When someone close to you passes, it can be important to start a tradition to remember them and grieve your loss.

In today’s story, one man shares the tradition he has every year on the anniversary of his brother’s passing, but his girlfriend doesn’t seem to think the tradition is as important as her tradition.

Let’s see how the story plays out…

AITAH for saying no my girlfriend’s “tradition”

I (M, 30) lost my younger brother when I was 22.

He had cancer and fought very hard.

Ever since, I’ve been donating blood on the anniversary of his passing every year.

I take the day off from work, visit his grave, donate blood, and then come home, relax, and watch his favorite movie.

I know it’s a simple, personal tradition, but it means a lot to me.

His girlfriend wanted him to have lunch with her mom instead of doing his tradition for his brother.

My girlfriend of 9 months, Anna (F, 31), asked if I could meet her and her mom (I have met her many times before and it wasn’t the meet the parents for the first time situation) for lunch yesterday.

I told her no and explained again about what I do on my brother’s anniversary.

She got upset and said, “Well, it’s my tradition to have lunch with my mom every time she’s in town, and she really wanted to see you! You can do your stupid blood donation tradition any day.”

His girlfriend is mad at him, and he wonders if he did something wrong.

I explained to her that it’s not just about the blood donation.

Later in the evening, while I was resting and watching my brother’s favorite movie, she texted me again, asking me to join them.

I reiterated that I really didn’t want to and would hang out with her mom next time.

She replied that I had embarrassed her in front of her mom with my selfishness and laziness.

Since then, she’s been distant.

Do I owe her an apology? AITAH?

It seems like the girlfriend is being very cold and disrespectful of something that is very important to him.

Let’s see how Reddit reacted to this story…

This reader thinks his tradition was much more important than lunch.

Another reader called the girlfriend “selfish.”

This person knows what it’s like to lose a brother.

Another reader suggests rethinking the relationship with the girlfriend.

This person agrees that his tradition is more important than the girlfriend’s.

If she told her mom why her boyfriend wasn’t joining them, I’m sure she would’ve understood.

This is bizarre and sociopathic behavior on her part.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a daughter who invited herself to her parents’ 40th anniversary vacation for all the wrong reasons.