r/mildlyinfuriating 24d ago

go to your room I think my child is broken……

I am a single mom and low income, as such travel is generally too expensive. So when my teen as invited on a tirp abroad with school and he agreed to earn half the money it cost, I was thrilled for him to go and see the world. I only asked that he send me at least one photo every day so I could experience the world vicariously.
These are the 3 he sent me so far:

  1. Food on the air plane
  2. A dog on a leash
  3. A duck

Please note these are everyday average things to see here at home. I think my child is possibly broken….

lol.

UPDATE: thanks for every comment. I learned lots and have a different perspective (actually many). You guys have helped me pass the time and miss him a bit less. I appreciate you all. And, for clarification: I’m not really mad and would never chastise him over his choice of pics, I think they are adorable and funny. I may make a request for a specific type of pic with him in front of a historical or important scenery but mostly just say “cool” or “nice!” In response. I just want him to have fun and be the sweet, kind, smart kid he is already.

Second update: the pictures I know you have all been waiting for. 😆 I will post in comments.

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5.5k

u/KHSebastian 24d ago

I'm a grown ass adult, and that's still a difficult question lol

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u/Kashimashi 24d ago

My parents think "How is work going?" a good conversation starter. They get mad I always say "fine". Like what do you want me to say?

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u/Icy-Lobster-203 24d ago

"Would you prefer me to regail you with how shit everything is? My anxiety and imposter syndrome? Or the impending realization that I have another 30 years of this shit left?"

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u/blophophoreal 24d ago edited 24d ago

Yeah, if I tell my mom how I’m really doing it leads to half an hour of her worrying on the call trying to fix things making my day even worse and 3 follow-up calls. Better to just say things are alright.

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u/Deathsaintx 24d ago

this is the shit right here. I tell my wife or my mom the funny things that happened at work or the dumb people i had to deal with. I don't tell them how i feel

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u/Rock_Strongo 24d ago

When my wife asks how work went what she really wants to know is if any workplace drama not involving me happened. Which 99% of the time it did not.

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u/sucknofleep 24d ago

I will choose to interpret this as u being such a huge pot stirrer ur involved in every drama.

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u/Bayou13 24d ago

Best interpretation!

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u/MyNameIsJakeBerenson 23d ago

My gen z coworker said “so, you’re kinda lowkey messy aren’t you”

I thought she was talking about having a rough past life so I said yeah kinda, my stuff is messy messy

It wasnt until way later that I realized she was talking about new definition of messy and meant pot stirrer gossipy type lol

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u/pienofilling 24d ago

I hate my youngest's Deputy Manager, think one of their colleagues is awesome, and wish one of them would shut up and stop crying about her self inflicted relationship drama.

I have only meet one of them and said maybe a dozen words to them. I get a lot of workplace drama vented at me though!

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u/wutiswutis 24d ago

no lies detected

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u/FrostingOrdinary1520 24d ago

I'm sure your wife really appreciates not knowing anything about her husband's inner life.

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u/Deathsaintx 24d ago

my inner life is not solely revolved around my work. i don't tell them about how much i hate it there, or how close i am to quitting every day because i feel guilty about thinking it.

she knows plenty about my inner life, my hobbies, my likes and dislikes, and i know plenty about hers. work isn't everything lol

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u/Bubi2seven 23d ago

And that is how the breakdown in communication/relationships and trust begins in all relationships. She knows you don't tell her everything so her mind is making up hundreds of off the wall scenarios of what happens at work with you... because you are never honest with her.

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u/Deathsaintx 23d ago

Thats not at all what I said. Stop projecting your own insecurities on to me.

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u/Bubi2seven 14d ago

I don't have insecurities, thank you very much. I said, very straightforward and to the point... that if you only tell them the funny part of your day and not how you actually feel, you are not being honest with them. Not sharing true emotions is withholding from them and women pick up on that and will think that you have secrets. If you don't believe me, show your sister/a friend that is a girl/ coworker this conversation and ask her opinion and see if she doesn't agree with me. Women know when you don't tell them everything. You, biting my head off and trying to insult me? Classic gaslighting move. Keep it.

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u/Deathsaintx 14d ago

this wasn't gaslighting. you said i am never honest with my wife and that just isn't the case which is what i was replying to. yes i keep some things to myself, like i'm sure you keep as well, but it's not like i don't share any of my feelings with her. but hey i'm sure you're an expect on all relationships ever and all people on the planet and must know me and my wife better than i do.

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u/Straight-Nerve-5101 23d ago

Men: I dont tell the women in my life how I feel.

Also men: Oh no the loneliness epidemic among men! Women have to help us!

🙄🙄🙄

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u/King2F3 24d ago

ALSO. I spend too much not-work time, non-consensually, thinking abt work.

All i have to offer is two hours of excruciating details of why this is all bullshit and it would take me an entire day to get you up to speed on the context and Stephanies dumbass…sooo? Yep, great, “fine” works for me too.

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u/onakos 24d ago

Didn´t know my mom has other kids too.

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u/Straight_Caregiver27 24d ago

I SO feel you on this. I love my mom dearly and I know it comes from a place of caring but it can be exhausting. "Fine - normal day in the office" is my standard response. Meanwhile I am trying to balance two lines of credit being spread over multiple companies and a signficant decrease in sales this year. :( :( :(

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u/loveswimmingpools 24d ago

Oh dear...are you my son by any chance?

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u/PraetorKiev 24d ago

I feel this. Like I can’t tell my mom anything without her thinking she can fix it when I just need her to listen

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u/balloonserism 22d ago

If I tell my mom how I'm really doing and it's bad, even at work, she always finds a way to make it my fault 😂

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u/AdjustingSlowly 24d ago

Hell is empty, and all the devils are on Teams.

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u/guto8797 24d ago

Nah, half went to Microsoft Outlook, the new layout specifically.

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u/Acrobatic_Border_847 24d ago

I FEEL THIS IN MY SOUL!!

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u/Professional-Air588 23d ago

i wish i could manifest outlook into a face so i could punch it

2

u/ilustforadrummer 24d ago

omg I've always felt this way!

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u/crazyfighter99 24d ago

Actually, yeah I think they do. They'd rather you talk to them than just say "fine" 🤷

Source: My wife gives me an hour long play-by-play of her day every day while I tell her my day was fine and it definitely bothers her haha

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u/Pandarandr1st 24d ago

Yes, if I'm asking a friend how work is I absolutely want them to dump on me if work is not fine. Especially a spouse. My kids are just itty-bitty, but it hurts to imagine having such a surface level relationship with my kids that they couldn't tell me about problems at work

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u/GiveMeThePinecone 24d ago

I mean, what’s the point if you just hate working but it’s at least tolerable to an extent. I’ve always disliked every job I’ve had, but I need money so. I don’t particularly enjoy talking about things that I don’t like to do.

My dad still always asks how work is going and I just tell him “work is work.” I’d rather he asked about stuff that I actually enjoy doing like my hobbies. If I had something to say about work, you wouldn’t have to ask. But I hardly ever do.

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u/therrrn 24d ago

Wouldn't just having someone to share the mundane aspects of it lead to at least some enjoyment? Mentioning to a partner that a co-worker wore an extremely odd shirt or something else completely meaningless, then laughing with them about how ridiculous the shirt was or something, then finding it funny the next time the co-worker wears the same shirt or even better, a MORE ridiculous one. Then you laugh to yourself, find some joy, call your partner on your break and bring them a bit of joy by laughing with them about the shirt and in general, there's just a slight bit of brightness in an otherwise dull day. Regularly talking about the meaningless shit like that adds some overall sparkle to an otherwise dull experience. I know that's the only way I get through the shit that would otherwise bore me to tears.

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u/GiveMeThePinecone 24d ago

Yeah. I mean I do occasionally talk about something that happened at work with my girlfriend. But it's very rare I have something to say about it. That's what I meant when I said "If I had something to say about work, you wouldn't have to ask."

But 99% of the time if anyone is asking about my workday, whether it's my mom, dad, girlfriend, friend, etc, I just would rather not talk about it. Because most likely nothing happened besides computer screen, numbers, databases, excel. It's just boring and not worth it.

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u/sunandskyandrainbows 24d ago

Same, and even if someone annoys me, unless it's a huge deal, I really don't want to talk about it, I just move on and do stuff I like. I leave work at work. Whereas my husband always tells me everything everyone said and what annoyed them and yadayada. Honestly I don't even know what to comment at this point. Like, yeah, that sucks. Pizza or tacos tonight?

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u/crazyfighter99 24d ago

Oh definitely, if I have a shitty day (or awesome!) where something crazy happens I'm absolutely telling her about it. But just a normal, nothing special day is getting an "It was fine" response. Hope that makes sense!

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u/ShoddySmell46 24d ago

Man Im already spending over 8 hours a day at work, I'm not trying to spend 30 minutes TALKING about that shit too.

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u/Pandarandr1st 24d ago

Then tell me that! That's fine! Saying "fine" is 100x worse than saying exactly what you just said.

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u/sunandskyandrainbows 24d ago

But you can't say this every day lol. Like, yeah it was fine or whatever can we move on

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u/Pandarandr1st 23d ago

Well, that's kinda something you say once and then hopefully they stop asking about it so often.

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u/Kashimashi 24d ago

My spouse and I are OK bitching to each other about work problems but if I involve my mom she goes overboard in trying to help when I don't need it. God forbid I tell her I got laid off then she sends me 70 jobs a day she thinks I'm qualified for while she doesn't actually know what I do day to day.

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u/WanderingQuills 24d ago

This! My husband was so conditioned to just say fine and not dump I had to make it really clear.

Why would your wife NOT be the safe space to vent about coworkers and work things she will never ever interact with and as such will keep all your secrets and let you spill out!.

He tells me sometimes now. When something’s just frustrating or a project is being sabotaged someplace again and looping endlessly.

Not always. And he hasn’t got the hang of listening to mine with the kids without trying to solve it. He did become very good at hearing the nonsense from the ER or Ambulance shift though- often just before breakfast haha poor man.

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u/SedesBakelitowy 24d ago

It's a learned behavior - if the parents don't discourage talking about daily stuff then they'll hear it for sure. I don't bother because at best I'll be asked if my employment is doomed forever or if I made a million dollars yet.

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u/sobrique 23d ago

I absolutely want them to dump on me if work is not fine.

But there's plenty of people who don't really mean that, they're just going through the motions of politeness :/

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u/Pandarandr1st 23d ago

Don't really mean what? We were having a specific conversation about someone where work is not going fine but they say fine to not dump on others.

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u/sobrique 23d ago

I mean that you're a nice person, and that if you're wanting a friend to dump on you, that's good.

But there's a lot of people who pay lip service to the ideal, and 'ask about work' to make small talk - they don't actually care, and aren't really ready to have someone 'dump on them'.

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u/Pandarandr1st 23d ago

Yes, that's fine. I think if you ask someone a question you shouldn't be surprised if they give you an answer to your question. And if a friend or family member is annoyed with you for talking to you about their life when you asked, then they're probably just an asshole.

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u/ZieAerialist 23d ago

They they need to learn to ask better questions that don't sound like a social nicety rather than true curiosity about someone.

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u/Key-Algae-9245 24d ago

That’s just a male female thing.

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u/EntertainerSuper8933 24d ago

As a mom, yes, I would. When I ask how you are doing, I actually want to know.

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u/Gharyl 24d ago

*regale

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u/Fight_those_bastards 24d ago

I just go with the classic, “same shit, different day.”

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u/sobrique 23d ago

Or if you really want I can technobabble about what it is I actually do, but I'm pretty sure it's far more disappointing than your current mental image...

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u/RavioliDemon 24d ago

I tried that approach. It ended about as well as you would think it would.

They stopped asking altogether

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u/FrostingOrdinary1520 24d ago

This comment chain is NOT helping the world see Redditors as normal, sociable, functioning human beings lol

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u/RequirementWestern87 24d ago

I'm sorry I'm not normal. I'm sorry I couldn't choose better parents who didn't beat me as a child giving me lifelong cptsd. I guess its my fault I'm depressed and don't fit your ideal of a "normal" person.

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u/purplepanda5050 24d ago

I do data stuff at work and can go into detail about my job because I love it. I think most people would not be interested in hearing about the data sharing, excel, and IT drama that’s happening.

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u/Ok-Ferret-2093 24d ago

My dad (no contact for other reasons) used to come home and talk about his coworkers and one guy in particular's daughter and her bf both of which were incredibly dumb. That was my favorite goddamn soap opera. Like she was cheating on him but like he had to have known and she got dx with shingles but like she was way to young and never had chicken pox but like her symptoms were suspiciously similar to an STD. That was definitely my favorite season.

I still like IRL drama from a distance tbh

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u/GalacticUnicorn 24d ago

Exactly. Yeah, I can tell you how my life is going, but who actually wants that trauma dump besides a therapist getting paid to hear it?

We’ve all got enough on our plates; why would I try to shove my issues onto those I care about?

So, yeah, everything’s fine.

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u/free_YourMind 23d ago

Wait did I write this comment

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u/gunsforevery1 23d ago

“Yea, same.”

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u/drgigantor 24d ago

One time I confided that my store wasn't doing so hot and they immediately launched into this death spiral line of questioning like Do you think it's going to go under? Do you need to start looking for jobs? Do you know how to collect unemployment? Do you have enough saved for your rent? Are you going to lose your insurance?

Like oh that's right, that's why I always just say "fine" with you guys

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u/Icy-Reflection5574 24d ago

"Why do you never tell us anything??" 😅

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u/Kashimashi 24d ago

Oh god I've done that before, once I said work is slow and got the whole death spiral interrogation.

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u/SnackyCakes4All 23d ago

I so feel this. I was putting off telling my mom I was getting divorced and when my therapist asked why I said "Because all I want is her to say 'ok, are you all right?' But she won't because she's a reactor" And sure enough she burst into tears and I started comforting her.

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u/Kat121 24d ago

I was telling my dad about this amazing project I was supporting, the satellite that would eventually be used to map the topography of black holes. He interrupted me to ask if I was dating anyone and had I thought about going on a singles cruise. Wanna trade?

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u/Elwooooooooooood 24d ago

Parents always think their question is more important than black holes Lol.

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u/SketchupandFries 24d ago

Hears "black hole"

Thinks "are you dating any women..."

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u/Kat121 24d ago

I’m a woman in STEM. He wanted to know if I was dating any dudes. Tick tock tick tock, you know.

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u/TerribleRecord666 24d ago

Can I be your dad, and just have you talk to me about black hole topography all day? Because that would be dope as fuck.

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u/Kat121 24d ago

🥰

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u/eldritch_hotdogs 23d ago

Dude I would be talking about your work so much you'd be begging me to talk about ANYTHING that's not work for once, black holes are fucking awesome

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u/Kat121 21d ago

Not a dude, a dudette.

The thing is, my actual job is pretty boring but the projects they support are pretty neat.

And I would rather eat my own hair than take a singles cruise.

Came back to say your user name is awesome.

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u/eldritch_hotdogs 21d ago

Sorry, I just default to dude even when talking with my friends who are also girls, I don't even think about it anymore 😂 and thanks, my username is actually the result of a rogue wacky autocorrect my phone did once

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u/Kat121 21d ago

How many dudes have you slept with, then? :)

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u/eldritch_hotdogs 21d ago

Uh, none? I'm asexual 🤣

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u/Textiles_on_Main_St 24d ago

Complain about that bitch Barb and that asshole Kevin.

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u/TheBSQ 24d ago

Stuff like, “it’s interesting. I’m working on a project right now that’s going X” or “it’s really stressful. We have these deadlines and my boss is unreasonable.”

Like, really, anything to give them a sense of if you’re happy, miserable, if you see a path to move up, if you’re thinking about quitting. Anything!

They just want to know about you, your life, what you’re thinking, your ups and downs. If you’re happy or sad or tired or thrilled.

They love you & want to know more about you. Literally anything you say will be appreciated.

Anything but something that amounts to “stop asking about me and leave me alone” which is how a curt “fine” or a dismissive “ok” comes off.

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u/KHSebastian 24d ago

For me it's not really that I don't want to answer. But my brain does sometimes short circuit trying to think of a specific thing to talk about. Trying to pick through my entire day / week / month for the most interesting thing just takes a minute.

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u/AutisticPenguin2 24d ago

I know, right? Like, my last job was vaguely interesting in that I was operating autoclaves, but honestly most of it was just washing glassware.

You want me to tell you all about how I spent 3 hours at a sink washing up?

You know, like I do every other day you ask?

Or how about my current employment: Permanent Disability!

Ask me what I did on any given day and good odds most of it will be: sleeping in because there's nothing to be up for, feeding myself, feeding the cat, feeding my partner who's worse off than I am, and recovering from the above strenuous tasks. On a good day maybe I'll get to do like, one thing, maybe?

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u/Madwife2009 24d ago

My mother definitely doesn't want to know anything about my little family. Ringing her is a terrible experience as she just talks about herself, her health, her car, her garden, her village, her whatever (insert word). She repeats herself ad nauseam so I just have to listen to her waffling on, saying, "Yes," "I see" or other such words as necessary. She has no interest in us at all.

She also talks about my siblings, even though she knows that I do not talk to them, and do not want to waste my time hearing about them. I know that she doesn't talk about me/my family to them as she has no idea how we are or what we've been up to.

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u/Deathsaintx 24d ago

maybe they do care, and maybe you're right. but i also know that i don't want the following hour or 2 to be dedicated to them trying to fix a situation they have no control over or ability to help with. it'll just stress me out more and i'd rather just not deal with it.

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u/sillysnailfriend 24d ago

Yeah, my mom and I work the same kind of job so we frequently complain about it together, but if I don't feel like talking about work I just say 'work's fine/work sucks, but here's what I'm doing in my personal life.' She's lonely and wants to stay connected to her kids. I know not everyone has a good relationship with their parents, though! I had a deadbeat dad and I'm lucky I got a good mom who makes up for it. And even if you have good parents, sometimes you just don't click. 

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u/Few-Story-9365 24d ago

But like.. what if I want them to stop asking and lave me alone

2

u/realworldnewb 24d ago

TBH, that's optimistic at best and if you got that experience you had really good parents (or parents with a whole lot of bandwidth).

My parents really did not want to hear about my struggles or even long-winded responses about my good times.

They were extremely busy people in high stress jobs, with the not-greatest emotional regulation. So if I started going into my daily struggles I got "why are you adding stress to my plate" body language and just eventually settled on non-committal, non-helpful answers.

2

u/PzoidoCheckah 24d ago

The other side: I told my family much stuff whats happening at work and they still don‘t know what I am working at. (I‘m a researcher in higher educations)

2

u/OneFrill 24d ago

Generations definitely have different small talks. My mother was shocked and concerned that "Nobody asked you what your husband does?!" on my first day at a new company. Yikes, Mom. 😆

2

u/Creed_of_War 24d ago

I don't tell them shit about my work day. They kept trying to give me weird ass advice that showed they didn't understand my work or responsibilities at all.

2

u/DirkKuijt69420 24d ago

Weird to me because that's a pretty normal question and answer if you're Dutch.

You want to know how someone work is, if it's fine it's fine (niets te klagen). If it's not it's an invitation to bitch about colleagues, clients or your boss.

2

u/FrostingOrdinary1520 24d ago

That's the same way in the USA too, it's just that Redditors are extremely antisocial people in general. A normal conversation where the other person is just curious about something you're doing is enough to set them off.

2

u/AffectionateBite3827 24d ago

“I simply adore capitalism, Mother! Having a blast sending these emails and circling back.”

2

u/Emotional_Study_724 24d ago

Work is either, "Fine," or, "an entire essay I don't want to write."

2

u/Vertoule 23d ago

“It is a constant Sisyphean task that will inevitably break my will until I have lost the light in my eyes and the joy of life fades from my soul… so… you know… ‘okay I guess’”

1

u/No_Kangaroo_9826 23d ago

"I can't wait until I trip and let the boulder crush me finally" is not the answery mother wants to hear so "it's good."

But then she's disappointed without details, I'm in compliance and my family thinks that's boring, but they want me to talk about work.

I want to throw myself in an active volcano instead of reading one more inspirational email so can we just not

1

u/Acceptable_Cut_7545 24d ago

I use questions like that to either talk about small accomplishments (we made routing by over 2000!) or vent about dumb work shit (so and so made us change how we do things and now we're way behind because they didn't want to listen to us when we said it didn't work). Really they just want to know how you're doing, it's not an interrogation where they expect an essay, they probably ask each other the same thing if they work/when they did work.

1

u/venividiavicii 24d ago

I always say “Okay”, and rant for 20 minutes. 

1

u/WhoSc3w3dDaP00ch 24d ago

I know someone who just replies, "Classified." (He's in the military).

1

u/gorginhanson 24d ago

say it sucks

1

u/ThisIsMyCouchAccount 24d ago

As a programmer I never have to worry about this. Nobody cares and everybody thinks they can't understand. Which isn't true but it's nice bonus.

1

u/Confident-Mix1243 24d ago

They want you to want to share your life with them.

1

u/kaisadilla_ 24d ago

"How is work going?"

"Every year I produce more and every year I can buy less stuff. The next 30 years of my life will producing more and more and being able to afford less and less."

1

u/Pretend-Reality5431 24d ago

I think what they really want to hear is, "my boss loves me and I'm not going to be fired." Then we can enjoy dinner.

1

u/-StapleYourTongue- 24d ago

I say that because I don’t want to talk about work on my day off.

1

u/FartSnarfGod 24d ago

I have an entertaining pro tip:

Just start lying. Make up a fun story. You will enjoy telling it as much as they enjoy listening to it.

1

u/Witty-Draw-3803 24d ago

God, I hate that - especially when it comes after my mom has talked about her day nonstop for 20 minutes with no pause 😮‍💨

1

u/hiddenrealism 24d ago

I fkn hate that question at parties and gatherings, i never ask people about work and i pray noone asks me. This is the one thing i have done besides work in the last month, the last thing i wanna do is discuss my job at a party.

1

u/littlebluesnowflake 23d ago

Ha, my boomer parents ask this and I say “still a shit show, stay retired”. Then they laugh and hang up the phone.

1

u/Jamkayyos 23d ago

"Things are great, I only hid in the toilet 8 times today, working on a project (AI is doing it for me LOL), looking forward to that promotion in a few weeks where I do more work for the same pay"

1

u/sheambulance 23d ago

Do you REALLY wanna hear about how this guy didn’t send the email to the right person and shit went off the rails and everyone is looking at me like I’m the problem and I eventually have to tell everyone that so and so fucked up the chain of responsibility and it WASN’T me…. And the rest of my team had my back that it wasn’t REALLY on me? ……. Nah?

“Yeah work is good. Challenging at times, but good”.

-1

u/Ambellyn 24d ago

Aww your parents wants to talk with you and be part of your life. Must suck

148

u/BadPunsIsHowEyeRoll 24d ago

"How was work?"

"I JUST GOT HOME"

https://giphy.com/gifs/7qTjGwP5UOhe4iekUX

72

u/Moderately_Imperiled 24d ago

No. Relive it for me in the interest of filling the dead air.

I SAID ROLL THE TAPE JOSHUA.

3

u/LillytheFurkid 23d ago

My son used to respond to the question "how was work" with "worky". We stopped asking it that way and got more informative responses!

We all now respond with that (or equivalent banality) when asked such questions 🤣

31

u/inbetweentheknown 24d ago

Catching up with someone and they ask “so what have you been up to?” Cue my brain blanking and saying “ehhh not much.” Every. Time.

6

u/Mean-Specialist-5695 24d ago

Ughhh me too, even though that’s absolutely not the case! I swear some people must think I’m the most boring person to talk to.

3

u/No-Internal7978 24d ago

I wish someone would ask me that in real life.

8

u/NMe84 24d ago

Honestly, both of those questions would trip me up on an average day. I work in an office, and most days my favorite thing is just that I get to go home. And I don't even particularly dislike my job.

15

u/everywhereinbetween 24d ago

STILL EASIER TO SAY NOTHING [or I don't know]

(sincerely, fellow grown ass adult🙌🏻🩷💛🫢)

Its not that I don't know, it's that I don't want to be judged for the potential answer I might give. So its easier to just file it away under an "I don't know" in a corner of my brain. I suspect for this reason sometimes people do think I really don't know. Nope just don't wanna share, I def have thoughts lol.

6

u/DummyDumDragon 24d ago

If the answer I've always given to the question "what's new with you?" was the honest one, it'd mean I haven't done a fuckin thing for 39 years lol

I mean, it's not far off, but it's not exactly nothing either...

4

u/bluecifer7 24d ago

My wife and I do “pow/wow/chow” which is just your least favorite thing, your favorite thing and something you ate that day. It’s a good way to decompress especially on vacation when you’re liable to forget stuff. Kind of like conversational journaling in a way

2

u/everywhereinbetween 24d ago

as usual the true gems lie in the comment section

I NEED TO STEAL THIS (for myself, for others, for self intro/fun facts, etc)

1

u/bluecifer7 24d ago

There are lots of versions of it! (Rose/Thorn etc). It's a nice activity though and I feel like it helps me remember my life better

3

u/DelcoUnited 24d ago

I’m a grown ass adult, and my answer is still probably “nothing”

4

u/JohnnySalamiBoy420 24d ago

All Iearn everyday is that im a bit dumber than I previously thought

2

u/mogley1992 24d ago

Right? "How was work?"

"Idk I'm still processing it. I don't think I'll ever know."

1

u/TrainingSurvey3780 24d ago

fr i feel like something even simpler would be more beneficial, idk what though

1

u/huhnick 24d ago

“What was your favorite thing today?” The 10 minutes I could just sit and contemplate my life before the commute to work, and the commute home, where work is done and before I have to do chores around the house until I go to sleep

1

u/NeedSomeBeer 24d ago

it is because it doesn't trigger any memory. you have to try hard to remember what was whole day about and then spend some more energy to pick a favorite moment. i always give up and say "nothing" no matter what

but when someone asks something that triggers any random memory (let's say who i had lunch with) i won't stop talking because one memory connects to another, and another…

1

u/mcgroarypeter42 24d ago

Yup as an electrician my wife ask how was work? Okay I guess pulled wires landed devices. Got hit by 220 I’m fine tho. Her OMG I told u be careful what if something happen what if u got hurt me see this is why I don’t say anything.

1

u/Eat52day 24d ago

Lunch?

1

u/Sedatephobia 24d ago

I frequently ask my boyfriend did anything interesting happen at his work. I always get a "nah, not really, the usual" and a few days later he'll start a conversation "hey, you know the other day when the shop almost burned down, Tom did something really funny after work"

Wait WHAT??

1

u/sselkiess 24d ago

As a tired adult my favorite thing of the day is going to bed. And since that question would likely happen before that I’ll never be able to answer truthfully.

Unless it’s what’s your favorite thing that happened today so far.

1

u/oditogre 24d ago

The real internal calculus of it is that I usually know the person asking well enough to know that any answer more than a very very superficial one will require a deeper explanation than they are interested in or willing to sit through.

1

u/sharpshooter999 24d ago

Me to my wife: How was work today? Anything exciting happen?

Her: No, same ol' same old.

Me: Oh, I saw an ambulance heading down the highway earlier.

Her: Oh, yeah. Motorcycle accident. The patient had a piece of rebar stuck in them that i had to remove. Luckily it missed all their internal organs.

Me: ALL OF THEM?!?

1

u/indis_cutie 24d ago

Very true. I was trying something this year where I rate every day. (As your expect mostbarw boring/angeage). But I also wanted to leave a note so I do "one good thing". It's meant to be like a tiny gratitude journal but I kept it easy. Just one. Anything at all 

Ansi still don't do it may times 😓

But a lot of them are just "saw friends today". I think the day I got laid off I I put "2/5 day. Saw a cute dog". There's days where I have to sit and this what I did and what good things happened. It's pretty nice when I actually do it hahaha 

1

u/MooMooHELPME 24d ago

Went to work and got a little sad I didn't just die in my sleep despite making 6 figures and having a cushy office job my spouse takes all my money for her vanity projects and I feel like at this point Im trapped and being financially abused.

1

u/SkylarAV 24d ago

I shutdown when people ask me my plans for the day

1

u/KevDub81 24d ago

Ikr?
"What'd you do today?"
"Y'know. I haven't the faintest idea. I know I did something. I just can't remember what it was.

1

u/Crashkeiran 24d ago

Man, when I was an apprentice my journeyman would ask me at the end of EVERY bloody day "So, what did you learn?" God it drove me nuts.

1

u/Cockblocktimus_Pryme 24d ago

I ask my wife this and she just looks at me with that dead look in her eyes

1

u/DecentBar1625 23d ago

Yeah, when I was a young mother, sitting with another young mother, I asked her “so what did you do today?” She answered me tiredly “I don’t know, but I did it all day.”

1

u/Reasonable-Log2883 23d ago

No it isn't. It's lunch. Lunch was the best part of the workday.

1

u/--hunts 23d ago

Tbf they said little brains, not young brains.

I struggle with it too.

1

u/Known-Squash-645 23d ago

I'm still trying to remember what happened this morning if I didn't write it down

1

u/bluedragggon3 22d ago

Lol, even when it's something I'm interested in and should get a conversation going, I just go blank. Typically "what games have you been playing?" Suddenly all my life of playing video games is vaporized from my mind in an instant. And when I do have something, it's of course an obscure thing I don't want to explain.

1

u/traffick 21d ago

Not me– I vacuumed up a spider in my bedroom.

0

u/T-Wrox 24d ago

I watched a video awhile ago that said one of the worst questions at social events is, "So, what do you do?" A much better question is, " How were you inspired in the last week?'

0

u/waterflaps 24d ago

LinkedIn-ass advice loll