05/03/2026
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AITA for not letting my wife buy things with words on them?
Obviously some context and examples are needed, but I generally dislike things that have a message written on them and have told my wife I don't want things like that in the house. For example: 'Live Laugh Love' or 'Keep Calm and...' are super tacky, in my opinion, and have no place in a house. I think that if you're going to hang something on the wall it needs to be something meaningful, but abstract enough that other people can find their own meaning in it. Also, I think they're incredibly lazy decorating, you're basically saying 'I am not worth finding something I actually like, I'm fine with a $20 sticker! Maybe the only thing I need to turn my life around is a 4'x8' sticker that tells me "YOU ARE SO LOVED"".
I've also extended the rule to the clothes my toddler wears (everyone knows that I'm not putting on a shirt with words on it). And my wife will occasionally show me clothes with generic phrases like 'future heart breaker' or 'daddy's source of constant frustration' written in generic typeface. I'll veto, and she will complain a little, but in general understands my point of view. Basically, I don't want my kid to be used as a billboard for either companies or s__tty hot takes. On the plus side, I have a ton of photos where I won't have to explain some stupid meme to my kid when she grows up ("You see, there was this thing called 'The Chive' back before you were born..."). When the kid is older they can decide what they want to wear, but until they're a little older I don't want my kid in it.
Am I the a__hole for not being flexible on this? It's gotten to the point where we go to people's homes and she'll point out every example of words she sees in people's decor and poke fun at me. But yes, I am inflexible on this rule, if she wants to build an 'Eat Pray Love' nest (the basic girl version of a neckbeard nest),...