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Some broken relationships don’t get fixed with one big gesture, no matter how good that gesture looks on paper.

One teen experienced that firsthand when his mostly absent dad, who sees him maybe once a month and never includes him on holidays, suddenly asked him to be a groomsman in his upcoming wedding.

He gave a lukewarm response, saying he’d think about it, since the offer didn’t exactly spark much excitement given everything leading up to it.

His dad didn’t take that well, expecting gratitude and enthusiasm for what he framed as a rare opportunity.

The teen wasn’t trying to start a fight, he just wasn’t interested in standing quietly through a ceremony that felt more symbolic than meaningful.

Keep reading for the full story.

AITAH for not being enthusiastic enough about my dad giving me a place in his wedding?

I (16M) live with my mom. My dad (36M) doesn’t come and see me that much, only every month or even less than that, and he never brings me with him on any holidays with his family.

So when his father offered him a “special role” in his upcoming wedding, he had mixed feelings.

He told me I can have this role where I basically stand there near him in a nice outfit with two of his friends. I don’t know, but it’s different to just sitting down on one of the seats with the rest of the guests.

When he told me this, I said to him, “Alright, I will think about it.” I wasn’t really excited about it because I don’t even really care about going.

All of his dad’s previous absences are starting to catch up to him.

It’s like he’s just forgotten me for each time he goes to freaking Korea or Singapore and he spends all his time with his new family, and now he’s onto me for no reason.

Soon his dad was openly angry at him for not being excited enough.

Anyway, he got mad at me for saying that I will think about it and I don’t know if I want to do it, and he was like, “You should be happy about this because it’s one of those opportunities that only happen once or twice,” and he would like me to be enthusiastic about it too.

But this teen further pleads his case.

I probably sound miserable, but surely you guys can see my side. He almost never spends time with me, and now he’s trying to get me to stand at his wedding because it will look good.

I said it’s cool, but it’s just standing up and I will have nothing to say, I’m not really into weddings. Omg, he was not getting the hint at all.

AITA?

This absent father can’t have his cake and eat it too…

What did Reddit have to say?

If his father hasn’t been there for him, why should he be there for his father?

Maybe it’s time to rescind his RSVP altogether.

This user calls out his father’s true intentions.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a brother who doesn’t want to help his sister cover their aging father’s groceries.

Having an absent parent takes a huge toll on your understanding of the world.

This dad wants enthusiasm for a role in his wedding, but he hasn’t put in the time that usually earns that kind of reaction.

At the end of the day, real closeness isn’t something you can request on short notice for a photo-worthy moment. Being a parent is something you have to work at all year long.

You can’t skip out on someone all year and then expect them to show up emotionally the second it’s convenient for you.