What would you do if your daughter signed away custody of her children, abandoned them for three years, and then wanted to return as if nothing ever happened? Well, that’s the exact situation Reddit user u/Formal_Pizza4243 is facing, and it’s a tricky one.
The Redditor recently shared her story in the AITA (Am I The A**hole?) subreddit, explaining that the whole situation is a “big roller-coaster.” You see, the OP has a daughter named Maya, who has two young sons, Jake and Noah.
Maya had Jake when she was just 17, so the OP and her husband helped out a lot with caring for their grandson. Noah was born when Maya was 19, and soon after, the father of the boys stopped being involved.
Maya was living with her parents with both of her children rent-free for three years until she began dating a wealthy man online. She told her parents that she wanted to move away and live with him and begged them to take custody of her kids so that she could “live her dream.”
Understandably, the OP and her husband were very disappointed in their daughter and her lack of responsibility. But they agreed to take custody for the children’s sake.
So Jake and Noah became the legal responsibility of their grandparents. They struggled emotionally with their mother’s abandonment, so the OP made sure they received therapy to help them cope with the situation.
But last month, out of nowhere, Maya contacted her parents and said her relationship had ended. She asked if she could come home and be with her kids again.
Our OP and her hubby told their daughter that they would not allow her to see her children after what she had put them through. And now, the OP is asking for the Reddit community’s advice.
The Redditor recently shared her story in the AITA subreddit, explaining that the whole situation is a “big roller-coaster.”
Reddit/Formal_Pizza4243
Maya was living with her parents with both of her children rent-free for three years until she began dating a wealthy man online.
Reddit/Formal_Pizza4243
Maya decided she wanted to move away to be with her new man.
Reddit/Formal_Pizza4243
She begged them to take custody of her kids so that she could “live her dream.”
Reddit/Formal_Pizza4243
Jake and Noah struggled emotionally with their mother’s abandonment.
Reddit/Formal_Pizza4243
So the OP and her husband made sure they received therapy to help them cope with the situation.
Reddit/Formal_Pizza4243
But last month, out of nowhere, Maya contacted her parents and said her relationship had ended. She asked if she could come home and be with her kids again.
Reddit/Formal_Pizza4243
Understandably, the OP and her hubby told their daughter that they would not allow her to see her children after what she had put them through.
Reddit/Formal_Pizza4243
Here’s how people reacted.
Reddit/Fattdog64
NTA.
Reddit/SuperMicklovin
“Please stick to your decision.”
Reddit/mehrunesxerxes
“You’re protecting those boys.”
Reddit/unseasoned_fanny6521
“This is a tough one.”
Reddit/srdnss
“Your daughter is unfit to be a mother.”
Reddit/Icy-Trip8716
“Collateral damage.”
Reddit/EverElizabeth
“She is just looking for the next free ride.”
Reddit/Bitter-Conflict-4089
“She misses free rent.”
Reddit/endymion2300
“She already picked a man over the boys.”
Reddit/corgwin
“You’re their parents now.”
Reddit/herdingcats2020
“You have to think of the boys.”
Reddit/Bchypoo68
“She can’t waltz back into their lives like nothing happened.”
Reddit/JaayJaay1970
The kids need to be ready.
Reddit/Particular_Produce63
“Save the children.”
Reddit/Max-Powers1984
“She made her decision.”
Reddit/Geekrock84
The boys are the priority.
Reddit/NUT-me-SHELL
She has to live with her choice.
Reddit/Linkblade0
She can’t just drop her children whenever she feels like it.
Reddit/Blyxons
What’s your take on this situation? Do you think the OP should allow Maya to see her children, or is it entirely reasonable for the Redditor to keep her away from the boys?
There’s no denying that Maya has not been a mother to her children. And the OP is just trying to protect her grandsons from further heartbreak.
We always love to hear from you! You can share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
