Teen Tagged Ungrateful And Spoiled After Going On a Field Trip Against Her Parent's Wishes

Some parents treat a school field trip like it is a minor miracle, not a negotiable outing. In this Reddit story, OP’s parents have never been the “no” type for academic trips, so when she went on one without asking first, she expected a normal reaction. Instead, she got hit with the full “ungrateful and spoiled” speech.

The mess started when OP signed up for the trip, used a waiver her parents had already signed, and then got the ticket using that paperwork before the price came up. Her mom signed inattentively while busy, and OP says she tucked the waiver away and handled the ticket part first, leaving the parents to find out later. Now they are calling her out for going behind their back, even though, on paper, they had technically consented.

Here’s the full story, and it’s all about whether a signed waiver counts as permission or just as a technicality.

Here is the full story in the OP's own words...

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The OP was a bit confused because her parents had never rejected academic field trips

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They have been calling the OP ungrateful and spoiled for doing this behind their back

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OP’s parents have always said yes to academic trips, so the “ungrateful and spoiled” label feels wildly out of nowhere.

OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the AH:

I signed up for the trip without asking and used a waiver that my parents signed BEFORE knowing of the price.

Let's head into the comments section and find out what other Redditors have to say about the story

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Which parent wouldn't want their kid to go for a field trip?

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The trick to winning the sand crab race

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Is this some kind of jealousy?

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The complicated part is the waiver, because OP claims her mom signed it while distracted, and OP used it before the price was discussed.

This is also like the server who asked whether tipping 20% is fair after minimal service.

Once OP says she “stuffed it away” and still got the ticket, the family debate turns into paperwork vs. intentions.

The OP left this in the comments...

Technically, on paper they did have my parents' consent. I don't think I worded this post very well, but they never made me throw out the initial waiver that I had them sign, I just stuffed it away. My mom signed it inattentively while doing something else, so there was peace and I obtained the signature before discussing the need for money. This was the same waiver I submitted when claiming the ticket.

Which would be a good way to frame it to them?

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There is no reason to feel shame over that

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The cannot cancel the signed waiver

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This Redditor just had to ask...

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By the time the comments start arguing about consent and the sand crab race, it becomes clear this family dinner is not ending peacefully.

Every activity a student engages in, whether it is a trip to the neighborhood grocery store, a waterfront park, a library, a museum, a theater, a community garden, or a restaurant, advances their knowledge of the world. Every encounter reinforces knowledge and bolsters key intellectual ideas.

The OP knows what she wants, and she went for it. Redditors saw that too, and she was declared not the AH.

Nobody wins when a signed waiver turns into a fight about who really had the final say.

For another boundary battle, read what happened after a 14F refused to share her tipex.