Aunt offended... what now?

Question

My aunt recently got a new house. As she was moving in, she asked me very abruply what I thought of her kitchen.

At the time, it was cluttered, messy and dirty, and all the cupboard doors were open, boxes on the floor etc because of the move.

I wasn't quick enough to say something like "It's goreous" - I just said "Well, it's a bit cluttered". I wish I were a quicker thinker!

Anyway, she is now really mad at me... I tried complimenting other things and apologizing, to no avail.

Was I totally out of line? FWIW, her kitchen looks great now that she's settled in...

Answer 1

She's petty.

Answer 2

Apologize again and tell her the truth.. say that at the time she was just moving in... that it was a bit cluttered but that it really looks great now.. Tell her that you have respect for her and that you believe with respect comes honesty.. and at the time you said what you believed when you saw it first.. you did not say anything horrible.. anyone who just moved in will have a bit of clutter aroud so if you put it nicely.. she should understand and forgive.. that's the mature thing to do.. you meant no offense.. between people who are close to each other it's also normal to be able to tell them what one thinks... she should understand that.. so apologize again.. xx

Answer 3

You are the one that should be mad!

Answer 4

She was asking about the kitchen itself, you know the floor, cabinets, appliances, et cetera. I'll bet 500 bucks she is ready to apologize for being so hard on you. Done.

Answer 5

You've apologized.  Now drop it.  If she wants to stay angry over something so trivial - and UNINTENDED - then let her stay mad.  Some people are happiest when they're miserable, and I bet she's one of them.

And stop complimenting the house now, too.  She's going to think you're only complimenting things now to suck up.  So no more compliments until she changes something in a big way.