Blended families are not something that is uncommon in today’s day and age. Sometimes, people get divorced and find love in others after already having kids from a previous marriage. In order for a marriage to work and a blended family to thrive, though, people need to get along with each other and be respectful and kind. Not all blended families operate this way, though.
One father recently opened up
He opened up about a difficult decision he made about his own blended family. The father, who is a widower, shared that he met his wife four years ago. He has a daughter from his previous marriage, and his wife has two daughters of her own. All of the girls are close in age, being 11, 12, and 13.
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At first, all of the girls got along
“My stepdaughters were fine with my daughter at first. Of course they didn’t just call her sister magically or treat her the same right away but they were nice,” he wrote. However, his wife’s ex-husband doesn’t necessarily like the Reddit user’s daughter.
His wife’s ex-husband was a problem
Ever since his stepdaughters’ father began to bad mouth his daughter, the girls copied him. “A grown a** man called my 10-year-old a fat repulsive pig, a w*ore, and the reason abortion was invented (to list only a few). The girls have called her dumb, they have mocked her for being shy and introverted,” the father wrote.
The dad said none of that behavior will ever fly
The dad shared he spoke with the girls and even tried to keep them separate. He enrolled his own daughter in therapy and tried his best to protect her. But, the girls still went after her. So, he made a difficult decision and he and his daughter moved out.
He told his wife that their marriage cannot continue because he has to protect his daughter.
So he filed for divorce
Now, his wife’s family has been reaching out to him saying he has to come back for the sake of his stepdaughters.
“Ever since I filed for the divorce my wife’s family have been telling me how much my stepdaughters need me, how badly they need to see a healthy and good father figure in their lives, and that I will destroy them if I leave. How they’re important and I need to prioritize them,” he said.
His in-laws got enraged when he said no one was more important than his daughter
“I told them they are not more important than my daughter. Outrage ensued and I was asked how I could say that. They said my wife was prioritizing my daughter and being loved by her should be enough for her to understand her sisters need me to stay in their lives. And I am an a**hole for saying their granddaughters are not special,” he wrote.
Many people online, however, disagreed
Reddit users online shared the dad absolutely did the right thing to protect his daughter and stop her from being traumatized and bullied even further by her stepsisters. Others said that if he stayed, he wouldn’t have been the “good father figure” everyone said the girls needed.
Some wanted to know why the mom didn’t put a stop to it
Some people asked why the mother never disciplined her own kids for bullying her stepdaughter and making her so upset. The Reddit user shared that she did, but their father continued to spew hate to them, reversing the lessons that the wife was trying to teach.
One person was outraged that the mom didn’t defend her stepdaughter more
“As a MOTHER, knowing theirs is gone, your wife should be like a lioness protecting what should BE HER BABY NOW. She made vows to you, and by extension, your child. I hope her own kids figure out how to survive, because they’ve got nothing in their favor,” someone wrote.
People overall praised the dad for stepping up and doing the right thing
“Big props to you OP for taking it this far. Most men wouldn’t have threatened it. It’s also really weird how she couldn’t discipline her own biological daughters to create a healthier environment. Everyone’s pleading to stop the divorce, but no one tried to prevent the bullying, which caused the divorce,” shared another.
Someone said that he “is showing them a good father figure”
“You ARE demonstrating to them exactly what a healthy and good father figure would do. You are prioritizing your daughter and protecting her from her tormentors. That is EXACTLY what a good father figure would do,” one person commented.
Also, some shared he saved his daughter from possible trauma
Many called the dad “awesome” and amazing for not only stepping up for his daughter but also saving her from what could have turned into years and years of abuse and torment.
One person pointed out his wife wants him to stay for the wrong reasons
“I want to throw attention to the fact that she doesn’t want you to leave because SHE loves you and wants a life with you, but because she wants you to provide for HER kids. This only shows you did the right move,” shared another.
Some were shocked by the in-laws’ response
“It’s hard to believe that your wife’s family could know the details of what they’ve put your daughter through and still be outraged that you’re leaving. Those “two young girls” were being horrible – is that the kind of “special” they’re supporting,” questioned Reddit users.
Overall, they shared the dad did 100% the right thing
When it comes down to it, the consensus online was that the dad did the right thing for his daughter. He stepped up for her at 12, when she was struggling, and even walked away from love for her. That’s a true dad.
