Dad Torn Over Ditching Daughter's Award Ceremony in Favor of 'Unappreciated' Son's Breakdancing Competition

Mar. 15, 2025

Young male dancer in a stock photo.Photo:Getty

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A man is igniting viral conversation after sharing that he’s torn between attending his 15-year-old son’s breakdancing competition, or his 13-year-old daughter’s academic award ceremony.In a post shared onReddit, the anonymous 45-year-old man writes that his kids “have events on the same day, and I feel like whatever I do, I’m going to hurt one of them.“The man adds that he’s had “a difficult relationship” with his son for years and has not always taken the teen’s breakdancing participation seriously.“I was always focused on my daughter, who’s academically gifted and has been racking up awards left and right,” the man writes. “I’m not proud of this, but I was that dad who always went to my daughter’s ceremonies and completely brushed off my son’s dance competitions. I think deep down, I didn’t see it as ‘real’ success, and I’m ashamed to even admit that.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Girl at awards ceremony in stock photo.GettyA few months ago, the man continues, his son “finally broke down and told me how unappreciated he felt.““He said I made him feel like he wasn’t good enough, like nothing he did mattered compared to his sister’s achievements,” the man writes, adding: “Since then, I’ve been making a real effort to attend his competitions and show him I’m proud of what he loves.“Now, however, he has to choose between his son’s breakdancing competition and an award ceremony for his daughter.“There is a 40 minutes overlap between the two events. She told me she’d be really sad if I didn’t come to see her get her award, and I know she deserves my support too. She’s worked so hard and deserves to be celebrated just as much,” the man writes.He continues: “I feel like no matter what I choose, I’m going to hurt one of my kids, and I just don’t know what to do.“For now, he writes that he’s considering prioritizing his son’s competition over his daughter’s ceremony, as he feels he’s “failed my son so many times before.“Commenters have weighed in on the man’s post, with many saying that the man should attend the breakdancing competition due to his son’s frustrations.“A dance performance(like a musical one) is a completely different level of stress to an award ceremony for an essay. The award ceremony is still an achievement, but dancing competitively in front of a lot of people is another level,” wrote one commenter.Others suggested the man try to celebrate both his children. “Try and see if either might like to celebrate their success another way,” said another commenter. “Maybe your daughter would be okay if post awards later in the day you took them to a fancy restaurant to celebrate the award? Or if your son’s dance competition lasts more than one round, you could go later.”

A man is igniting viral conversation after sharing that he’s torn between attending his 15-year-old son’s breakdancing competition, or his 13-year-old daughter’s academic award ceremony.

In a post shared onReddit, the anonymous 45-year-old man writes that his kids “have events on the same day, and I feel like whatever I do, I’m going to hurt one of them.”

The man adds that he’s had “a difficult relationship” with his son for years and has not always taken the teen’s breakdancing participation seriously.

“I was always focused on my daughter, who’s academically gifted and has been racking up awards left and right,” the man writes. “I’m not proud of this, but I was that dad who always went to my daughter’s ceremonies and completely brushed off my son’s dance competitions. I think deep down, I didn’t see it as ‘real’ success, and I’m ashamed to even admit that.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Girl at awards ceremony in stock photo.Getty

A few months ago, the man continues, his son “finally broke down and told me how unappreciated he felt.”

“He said I made him feel like he wasn’t good enough, like nothing he did mattered compared to his sister’s achievements,” the man writes, adding: “Since then, I’ve been making a real effort to attend his competitions and show him I’m proud of what he loves.”

Now, however, he has to choose between his son’s breakdancing competition and an award ceremony for his daughter.

“There is a 40 minutes overlap between the two events. She told me she’d be really sad if I didn’t come to see her get her award, and I know she deserves my support too. She’s worked so hard and deserves to be celebrated just as much,” the man writes.

He continues: “I feel like no matter what I choose, I’m going to hurt one of my kids, and I just don’t know what to do.”

For now, he writes that he’s considering prioritizing his son’s competition over his daughter’s ceremony, as he feels he’s “failed my son so many times before.”

Commenters have weighed in on the man’s post, with many saying that the man should attend the breakdancing competition due to his son’s frustrations.

“A dance performance(like a musical one) is a completely different level of stress to an award ceremony for an essay. The award ceremony is still an achievement, but dancing competitively in front of a lot of people is another level,” wrote one commenter.

Others suggested the man try to celebrate both his children. “Try and see if either might like to celebrate their success another way,” said another commenter. “Maybe your daughter would be okay if post awards later in the day you took them to a fancy restaurant to celebrate the award? Or if your son’s dance competition lasts more than one round, you could go later.”

source: people.com