Imagine being there for your late best friend's family, providing emotional and financial support for over a decade, only to be told you're 'not a parent.' That's the heartbreaking situation one man found himself in after his friend's wife, A, delivered the crushing blow. Despite being involved in the lives of A's children since their birth, the man was excluded from a school event and left feeling unappreciated. Read on to learn more about this emotional story and how it unfolded. 😢
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The Tragic Beginning 🕯️
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Trending
Stepping Up to Help 👨👩👧👦
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Must Read
Becoming the Support System 💪
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From Diapers to Preschool 🍼
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The Promotion and Travel ✈️
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Continued Support Despite Distance 🌍
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A New Partner Enters the Scene 💑
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The School Event 🏫
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The Painful Rejection 💔
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The Heartbreaking Statement 😢
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The Fight and Fallout 🥊
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The Emotional Impact 😔
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Feeling Unappreciated and Heartbroken 💔
After over a decade of being there for his late best friend's family, this man was devastated when A told him he wasn't a parent. Despite providing emotional, practical, and financial support, he was excluded from a school event and left feeling unimportant in their lives. As he tries to make sense of the situation, the pain and heartbreak are evident. Let's see what the internet thinks of this emotional rollercoaster... 😢
NTA comment receives supportive replies, offers advice for resolution. 👍
VagabondBackbone | VagabondBackbone
NTA comment defends OP's role as a parent, suggests stepping aside.
[deleted] | [deleted]
Commenter receives heartwarming support after being told 'not a parent' 😭
Capital-Guard | Capital-Guard
Petty but relatable NTA comment sparks supportive replies 😂
[deleted] | [deleted]
Heartbreaking situation. NTA but OP invested too much without rights 😢
imadinosaurlawlz | imadinosaurlawlz
Mother's bad timing and delivery caused miscommunication, not AH behavior.
evasmum | evasmum
NTA, but a difficult situation. Have a calm conversation with her 👍
Arobee | Arobee
Advice for OP on adjusting to new boundaries with family.
ftjlster | ftjlster
Commenter argues OP is TA for not anticipating inevitable boundary.
grimbaldi | grimbaldi
Man excluded from event after being told he's 'not a parent' 😢
blizzardswirl | blizzardswirl
YTA for making a 'joke' and not hearing her boundaries 🙄
DoctorNovakaine | DoctorNovakaine
Heartbreaking comment and replies to cruel statement. 😢
Clarity4me | Clarity4me
Uncle's heartbreak: Being told he's not a parent 😢
Lozzif | Lozzif
Generous benefactor struggles with diminishing role in family dynamics 😢
TowelsRintheDryer | TowelsRintheDryer
Man not recognized as parent despite doing parental duties 🤔
[deleted] | [deleted]
Woman asserts her role as parent after OP's overreaction 😢
darthbane83 | darthbane83
Man's fatherly love for kids causes emotional turmoil. 😢
theforceisfemale | theforceisfemale
NAH for helping raise the kids, but unrealistic to compete.
acmtsa | acmtsa
Unique situation, but spent personal time, not a parent. NAH.
Teykos | Teykos
A possible explanation for the hurtful comment. 🤔
whocameupwiththis | whocameupwiththis
Heartbreaking story of being used as a stepfather. NTA 😢
tasteslikepocky | tasteslikepocky
Advice for navigating changing family dynamics with potential stepdad 👨🏻👦👦👦
[deleted] | [deleted]
Uncle's love shouldn't be underestimated. NTA for setting boundaries. 🙌
smartliner | smartliner
NTA for feeling hurt, but communication could have been better 👍
Wrecking-Bull | Wrecking-Bull
Being a parent is more than biology 👨🏻💻
EggsAndMilquetoast | EggsAndMilquetoast
NTA. Commenter acknowledges hurtful truth but defends OP's role as parent.
fastidiousavocado | fastidiousavocado
Being a godparent is just as important as being a parent 💜
PuzzleheadedUnit1 | PuzzleheadedUnit1
NTA who grew a bond with children devastated by exclusion 😢
saymoreme | saymoreme
Man takes on role of parent for deceased friend's children. Receives ungrateful comment from mother. Replies discuss his relationship with the children and the impact if he were to stop supporting them. 👨🏻👦🏻
CinderDroplet | CinderDroplet
Supportive comment, acknowledges hurtful behavior of other parent. 👍
taylorgone | taylorgone
Supportive comment suggests setting up college trusts for the kids 📚
Kittytigris | Kittytigris
Commenter suggests OP may have inserted themselves into situation. 🤔
Lallipoplady | Lallipoplady
Establishing boundaries and moving into an uncle role. 👍
I_want_nomnoms | I_want_nomnoms
Man not biologically a parent, but definitely parented them. NTA.
ChrisPBacon420Blaze | ChrisPBacon420Blaze
NAH, but OP is understandably upset. Communication is key 📢
hamillhair | hamillhair
NTA, but situation is complicated. Financial support for kids continues.
nixon469 | nixon469
Civil conversation leads to resolution in parenting dispute 👍
kristallnachte | kristallnachte
Commenter sympathizes with NTA and condemns insensitivity 😢
CoastalCerulean | CoastalCerulean
NTA for stepping up as a parent. She's TA for lack of communication.
[deleted] | [deleted]
Ouch! The truth hurts, but maybe it's time to move on.
[deleted] | [deleted]
Misunderstanding leads to hurtful comment, but NAH in the end 🙏
Brainsonastick | Brainsonastick
ESH commenter advises OP to respect boundaries and reevaluate involvement.
unwritten_otter | unwritten_otter
Heartbreaking situation where 'playing daddy' isn't enough 😢
Superbikethrowaway | Superbikethrowaway
NTA. Legal agreement and custody arrangement should be discussed calmly. 👍
[deleted] | [deleted]
Being a family member is more important than being a parent 🙌
ChinaLea | ChinaLea
New guy uncomfortable with arrangement? NTA seeks advice 🤔
comettheconquerer | comettheconquerer
NTA! Unofficially parenting kids is just as important as legally parenting.
Mando_The_Moronic | Mando_The_Moronic
