Imagine being married and childless, discussing future plans for kids, and suddenly finding out that your wife has volunteered to take in her sister’s three children without even consulting you! That’s exactly the situation our protagonist found himself in. His wife’s sister, a repeat offender, is facing a long prison sentence, leaving her three kids in need of a home. Our guy is willing to take in the two young boys, but he’s hesitant about the troubled teenage girl. As you can imagine, this has caused quite the rift between him and his wife. So, what happened next? Let’s dive into this emotional rollercoaster of a story…
Wife’s Sister’s Legal Troubles
Three Kids in Need
My Two Conditions
No Interference, Please!
Second Condition: Boys Only
The Girl’s Troubles
Theft and Bad Company
A Week of Arguments
Foster Care Dilemma
Our Background
The Decision Made Without Me
Parents Back Out, Wife Steps In
The Crux of Our Argument
My Inexperience with Kids ♂️
Feeling Out of Control
The Update: Divorce
Protecting My Assets
House for the Ex
The Aftermath ️
Niece’s Troubles Continue
Theft and Disappearance ️♀️
Family Blames Me
My Own Children
Adopting Nephews, But Not Niece?
Our protagonist’s life takes a sudden turn when his wife volunteers to take in her sister’s three children without discussing it with him first. He agrees to adopt the two young boys, but he’s hesitant about the 14-year-old girl due to her troubled past and risky behavior. This leads to a week of heated arguments and even separate beds! As they try to navigate this complicated situation, our guy starts to feel like his life is spinning out of control. Ultimately, he decides to leave and file for divorce, signing the house over to his ex-wife. But the drama doesn’t end there. The niece continues her troubling behavior, eventually disappearing after stealing valuables from the house. And now, the family blames our protagonist for everything that’s gone wrong. Let’s see what the internet thinks of this heart-wrenching situation…
RELATED STORIES
Social worker cautions about adoption process and 14-year-old’s needs
User calls out OP’s problematic behavior towards troubled teen niece.
Powerful comment against sexual abuse and rape culture
Unanimous decision needed for adoption. Niece needs help elsewhere.
Don’t be heartless. Troubled teens need support, not abandonment.
The danger of exposing young children to troubled teens
Calling a troubled child ‘beyond help’ makes YTA here
Setting boundaries with troubled teen niece. NAH for prioritizing self-care.
Adopting troubled teens is a significant undertaking that requires support
Critical comment calls out manipulation and advocates for siblings.
Fostering with rules: Teen niece’s choice or the system.
A cautionary tale of taking in troubled children, think twice
Communicate kindly when setting boundaries
Engaging reply calling out misogyny and double standards.
A passionate defense of the troubled teen niece
Realistic take: NTA for not taking troubled teen niece.
A cautionary tale of helping troubled family members.
NTA✅: Troubled teen niece is not your responsibility, don’t feel guilty
A heartbreaking story that makes us question our judgments
User defends OP’s decision to not take in troubled niece
Not cut out for surrogate father role. You’re NTA.
OP gets criticized for not adopting all 3 nieces.
No responsibility for troubled teen niece, but what about boys?
NTA. Don’t let the Reddit brigade pressure you. Your reasoning makes sense.
Sassy commenter refuses to entertain unrealistic expectations
Adopting 2 kids, NTA shuts down critics, challenges adoption hypocrisy.
Redditor defends OP’s decision to not take in troubled teen.
Think twice before taking in troubled teens. NAH.
Moving away may be a solution to take in troubled niece.
Personality formation by age 5, NTA rules the situation
NTA for prioritizing your family’s safety over troubled teen niece
Putting your family’s safety first is never a**hole behavior
Defending troubled teens with sass. NTA wins the day!
Compassionate NTA commenter advises therapy for troubled teen niece situation
Security concerns make niece’s stay with husband’s family difficult. NTA.
Defending a husband’s decision to protect his home and family.
Stand your ground and protect your family
Taking in troubled teen niece: NTA, your feelings matter.
NTA. OP isn’t responsible for troubled niece’s criminal behavior.
Offer ultimatum to troubled niece with ties to gang-banger boyfriend
Experienced therapist warns fixing niece’s trauma is hard and time-consuming
Hard truths about the situation and how to help her.
Protecting family and setting boundaries is important. NTA
Foster care may be a better option. State resources available.
A call for empathy towards a troubled teen in need
Abandoned by family, commenter praises OP for leaving toxic environment
NTA. Suggestion: Take in boys first, be resource for troubled niece.
A blunt YTA comment pointing out flawed logic with kids.
User agrees with the husband’s decision to not take in troubled teen niece.
Sincere advice on saving troubled niece with empathy
Foster care and adoption can come with residual behavioral issues
Expert recommends therapeutic foster home for troubled teen niece.
Don’t blame the messenger for predicting the inevitable
Niece messed up her chance, husband sets boundary. NTA.
Compassionate comment supports OP’s dilemma in taking troubled teen niece.
NTA: Taking in troubled teen niece is too much, already helping boys.
Former foster youth defends troubled teen niece, urges compassion ❤️
NTA’s friend successfully adopted a toddler needing therapy, but 14-year-old troubled teen needs inpatient therapy – not NTA’s responsibility.
Ex-wife’s selfishness puts troubled niece and nephews in danger
Compassionate commenter empathizes with OP and wishes ex well ❤
Former childcare professional advises seeking professional help for niece.
Helpful advice for a difficult situation
Tough love or marriage trouble? Navigating family dilemmas
Expert cautions against punishing young kids for troubled teen’s behavior
Setting boundaries can strain relationships. Communicate clearly
Former foster parent agrees that OP is NTA for not taking niece in. ♂️
YTA for not showing compassion towards your troubled niece
Don’t call dibs on other people’s children. YATAH.
Being realistic is key. Adjust expectations and show empathy.
Protecting oneself and family from dangerous teen is important
Taking in a troubled teen is not easy, you’re NAH
NTA for prioritizing own well-being over troubled niece. ✌
Suggest family counseling and exploring niece’s wishes in a safe environment
Former foster parent advises against taking in troubled teen niece.
NTA commenter urges OP to seek therapy and consider divorce.
Engaging comment urging empathy and giving troubled teen a chance
Moving in with family, but will it solve troubled teen’s problems?
Encouraging support to have a conversation and provide a choice.
Raising young kids vs troubled teens, is there a difference?
Harsh comment recommends state intervention for troubled family situation.
Get a lawyer, divorce, and run like she’s on fire
NTA, spouse making unilateral decisions on adopting/fostering is unacceptable
NTA but wife’s unilateral decision threatens marriage
A hypothetical question with no easy answer
Divorce was necessary, communication is key in relationships.
Compassionate plea to help troubled teen niece in need
Be aware of CPS and the courts before refusing to take in troubled niece
