In a heartbreaking viral Reddit post, a teenager is venting and asking for advice about his dad, who skipped his graduation ceremony to go to an award ceremony in another state for his 14-year-old stepdaughter.
“He told me he couldn’t possibly make it to both and since his wife and their children together will be going, he needs to be there too. He told me he would make it up to me and we could celebrate another time,” the 18-year-old wrote. “My mom died when I was 7 and my dad got married again when I was 11 or 12. It’s been a few years anyway. His stepdaughter never knew her bio dad, so my dad has accepted her as his own. And he has prioritized her a lot in the last 5/6 years. It doesn’t always show in the most obvious ways but it can be felt. Father/son time was put on an indefinite hiatus and instead dad told me we needed to include her in our time together but he also spent time with just her for father/daughter time.”
He continued, “He has attended her dance things instead of my basketball games if they’re on at the same time. It doesn’t matter if mine was known about first, he will still skip my stuff to go to hers. He will take us on family days and whenever he and his wife say ‘kids can choose’ he picks her choices over mine. He claims it’s because they will be the most fun for everyone but really, he even says it afterward, anything his little princess wants.”
He also told a story of when the family had a major expense, it was taken from his birthday fund, while his stepsister still received extravagant birthday gifts.
“When my dad told me he wouldn’t be at my graduation to go and support her, I told him there is no making up for that and he can forget about being included in my life going forward,” he wrote. “He told me he would make it up to me and I told him I will always come second to his little princess and I’m not going to be okay with that. I told him he’s discarded me for the last time. Dad begged me to be reasonable but I walked away. Then I invited both sets of grandparents who agreed to come.”
As an extra kicker, “His wife told me I could have come with them and I don’t need to attend the ceremony but could support ‘my sister’. I said her daughter’s not my sister and I do not want to support their family anymore and I will be out of their hair soon. She called me selfish and told me I can’t deny her daughter a dad.”
This poor child is on the internet asking if he’s in the wrong?
Thank goodness the internet has the good sense to set him straight.
“What a horrible way to keep showing you you don’t matter to them,” one of the top-rated comments reads. “Totally NTA (not the a**hole). And congrats on the freedom that awaits you. You got this, good luck. Life is very sweet without constant disappointment.”
Another added, “OP, go graduate, not only from HS but from these disgusting people who call themselves parents. Unfortunately, you going LC/NC with your dad is exactly what his wife wants and has always wanted since the day he introduced you to her. Please have an amazing day, and if it means anything, this internet stranger mum is proud of you not only for finishing HS, but more importantly for knowing that you deserve, love, respect, attention and recognition. Hugs.”
We have to agree with that one. We hope this kiddo knows that all the moms on the internet are proud of him.
