Sometimes doing the right thing doesn’t look right to everyone else. A mother found herself at the center of a moral tug-of-war on a crowded bus when she refused to let an elderly woman take her 17-year-old son’s seat.
Though her son looked healthy, he was dizzy and weak from low blood sugar and standing could’ve caused him to faint. What followed was a wave of dirty looks, whispered insults, and judgment from strangers who didn’t know the full story.
So, was this mom being “entitled,” or was she just protecting her son?
Mom seats dizzy teen on bus; elderly woman demands seat
Public transportation often brings out some of society’s most difficult etiquette dilemmas, and this story captures one perfectly.
The OP refused to give up a bus seat occupied by her 17-year-old son, who was dizzy and weak from low blood sugar, to an elderly woman, and ended up being labeled “entitled” by strangers.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, sudden dizziness and fainting can occur when the brain doesn’t get enough glucose, which is exactly what happens when someone forgets to eat.
“Low blood sugar can trigger lightheadedness, fatigue, and even loss of consciousness,” notes Dr. Howard LeWine, Chief Medical Editor at Harvard Health. In such cases, sitting down isn’t a matter of comfort, it’s a matter of safety.
The elderly woman’s daughter may have assumed the teenager was healthy simply because he looked fine, but this is a classic case of what medical researchers call an “invisible condition.”
The CDC reports that nearly 1 in 4 Americans lives with a non-visible health issue, from hypoglycemia and heart conditions to motion sickness or anxiety disorders. These can make standing for long periods risky, especially on a moving vehicle.
That said, social expectations around seating and age can make these moments tense. Many people have been taught that younger riders should give up seats for older ones, but empathy cuts both ways.
Once OP explained her son wasn’t feeling well, the respectful response would have been to ask another passenger or simply accept the situation. Singling out one “healthy-looking” teen ignored the fact that not all disabilities are visible.
From a practical perspective, handling such situations involves clear communication. OP’s explanation that her son was unwell, coupled with a polite refusal to comply with the request, aligns with best practices for protecting someone with medical vulnerabilities.
Additionally, the fact that alternative seats or standing options were available suggests that the elderly woman’s request did not need to override her son’s needs.
See what others had to share with OP:
These Redditors firmly defended OP, saying she handled the situation politely and appropriately
This group encouraged OP to use clearer phrasing next time, like mentioning the medical appointment or that her son might faint
These commenters focused on the right to refuse unreasonable demands
So, was this mom wrong for keeping her son seated, or were the other passengers out of line for assuming the worst? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
