Meet a mom (35) with two boys, Mike (16) and Dave (13), who finds herself in a challenging situation. After her ex-husband, Matt, had an affair and left the family, she met Tim (41) and they got married. With Tim’s two kids and an unexpected pregnancy, life changes have led to some tough decisions. The boys are upset when their mom tells them she’s going to start charging their dad rent for their family home. Will they understand the financial reality or is the mom being too harsh?
Life After the Affair

New Love and a Blended Family

Ex Returns and Living Arrangements Change

Moving In with Tim

Boys Choose Dad’s House

A New Home for Everyone

New House, New Beginnings

Unexpected Pregnancy

Family Therapy

Financial Reality Hits

Twisted Tale

Boys’ Anger

Harsh Reality Check

Money Matters

Too Harsh or Necessary?

Financial Struggles and Family Drama
After blending their families and facing an unexpected pregnancy, this mom and her new husband are forced to make some tough decisions. When she informs her ex-husband that she’ll be charging him rent for their family home, he twists the story and tells their sons that she’s favoring her new family. The boys are angry and accuse their mom of choosing Tim over them. In an attempt to make them understand the financial reality, she gives them a harsh reality check about the cost of living. Was she too harsh or just trying to teach her kids an important life lesson? Let’s see what the internet thinks of this situation…
NTA. Ex’s financial abuse and manipulation through kids is unacceptable

Setting the record straight and calling out a freeloader.

Ex tries to manipulate kids, but OP teaches them life skills
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Divorce, therapy, and gaslighting. Tough love or emotional abuse?

Teaching kids about cost of living and budgeting

Teaching kids financial responsibility and the importance of therapy

Father’s irresponsibility caused financial burden on NTA and sons

Investing in sons’ future homes. Ex trying to drive wedge.

Teaching kids the cost of life . NTA mom gets real.

Single mom defends herself against accusations of being unfair. ♀️

Ex cheats, disappears, returns, gets house. NTA, kick him out

Mom’s tough love pays off, ex gets called out

Divorce and remarriage struggles, NTA, ex is the real AH

Teaching kids about finances: NTA and age-appropriate lessons

Teaching kids the cost of life: NTA and reasonable

Teaching kids financial responsibility amidst parental alienation.

Ex gets called out for bad behavior.

Teaching kids about money: NTA, open discussions are important

Commenter supports OP and criticizes ex.

Encouraging words for a mom dealing with a tough situation

Ex mooching off NTA mom, time to pay up

Teaching kids the value of money through budget breakdowns

Reddit agrees: YNTA (You’re Not The A-hole)

Living together before marriage: cultural differences?
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Matt accuses mom of greed, commenters support mom’s decision.

Teaching kids about money is crucial

Beating the ex at their own game, NTA strategy

Teaching kids the value of money, NTA comment agrees.

Bio dad is a mooch, keep doing the right thing

Teaching financial responsibility to entitled children. #NTA

Don’t enable your cheating adult son. NTA.

Exes and favors: a lesson in tough love

Mom’s tough love pays off, NTA wins the day

Parental alienation is disgusting and unacceptable

NTA stands up to ex’s parental alienation with lawyer’s help

Teaching tough love: NTA, but should’ve told kids sooner ♀️

Teaching kids financial responsibility is important.

Don’t let manipulative family members take advantage of you.

Teaching tough love or weaponizing kids? NTA eviction suggestion.

Teaching financial responsibility to kids, and dealing with untrustworthy tenants.

Co-parenting struggles: Navigating honesty and patience with your children.

Teaching life’s cost without being an a**hole

Not the a**hole, but what did the kid do?

Teaching financial responsibility with tough love

Single mom praised for tough love on entitled kids.

Teaching kids financial reality, NTA. Honest and direct approach

NTA! Tough love is necessary for toxic family members.

Grandmother’s wisdom humbled commenter and taught gratitude.

Sell the house to avoid entanglement. NTA.

Teaching kids financial responsibility: NTA shows monthly budget

Teaching kids about budgeting and emotions, NTA. Consider therapy

Teaching kids financial responsibility early on is important

Supportive comment, encouraging self-care.

Teaching kids cost of living, NTA for laying down rules

Divorcee’s ex living rent-free in her house, needs resolution ASAP. NTA

NTA mom receives support for teaching kids the cost of life

Divorce drama and family feuds

Parental alienation and child support struggles. NTA.

Teaching kids the cost of life . NTA and valuable lesson.

Standing up to a cheating ex and teaching kids responsibility. NTA

Teaching kids the cost of life and consequences of cheating.

NTA. Ex needs to move out. Kids don’t need financial details

Not the a**hole, but why? Tell us your story!

Teaching responsibility without being an a**hole

Teaching kids about finance through grocery shopping and saving

Matt gets called out and judged. NTA wins the day

Commenter shares why they prefer to remain single
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NTA OP’s ex is a deadbeat manipulator who caused all this

Teaching kids the cost of life. NTA for setting boundaries.

Commenter empathizes with sons’ insecurities about living space
