A woman took to Reddit to find out if she was in the wrong for asking her ex-husband if their son could bring his stepbrother on their father-son camping trip. Her husband was furious, but Reddit was split! Read on to find out more.
She’s Always Tried Her Best
The original poster (OP) never thought she would get divorced. But when it happened, she was determined to make it work for the sake of her son. And so she tried her best to make sure that he still had a good relationship with his father.
But He’s Made It a Struggle
But it wasn’t easy. Her ex-husband was often unreliable and would cancel on their son at the last minute, making excuses about work or other obligations. The twice-monthly weekends they had originally agreed on had dwindled down to just a few times a year.
The New Family
It was hard for OP to watch her son go through this, but what made it easier was the fact that he had a new family to turn to. OP started dating her current husband when her son was eight years old.
They Were Fast Friends
Her husband had two children of his own, a son and a daughter, who were around the same age as her son. When the four of them met for the first time, OP’s son and her husband’s son hit it off immediately. They bonded over a shared love of video games and have been inseparable ever since.
OP’s stepson had lost his mother a few years ago, and OP’s husband had been reticent to introduce the two families so soon after her passing.
A Close Bond
But when they did finally come together, it was like the two boys were meant to be brothers. They had formed a deep bond that went beyond blood relation, and they often referred to each other as “brothers” instead of “stepbrothers.”
Their First Family Trip
The first time the two families went on a trip together was to visit the stepson’s mother at the cemetery on her birthday. OP’s son got invited, and he spent the car ride listening to his stepbrother talk about his mother.
How Heartwarming!
OP had been worried that it might be too much for her son to handle, but it turned out to be therapeutic for both boys. Later that night, OP had found them asleep in the same bed, curled up together. It was moments like these that made OP grateful for the new family she had gained.
He Wanted His Brother to Come Camping
But now, OP’s son had asked if his stepbrother could come along on a camping trip with his father. OP’s ex-husband was planning on taking their son to the Poconos in a few weeks, the weekend after Father’s Day weekend.
They Were in the Boy Scouts Together
OP’s son loved camping and had even convinced his stepbrother to join the Boy Scouts with him in the fall. It seemed only natural that they should go on this trip together.
Her Ex Wasn’t Pleased
However, when OP asked her ex-husband if their son could bring his stepbrother along, he got upset. He didn’t want someone else’s kid on their camping trip. He said it was supposed to be a bonding experience for just the two of them.
She Saw It Differently
But OP didn’t see it that way. Her ex-husband had blown off so many opportunities to bond with their son in the past. She felt like he had no right to be upset about this.
Even His Mom Had Got Involved!
Her ex-husband’s mother had even called OP to complain, saying that she needed to look at it from his perspective. After all, he only got to see their son a few times a year. But OP didn’t want to hear it. She was tired of always having to make excuses for her ex-husband’s behavior.
She Was in a Tricky Position
The whole situation had put OP in a difficult position. Her husband thought she should let it be just the two of them, but she didn’t want to let her son down. She didn’t want him to feel like his stepbrother wasn’t welcome in their family. And she didn’t want her ex-husband to think that he could just show up and expect everything to be the way it was before.
She Turned to the Internet for Advice
Seeking advice on Reddit, OP received mixed responses. Some Redditors believe that the ex-husband is the one at fault, as he has not been a reliable and present father to their son.
Others think that OP should respect the ex-husband’s wishes, as it is his time with his son, and he has the right to decide who accompanies them on their camping trip.
She Needs to Respect His Wishes
OP is in a difficult situation. On the one hand, she wants to support her son’s desire to include his stepbrother on their camping trip.
On the other hand, she understands her ex-husband’s perspective that he wants to have one-on-one bonding time with their son. It’s a tough position to be in, but ultimately her ex-husband has the right to say no, regardless of how close his son and stepbrother are.
A Father-Son Conversation?
Perhaps her ex-husband should be having this conversation with his son though? What do you think?
This situation highlights the difficulties many divorced parents face and the repercussions they can have on their kids.
It’s a challenging situation with no clear-cut answer – what do you think she should do?
More From Mama Say What?!
A mother, known as Lynalice on TikTok, has made serious allegations against her separating husband, accusing him of “inattentive parenting” due to his failure to clean the house while she was at work. Woman Files for Divorce After Secretly Recording Husband at Home
His Girlfriend’s Prank Went Way Too Far, and After He Was Left Exposed in Front of Everyone, He Left Their Vacation Early!
Have you ever been pranked by someone you trusted? This young man certainly has! He took to Reddit the other day to ask if he’d been wrong for leaving a trip early because his girlfriend “pranked” him in front of all her friends and family. His Girlfriend’s Prank Went Way Too Far and After He Was Left Exposed in Front of Everyone He Left Their Vacation Early!
When Her Students Told Her to Back Off, She Did Just That! Now They’ve Missed Their Deadline and Are Blaming Her for Their Failure!
She’s an expert in her field and decided to give back to the community by sharing her knowledge. But when a group of kids challenged her authority, she let them fail. When Her Students Told to Her Back Off, She Did Just That! Now They’ve Missed Their Deadline and Are Blaming Her for Their Failure!
She Refused to Give Her Future In-Laws Her Son’s Wedding Fund, Which They Wanted to Use for Themselves
This mother sought advice from the Reddit community after her son’s future in-laws asked her for the money she was going to use for the wedding – instead of paying for the wedding! She Refused to Give Her Future In-Laws Her Son’s Wedding Fund, Which They Wanted to Use for Themselves
She Was Abandoned After They Discovered Her Mom’s Affair, Now They Want to Stop Her From Reaching Out to Her Biological Dad
Today’s tragic tale comes to us from a subreddit. A 15-year-old wanted to know if she was wrong for seeking out her biological father after learning she was a child of infidelity. She Was Abandoned After They Discovered Her Mom’s Affair, Now They Want to Stop Her From Reaching Out to Her Biological Dad
The post She Wanted Her Ex-husband to Take Her Son’s Stepbrother on the Father-Son Camping Trip but He’s Refusing. Who’s in the Wrong? first appeared on Mama Say What?!
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / evrymmnt. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Source: Reddit