AITA for trying to give my boss’ kids $5 each?

A Reddit user shares a situation where they tried to give their boss’s two teenage kids $5 each to buy sodas while visiting the office. After the boss’s suggestion to let the kids go out for drinks, the user saw an opportunity to help since the boss didn’t have cash.

However, their boss later accused them of trying to undermine his parenting and claimed their gesture was inappropriate and unethical. The user feels their intentions were good and didn’t mean to cause any issues. Read the story below to see how the situation developed.

‘ AITA for trying to give my boss’ kids $5 each?’

Today I was called into my boss’ office because he was pissed that I had tried giving each of his two teen kids $5 each to go buy a soda?
My boss had his kids in the office, clearly bored out of their teenage minds, and he suggested they spend an hour or so out at a nearby place that had drinks and snacks.

They asked him for some money and he said he didn’t have any cash. As they were leaving, I handed each of them $5 and said. Don’t order anything you are allergic to!

They smile and said “Thank you!” Then a couple minutes later they came back and handed the money back to me. Saying no thank you.
Today he accused me of “trying to make him look like a bad parent.”

I realize that I was inappropriate, but saying I was trying to make him look bad, is so not the case. He also said it was “unethical.” It wasn’t like I gave them $100 each. It was $5!!!

I am a mom, and my kids friends are around all the time. I am used to paying for things for them. I didn’t even think about “appropriate” I just thought, “Oh; he doesn’t have cash and I do! I can be nice and give them a treat!”. Am I the a**hole here?

Take a look at the comments from fellow users:

CrimsonKnight_004 −  NTA – You didn’t make the boss *look* like a bad parent. He just decided all on his own to take your kind gesture towards his kids as a personal slight.

Some parents can get bizarrely touchy when it comes to stuff like this. I don’t understand it. It was misplaced pride on his part and he’s taking it out on you, which is unprofessional.

bahahahahahhhaha −  NAH. You took his “I don’t have any cash” to mean “I wish I could give you cash, but I don’t have it on me at the moment” and tried to solve the problem. He probably meant “I don’t want to give you money, and I’m using not having cash as the excuse”

It’s just a miscommunication. I’d apologize and just say something like “I’m so sorry I misread the situation. I thought I was being helpful by “solving” the not having cash problem, but I should have checked with you first or offered the money to you instead of directly to them. I’m sorry for overstepping.”

Ultimately he’s your boss, so even though I don’t think anyone’s really an a**hole (Except maybe him a bit for having such a huge reaction) – you are better off apologizing so it doesn’t sour your relationship going forward.

DuchessJellyfish −  I can understand being embarrassed about not having the money but also I think it was nice what you did. Honestly it’s not like they’re gonna be doing anything bad with just $5. I bet they were happy before being scolded, I don’t think you’re the ass here.

LowBalance4404 −  A very gentle YTA. I say that because Dad said no and he’s the parent. You could have pulled him aside and said you have cash on you if he wants to borrow some. You interfered with a parenting decision. Your heart was in the right place, but you really don’t know what was going on in this situation.

goback2ella −  im not understanding all the Y T A, why suggest your kids go somewhere where money has to be spent, send them with no money, then when someone offers them money force them to give it back?

like if OP just randomly handed the kids 5 bucks sure. also idk if my parents were just straight up with me or what but if they didn’t want to give money they would use their words and say they didn’t want to give money.

Eternalthursday1976 −  Esh. Interfering when he said no is on you. Cash was quite possibly an excuse because he didn’t want them drinking soda for whatever reason. It also does not sound like you asked him if it was ok to give them the money for soda which is a big no for many parents. He didn’t handle the response very well though.

sickofdriving007 −  NTA but your boss sounds like one.

Dazzler3623 −  Do we have an abbreviation for good intentions but mildly inappropriate? I guess in this situation I’d offer to loan/ give cash to boss and let them decide? It’s a bit awkward for the kids having strangers offer them money.

NinjaHidingintheOpen −  NAH but with the boss right there having said no, for whatever reason you’ve got to check with the parent first out of earshot of the kids. He might have said he had no cash to avoid an argument, but there might be another reason he said no.

Closetbrainer −  Okay, so he tells them to go to a nearby place that has drinks and snacks, but gives them no money. What are they supposed to do at this nearby place? Can’t really hang around places with no money. Definitely NTA.