There was this period of time when I was 11 where I really wanted a pair of headphones for whatever reason. My family was struggling financially around that time, but I kept harassing my Mom about it and she kept promising that she’d be sure to get me some when she had the extra money. Eventually she told me before school one day that she thought she might be able to do it that day.

I remember coming home and asking if she’d gotten them, and her responding with something along the lines of “Sorry baby, I thought I’d be able to do it today but it didn’t work out. I’m trying.” I didn’t even think before getting frustrated and saying “Well try harder.”

That made her cry, and her crying made me feel guilty and also cry. I’m pretty sure it’s the only genuinely mean thing I’ve ever said to my Mom. I regret it a lot and I’ve told her plenty of times that I do. We laugh about it now.