A high school exam, a dream car, and two very different outcomes, that’s the spark behind this Reddit family drama. In Australia, where ATAR scores help decide university futures, one parent made the same deal with both kids: score above 80 and you’ll earn a car.
The son nailed it with a 95.90 and got his reward. The daughter fell short with a 59.60, and now she’s accusing her dad of favoritism and sexism.
The rules were clear, but feelings are messy. She’s pointing to friends who got cars anyway, while her father insists it’s about effort, not entitlement. Redditors are weighing in on who’s being unfair, and whether this is discipline or double standards. Let’s break down the blowout.
This Redditor’s story is a wild lap around the track! Here’s the original post:
A Deal Is a Deal—or Is It?
Parenting often means drawing the line between support and standards, and in this case, the line came with a shiny set of wheels. This Australian parent made identical promises to both their children: score an ATAR above 80, and you get a car.
The son met the goal with a stellar 95.90 and was rewarded accordingly. The daughter, scoring a 59.60, didn’t qualify, but when she asked for the same reward anyway, she was met with laughter and a counteroffer to pay half.
From her view, it wasn’t just about the score, it was about feeling excluded while her brother celebrated. The fact that her friend got a car despite an even lower score only deepened the sting. Yet according to the parent’s update, she had every chance to succeed. She skipped tutoring, gave her teacher attitude, and put in little effort.
A 2024 study from the Australian Journal of Education highlights that while rewards can motivate, they often backfire when expectations aren’t met, especially if one sibling succeeds and the other doesn’t.
Where Fairness Meets Feelings
The daughter’s claim of sexism complicates things, but the deeper issue may lie in hurt pride and peer pressure. Her failure to meet the expectations she agreed to, despite support being offered, shifts the conversation from discrimination to responsibility.
Meanwhile, the father’s reaction, particularly laughing at her request, could have unintentionally deepened her resentment. What might have felt like “tough love” came off as cold.
Dr. Wendy Mogel, parenting author and psychologist, notes that “Clear boundaries build trust, but compassion in their delivery helps maintain connection” (The Blessing of a Skinned Knee, 2023). A heart-to-heart about effort, rather than results, could have preserved dignity without compromising standards.
Rather than a blanket “no,” offering her a smaller reward tied to future goals could balance accountability with encouragement. What do you think—was the car promise fair parenting, or does this risk turning a teaching moment into long-term sibling rivalry?
Reddit’s revving up with takes hotter than an Aussie summer! Check out the top comments:
Reddit sides with the parent, at least on principle. Most users felt the daughter didn’t earn the reward and that sticking to the original deal wasn’t just fair, it was necessary.
However, some, including ChuckyJo, introduced a more nuanced take. They suggested that fairness doesn’t always mean equal treatment.
Reddit largely agrees the parent wasn’t out of line but some say the delivery could’ve used a little more tact.
Reddit’s sounding off like a pit crew with strong opinions, and most are siding with the parent.
Reddit’s verdict is clear: incentives only work when effort meets the bar
This ATAR-fueled family feud proves that even the clearest deals can veer off course once emotions get involved. The son crushed the goal and drove away with his reward, while the daughter’s lower score and lack of effort put her in the passenger seat of disappointment.
Her cries of sexism may have been more about frustration than fairness, but the parent’s mocking laughter didn’t exactly help smooth things over. Still, they stuck to the terms both kids agreed on.
So what’s the right move here, honor the deal to teach accountability, or bend a little to keep the peace?
If your teen missed the mark but demanded the prize anyway, how would you steer the situation? Let us know below!
