The boss is the a*****e. You can't just assign tasks to your employees in the evening and expect them to stay overtime with no prior notice. People have lives beyond their jobs.

Thank goodness! I was preparing for all the "YTA", which would be dead wrong. This man is a single parent. He has asked his son for help in a jam 3 times in 18 months. The son is being a selfish teenager and I hope he grows out of it. I understand that he's 17 and is starting to have his own life but his priorities are terrible. Man, I'd have been so grateful to get use of a car that I'd be happy to run errands as a thanks. I'd have also felt really horrible knowing my young sibling was being left alone with nowhere to go, but that's me. Dad needs to try have a talk with son and son needs a reality check.

Two things here... First, family comes first. I'm glad I work a job where I'd I told my boss "sorry, I have to pickup my kid" he'd maybe ask if I could come in early the next day or finish at home after the kids are in bed if it's urgent. Second, for the teen, I would ask the 16yr for empathy by flipping the situational script.."if you were broken down somewhere bc you ran out of gas and needed a ride, but I was on a date and told you "sorry you are a failure as human because you forgot to fill your tank" and then shut off my phone to finish my date, assuming you'd then call a friend to get you.... who would be the AH in that situation? Sometimes they just need perspective in empathy.

NTA. That bratty kid needs to appreciate his family more. What if something bad happened to his little sister?? If it were a brand new relationship I'd probably understand. But SIX months in??? surely the girlfriend knows about the sister by now! its not like its a 1 year anniversary either; I'm a little surprised this story didn't end with the gf talking some sense into Max and telling him it's okay to take a little break during the date to go grab his sister. I 100% would be okay with my boyfriend going to pick up his YOUNGER siblings that could be stuck with no one else to get them. what the hell is wrong with spoiled brats like Max?

You did not fail as a parent. It is so hard being a single parent and you did everything right. Work emergencies happen and your son should be expected to step up. I was a latch key kid. I would not wish that on anyone now a days.

Boss is TA. Family comes first. If I have to leave to pick up my kid because plans went sideways, it's not an ask, it's information. I'll finish the work later. And if someone who reports to me says they need to pick up their kdi because plans went sideways, I would say family comes first and to let me know if they need any help getting away from their projects.

Ridiculous. Family are the people we rely on, lean on for help. The son is entitled and rude! Failing as a parent? Only because your son is entitled and rude! I would take away everything I pay for, including his phone. I would tell him he is right. I am failing as a parent and when he shows that he can be a helpful, productive member of the family and stop acting entitled, he will get his privileges back. You scratch my back, I scratch yours!

NTA. Families work together. Son is way, way outta line.

If I had ever made remarks like that to my parent, that would be my last words to be spoken for a long time. I was taught to be respectful and mindful of what I said and who I said it to. My parents never laid a hand on any of us kids. I taught my children the same way.. The PO was correct in how the boy was punished.

I guess I'm in the minority... yes the manager is an AH for springing it on OP last minute (if that's what happened), but OP is also an AH for not simply saying "I have to go pick up my daughter, but I'll work on it afterwards" (and for not creating a back-up plan after the first two times). What's the worst the manager can do - say "if you walk out that door, you're fired"? Think about it logically - if the manager did that, the assignment wouldn't get finished. So he's not going to do that. Also the punishment does not seem to be about teaching the son a lesson, it seems to be more about OP being frustrated at the situation, and maybe embarrassed that he got a call. All the son is learning from this is that OP is going to put his unwillingness to say "not right now" to the manager ahead of the son's life.

If I had pulled this, my mother would have kicked my a*s into next week. NTA.

Honestly, NAH, in the future there needs to be a conversation that gives expectations because as a teen I would go but I also have anxiety and would be very upset over having to interrupt something I was excited about for a duty I didn’t know I could have.

Only real a*****e is your boss. Perhaps you are not aware but employers can no longer own slaves. This has been so for a long time.

Not only NTA, but a saint for not punishing your infantile 17yo more... to tell your single parent they they are failing, to leave him the hell alone, and refuse to help out? I would have have said you are right I have failed.. I should be teaching you more to be an adult. Then take away the car permanently and remind them that once they are 18 and out of high school, they are expected to move out. Clearly you can't depend on this brat to help out occasionally so what's the point of them living there past 18. Focus on your daughter so she doesnt grow up to be this kind of AH.

NTA, your son is just a selfish POS

So this dad help from his ungrateful son. Can't get it without an a*s chewing. From his own offspring and that dad can't figure out that so disrespected. This is exactly why true IS is in the toilet

ong when are people going to realize thay need to stop having children? like. yesterday.

Max needs to be back handed, and the boss is a d**k. I wish any of my kids would tell me to go to Hell or ignore me when I ask them for help in an emergency situation like that. Especially with all the freedom Max seems to have.

The boss and the father are a******s. The Boss is for obviously putting work duties over family care. The father for just taking it and passing the buck to his son. The father says he 'asked', well... He was told no. If that is not an answer then he wasn't asking he was demanding, much like the a*****e boss. 2 a******s no adults.

I've been in his shoes, there's no best option when you are the sole provider, and have to choose between letting your kids down or letting your boss down. In hindsight, I would have left work, fetched my daughter, brought her back to work and finished the job. And that's not ideal for anyone involved.

So....this is the father side. We always tend to picture things in a positive light for us. Maybe the son blame him for the divorce, maybe he is not that such a good parent that he paint himself. I love how people judge a teenager but not an adult and they dont go to far and belive only the adult without questioning his story.

Teenager acts like teenager shock. Dad is doing his level best to make stuff work, there’s a glitch (these things happen) and son is petulant little bugger ‘cause his plans get messed up by something that’s out of his control. No winners to be seen here. Young adults are allowed to be stroppy, it’s a weird time for them, Dads are allowed to be pissy when the children don’t step up in a difficult time. It’s all about how things get discussed, ‘Son, I’ve been put in an impossible position at work and if you and your girlfriend could save the day I’ll sort out the food delivery for tonight, I know you’d planned a special meal and this messes it up but it’ll be a huge help if you could be the knight in shining armour for me and your little sister, you know I don’t ask unless I really need the help’. Make them the hero of the piece and be humble.

NTA, sometimes you really can't help it. Teenagers will blow up on you if they feel you've interrupted something important to them, it's kind of a part of growing up. It doesn't make you a bad parent, it's just something that happens. Hopefully it's smooth sailing from here on out.

Dues father mean “3 times I’ve asked son to help” or does he mean “3 times I’ve demanded son drops everything on the rare occasion that he’s not been able to help” Boss is a*sehole here for saying “no, you can’t pick up your 8yo daughter….”

Why not go pick up daughter and return to work to finish? I do take exception to the commenter who said the boss should give more leeway to parents of young children - being a parent has nothing to do with the job. Kids/no kids we're all hired to do the same jobs with the same requirements. So, no, parents don't get to duck out early every day to pick up kids, and leave the kid-free employees to work later to get everything done.

Dad is the jerk. So is the boss. The teenagers date was ruined

If finances are so tight why do you have 2 cars? Sell one. Cancel insurance. If son wants to borrow car after you get home he needs a job to buy gas. No money no gas. School lunches cost, make them for both kids. Start looking for a job that pays better and there is no unscheduled overtime. Don’t like it? No time to see adults. Who cares? make it imperative to meet parents and neighbors. Once you do ask if they can help in an emergency. Both your kids must come first. Not just the little one.

in all honesty i think they r both at fault. the moment the father knew hed have to work late he shouldve contacted his son not at around the time his daughter needed to b picked up. also he shouldve put a little effort into knowing which of liza's friends r in the club and at least getting the numbers of the parents incase this happens. his son is at the age where the whole 6 month anniversary is considered important and means alot more to them then it would to an adult. on the other hand its only the 3rd time hes asked and his son shouldve done wat he asked since its not a common request. it honestly goes both ways. his son is at a critical point in his life and having a serious relationship at that age is good for emotional growth and should b encouraged but bc the OP is a single father the son should have responsibilities other then his girlfriend. fathers fault for not making plans ahead of time incase of emergencies and sons fault for priortizing his girlfriend. every parent should have a back up plan no matter wat. i was a nanny who couldnt drive and i always had multiple plans in place wen i was watching my friends daughter. i always had a neighbor or my parents at the ready incase i needed to take her somewhere since i lived down the street. i wasnt even her parent and i planned for every possibility. bc his son is at the age where he is in a relationship and wants some freedom the father really shouldve considered every possibility. wat wouldve happened if his son wasnt on a date and he was at an after school job? neither of them can leave wat then? wat happens if his son isnt in town bc hes looking at colleges? wat then? these r things that need to b considered wen ur a single parent with a kid that age. i understand its hard but having these questions answered and plans in place would make their lives easier and u wouldnt have situations like this happening. whether its an after school job or a date a 2nd plan should always b in place in case the rare time his son needs to pick up his sister.

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Sorry, but I'm going with YTA here. It is not the job of the 16 year old to parent the other child. It is the parent's job to parent and he needs to set boundaries with his boss. He could have left work, picked her up, and brought her back to the office to finish his work. Teens are not free childcare for unprepared parents. If you can't handle the unexpected then don't have kids.