Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

Share this article:

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

BF’s Family Treats Unused Items As Free-For-Alls, Woman Finally Snaps When Painting Gets Cut Up

BF’s Family Treats Unused Items As Free-For-Alls, Woman Finally Snaps When Painting Gets Cut Up

ADVERTISEMENT

When we care about someone, we find small ways to make their life easier. We bring home their favorite treat, surprise them with dinner, or take care of the chores they hate. It’s how we show our love.

That’s exactly what this Redditor’s boyfriend thought he was doing when he found a frame for a painting she had cherished for two years but never got around to displaying. A sweet gesture—except it was the wrong size, so he decided to give the artwork a “slight trim” to make it fit.

To say the woman was shocked would be an understatement. Read on to see how she handled it.

RELATED:

    The woman was struggling to find a frame for an artwork she cherished

    Image credits: shotprime / Envato Elements (not the actual photo)

    So her boyfriend came up with a solution—except it turned into a disaster she never saw coming

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Darina Belonogova / Pexels (not the actual photo)

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Ever_More_Art

    How to improve communication in your relationship, according to experts

    Entering a romantic relationship comes with the expectation that our partner will always treat us with love and kindness. However, we’re all human—we make mistakes, get angry, and sometimes hurt each other without meaning to. Without effective communication, those conflicts can quickly spiral into bigger issues.

    “Communication is important because it fosters trust and connection,” Shelley Sommerfeldt, PsyD, a clinical psychologist who specializes in relationships, tells Healthline. “In order to have an open, honest, and vulnerable relationship with our partner, we must be able to freely communicate in a healthy manner.”

    To achieve that, we first need to recognize our own problem areas. Some people resort to passive-aggressiveness instead of admitting when something bothers them. Others lash out aggressively when they’re upset. Some avoid conflict altogether, sweeping problems under the rug. None of these approaches lead to healthy discussions.

    Instead, it’s important to process your emotions, reflect on them, and bring them up when you’re ready to have a productive conversation. “If we go into a conversation feeling very angry, upset, or too emotional, then the communication tends to become too heated and difficult to find resolution,” says Sommerfeldt.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Timing matters, too. Let your partner know you’d like to talk so you can create the right space for it. This prevents them from feeling caught off guard or ambushed, allowing for a more intentional and constructive exchange.

    Image credits: TriangleProd / Freepik (not the actual photo)

    Words influence how our message is received. Often, when we try to express concerns, we start by blaming our partner, which can make them defensive. To avoid this, Sommerfeldt suggests using “I” statements instead of accusations. For example, instead of saying, “You’re always focusing on work,” try “I feel hurt when you always focus on work.” 

    That doesn’t mean you should suppress your frustration or tiptoe around your emotions. Be honest about how you feel, just do it with respect. Trauma and relationship expert Orit Kuang says that can be achieved by knowing the difference between assertiveness and aggression. She explains it with these two statements: 

    1. Assertive: “I’m really mad that you went out of the house for four hours without telling me where you were going, what you were doing, and not responding at all to my texts. That is really not okay with me.”
    2. Aggressive: “Where did you go?! What did you do?!”—often paired with yelling, cursing, and an angry interrogation.

    Both versions express anger, but the assertive one clearly communicates feelings and boundaries, while the aggressive approach fuels conflict without resolution.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Finally, every discussion should have an active goal or resolution, even if it requires compromise. Without one, resentment lingers, and issues remain unresolved. Whether it’s about chores, finances, or even something like your partner ruining your artwork—like OP’s boyfriend did—you should both walk away feeling heard and understood. That’s how relationships grow and thrive.

    In the replies, the woman shared that she had a heart-to-heart with her boyfriend, and he apologized for what he did

    Most readers agreed she wasn’t at fault for her reaction

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    But some thought she was childish for destroying the piece

    A few also felt she was in the wrong for not finding a frame after two years

    ADVERTISEMENT
    Ic_polls

    Poll Question

    How do you feel about the boyfriend cutting the artwork to fit the frame?

    It was a thoughtless mistake.

    He had good intentions but poor execution.

    He shouldn't touch things that aren't his.

    I think it's okay, he was trying to help.

    Share on Facebook
    Oleksandra Kyryliuk

    Oleksandra Kyryliuk

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    Oleksandra is an experienced copywriter from Ukraine with a master’s degree in International Communication. Having covered everything from education, finance, and marketing to art, pop culture, and memes, she now brings her storytelling skills to Bored Panda. For the past five years, she’s been living and working in Vilnius, Lithuania.

    Read less »
    Oleksandra Kyryliuk

    Oleksandra Kyryliuk

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Oleksandra is an experienced copywriter from Ukraine with a master’s degree in International Communication. Having covered everything from education, finance, and marketing to art, pop culture, and memes, she now brings her storytelling skills to Bored Panda. For the past five years, she’s been living and working in Vilnius, Lithuania.

    Rugilė Žemaitytė

    Rugilė Žemaitytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    As a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, my favorite part of the job involves browsing the web for the cutest cat pics, the funniest memes and eye-catching illustrations to brighten up your day!

    Read less »

    Rugilė Žemaitytė

    Rugilė Žemaitytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    As a Visual Editor at Bored Panda, my favorite part of the job involves browsing the web for the cutest cat pics, the funniest memes and eye-catching illustrations to brighten up your day!

    What do you think ?
    Add photo comments
    POST
    Ge Po
    Community Member
    17 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Since this will probably not be read by OP, anyone who has a similar problem with finding a fitting frame, consider in the meantime to buy a slightly bugger one, together with a piece of cartboard. cut a square the size of the artwork out of the cartboard (passepartout) and put that in the frame. That way you can enjoy the art, while you also have time to find a more fitting frame. The slightly too large frame can then be used for something else.

    Ace
    Community Member
    14 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, it's a standard framing technique, known as a "mount". Easy to buy in standard sizes, but something anyone with a craft knife, a straight-edge and a steady hand could do themselves.

    Mark Childers
    Community Member
    21 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think she's totally justified. Framing it wasn't a priority for her. He just did what he wanted to her property. He could have at least asked. I've had so many things destroyed by other people that it really bothers me when someone does something to my things without asking. It's hard to trust them. I respect others' things, and I expect them to respect mine.

    Littlemiss
    Community Member
    20 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I do too. It's like walking up to someone with an asymmetrical hair cut and saying "Here let me straighten your hair with a pair of scissors".

    Load More Replies...
    Pyla
    Community Member
    19 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wait, she couldn’t afford a custom frame? Much cheaper than shopping around all over at random times…..oh, and dump that loser. Good christ, the guy has a mouth, ASK!!!

    Load More Comments
    Ge Po
    Community Member
    17 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Since this will probably not be read by OP, anyone who has a similar problem with finding a fitting frame, consider in the meantime to buy a slightly bugger one, together with a piece of cartboard. cut a square the size of the artwork out of the cartboard (passepartout) and put that in the frame. That way you can enjoy the art, while you also have time to find a more fitting frame. The slightly too large frame can then be used for something else.

    Ace
    Community Member
    14 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, it's a standard framing technique, known as a "mount". Easy to buy in standard sizes, but something anyone with a craft knife, a straight-edge and a steady hand could do themselves.

    Mark Childers
    Community Member
    21 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think she's totally justified. Framing it wasn't a priority for her. He just did what he wanted to her property. He could have at least asked. I've had so many things destroyed by other people that it really bothers me when someone does something to my things without asking. It's hard to trust them. I respect others' things, and I expect them to respect mine.

    Littlemiss
    Community Member
    20 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I do too. It's like walking up to someone with an asymmetrical hair cut and saying "Here let me straighten your hair with a pair of scissors".

    Load More Replies...
    Pyla
    Community Member
    19 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wait, she couldn’t afford a custom frame? Much cheaper than shopping around all over at random times…..oh, and dump that loser. Good christ, the guy has a mouth, ASK!!!

    Load More Comments
    You May Like
    Related on Bored Panda
    Related on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda