Imagine being in a relationship for 9 years, patiently waiting for your partner’s kids to accept you, only to realize they never will. That’s the story of a 38-year-old woman who was dating Mark, a 42-year-old widower with two kids. The couple agreed to take things slow, but after nearly a decade, the kids still treated her with coldness and distance. When Mark’s parents tried to get them back together, she finally snapped. Was she too harsh, or did she make the right call? Let’s dive into this emotional rollercoaster.
The Slow-Paced Relationship

Therapy and Distance

Cold Kids, Warm Heart

The Turning Point ⏳

The Family Dinner Disaster ️

The Painful Realization

The Breakup

The Parents’ Attempt ️

Standing Her Ground

The Final Word ️

The Parents’ Reaction

The Question

A Heartbreaking Decision
After 9 years of patiently waiting, this woman couldn’t take it anymore. She realized that her ex’s kids would never accept her, and she couldn’t tie herself to a man whose family would always treat her as an outsider. When her ex’s parents tried to get them back together, she had to put her foot down and stand up for herself. But was she too harsh? Or did she make the right call? Let’s see what the internet thinks of this heart-wrenching situation…
NTA. OP shows exceptional compassion and strength, time to move on.

Leaving after 9 years was brave. NTA.

Breaking up with someone toxic is healthy. Kids need to understand.

Stepchildren exclude and dismiss woman, deserve blame. NTA.

Self-care is important. You tried for years. NTA

Breaking up with someone with kids can be tough

NTA for standing up to toxic ex’s family

Standing up to toxic people is important. NTA for leaving.

Girl power! Commenter supports woman standing up for herself

NTA for leaving a man who let his kids control his life

Putting your own happiness first is never a**hole move

Empowering response to infertility struggle

NTA. The kids’ sense of entitlement is inherited. You deserve better

Don’t let anyone hold you back from your dreams

Support for a woman who is being judged for moving on.

Cutting ties with toxic ex’s family. NTA, you deserve better

Deserve better! NTA for moving on after 9 years

You deserve better! NTA for moving on.

NTA. Time to move on and block their number.

NTA. Ex’s adult kids are dominating his life. Not your fault.

Commenter questions ex’s family loyalty, receives defensive response.

Nine years lost for his kids? Definitely not the a**hole!

Commenter supports OP and criticizes ex’s kids for selfish behavior

Supportive comment with a hint of curiosity

You’re NTA for standing up for yourself and setting boundaries

NTA. Mark’s kids should have come to some acceptance. Enjoy!

Breaking up was hard, but healthy. NTA

Don’t suffer for love. Cut them out. NTA

Cutting ties with ex’s parents after breakup: NTA advice

Moving on from toxic ex and his selfish kids

Curious about the timeline of the relationship after Mark’s wife.

Curious commenter questions if kids are sabotaging dad’s happiness.

Empowerment at its finest : Shutting down toxic in-laws

Adult kids? NTA for calling out their bad behavior.

Moving on after a 9-year relationship. NTA.

NTA for ending relationship due to Mark’s kids’ cruelty

Breaking your own heart in the short term to save it ❤️

Find someone who loves and respects you #NTA

Defending oneself against selfishness of ex’s kids

Cutting ties with toxic ex’s family. Good riddance

Woman stands up for herself after breakup with ex’s parents

Standing up for yourself after 9 years. NTA

NTA. You put yourself first finally . Live for you

After 9 years of trying, NTA decides to cut off entitled ex-in-laws

Blaming the kids for the breakup? NTA explains why.

Supportive comment defends OP, predicts regret for ex’s parents
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Empathetic response to NTA comment on grief and relationships.

After 9 years of being dismissed, NTA for ending it

User defends woman’s actions towards ex’s kids after long estrangement.

Heartfelt support for woman who ended a toxic relationship. ❤️

Commenter sympathizes with woman’s brutal breakup after 9 years.

Deserve better! NTA stands for not the a**hole

OP receives support for standing up for herself and her relationship.

Time to move on!

Choose yourself, OP! NTA for moving on from toxic ex’s family

Commenter empathizes with OP and shares personal experience with step-parent, NTA
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NTA. Mark and his family treated her horribly for years

Step-family struggles: NTA for setting boundaries

Ex’s kids were awful, NTA for ending the relationship

Taking control of your own relationship

Self-love wins: commenter defends woman’s breakup decision.

You stood up for yourself and were not too harsh

Supportive comment on breaking up with emotionally immature partner.

Walking away from a toxic situation is always the right move

Empathetic response to woman’s NTA comment about brutal breakup.

Commenter criticizes ex’s children for not wanting their dad to be happy
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/fb3171af-9955-4cc8-b541-eb167213e0d6.png)
Breaking up with your partner is hard, but breaking up with their parents is even harder. This commenter recognized when to cut her losses and is definitely NTA.

Breaking up is hard, but she did the right thing

Commenter defends OP’s breakup and parenting, calling out disrespectful ex’s family.

Harsh truth or unnecessary insult? Avoiding single parents in dating.

Don’t put your life on hold for someone else’s kids.

True love or wasted time? The debate continues…
![Image credit: [deleted] | [deleted]](https://static.diply.com/76bdb657-19f9-4651-8dcc-9b96a6cc1ced.png)
Not the a**hole! But what did she say?

Moving on after 9 years. NTA. Exes are exes for reasons.

She’s not the a**hole, but what did she say?
