, Asks Internet If She Was An A-Hole For Doing So

Some people can shrug off a little mischief, but teaching a foster bird to swear is a different story. In this Reddit post, one woman and her husband are caring for Cosmo, an older parrot with health issues who already has a tough time finding a home. When they return, Cosmo is suddenly dropping the F-word, and the reason behind it makes the whole situation even messier.

Now the family is split, and the internet has plenty to say about what happened. Read on.

Here's the sitch:

Reddit

OP and her husband are foster parents to an older parrot named Cosmo—he loves people and has some health issues, making it hard for him to be placed into a home. In the shelter where he is from, it is a requirement to reveal if a parrot knows curse words (if they do, they are less likely to be adopted), so the couple makes sure they don’t curse around Cosmo.

Reddit

When the couple had to be away for a week, they had OP’s parents watch over Cosmo—they made sure to note that the bird can easily pick up on things, so they shouldn’t watch anything inappropriate or curse when he is around. One week later, they come back and find out that Cosmo is cursing the F-word.

Reddit

This incident highlights the profound impact of upbringing on emotional responses. The daughter’s outburst towards her father for teaching their pet bird to curse reflects a deeper emotional connection to both her father and the pet. Her reaction suggests that she perceives her father’s behavior as a breach of trust, which can evoke feelings of betrayal. This dynamic underscores the complexity of familial relationships, where actions that might seem humorous or harmless to one person can be deeply upsetting to another, particularly when it involves a beloved pet that embodies shared family values.

OP calls her parents—her mom swears she didn’t curse or watch any adult shows when Cosmo was there, but her dad did.

Reddit

That is where the story really turns.

To make matters worse, her dad thought Cosmo saying the F-word was funny, so he gave the bird a treat every time he said it—which is very bad since Cosmo now associates the F-word with treats—so OP got so mad that she yelled at him over the phone and hung up.

Reddit

Here's what people have to say:

If Cosmo really entertains you, Dad, you should just go and keep him. It seems like the possibility of the bird being adopted just went a whole lot lower.

Reddit

From a psychological perspective, yelling often indicates heightened emotional arousal.

The request was only for a few days. Is that responsibility so hard to uphold?

Reddit

The fact that birds are hard to adopt out is sad. Dad shouldn’t have done it, though.

Reddit

You told him what not to do, but he did it anyway. It was intentional.

Reddit

The situation highlights the importance of expressing feelings without shifting blame.

It also echoes the boyfriend-and-parrot tension in AITA for Struggling to Care for My Boyfriends Beloved Parrot While Hes Away?.

Funny for the dad, yes, but what he did is going to backfire on Cosmo. Dad is the asshole.

Reddit

Cosmo can live for up to sixty years? 30 more years of possible homelessness for poor Cosmo.

Reddit

Irresponsible, childish, and stupid. OP’s dad did both the couple and Cosmo dirty.

Reddit

Engaging in active listening could have transformed the heated exchange into an opportunity for understanding. By fully absorbing what the other person is expressing and reflecting on their emotions, family members can create a more supportive dialogue. This approach is particularly important when the subject matter involves shared responsibilities, such as caring for a beloved pet. Had the father taken the time to listen and discuss his daughter's concerns about the bird's language, the situation may not have escalated to a yelling match. Ultimately, fostering a listening environment can pave the way for healthier interactions and help avoid unnecessary conflicts within the family.

Many parrots outlive their owners and need a second home later. Teaching them to swear makes them almost impossible to rehome—just hope the dad realizes that he is a total A-hole for doing what he did.

Reddit

Don’t apologize, OP. Your dad is a jerk.

Reddit

He went back on his promise and encouraged the bad behavior. Being older and having health issues is hard enough for Cosmo—teaching him to curse just worsens his situation.

Reddit

A possible bird adoption? This is a chance for Cosmo to have a permanent home.

Reddit

Why is the mom defending the dad when he really did mean to do what OP said he shouldn’t?

Reddit

OP explained what would happen, but it had no effect on his actions.

Reddit

What OP said to her dad was accurate. He just screwed Cosmo’s chances of being rehomed, permanently.

Reddit

The advance warning should’ve helped. Indeed, parrots are better than humans.

Reddit

How immature. Why would an old man do something a 12-year-old would do?

Reddit

OP has to find someone who will care for the bird. That someone should also not mind the cursing that is to come.

Reddit

Many things are rooted in trust, in this particular case, it is relationships and Cosmo's probability of being adopted out of the animal shelter. Being entrusted with a responsibility, whether it affects a person or an animal, should be taken seriously and not exchanged for mere entertainment.

Comment down your thoughts, or share this article for all your family and friends to see!

The recent Reddit drama surrounding a daughter’s frustration with her father teaching their pet bird to curse highlights the complexity of family dynamics. The situation underscores the importance of communication within familial relationships. The daughter’s reaction, which she questions in her post, reveals an emotional disconnect that can arise when parenting styles clash, particularly regarding shared responsibilities and values in pet care. This incident serves as a reminder that addressing grievances with empathy and clarity can pave the way for healthier interactions and prevent similar conflicts in the future.

Wait until you see how someone reacted when they refused to pet sit an aggressive parrot after an attack.

Refusing to Pet Sit Aggressive Parrot After Attack: AITA?