A mother of three children received backlash online for refusing to buy a Christmas gift for her ex-husband’s daughter, who he fathered during an affair while they were still married. The woman, known as NovelDot112 on Reddit, has full custody of their three shared children, aged 11 and 9-year-old twins, while her ex-husband sees them every other weekend. She has had minimal contact with the child from the affair, who is now 4 years old, and described the lack of connection between her children and their half-sister.
The ex-husband accused the mother of lacking compassion because she refused to buy a gift for the child from his affair. He also has full custody of the 4-year-old because the biological mother is uninvolved and does not pay child support. Additionally, he has faced financial struggles since losing his job, resulting in a reduced child support payment for their shared children. He warned their children that they would only receive small Christmas gifts from him due to his financial situation.
The ex-husband asked the mother to buy a gift for his daughter or help their children pick out something for their half-sister, but she refused, stating that she has no relationship with the child and does not feel it is her responsibility. When he dropped off their shared children after a weekend visit and saw the gifts under her tree, he accused her of being cruel and selfish to an innocent child. The mother sought advice from the Reddit community, asking if she was wrong for not getting the child something for Christmas given her ex-husband’s financial struggles.
Many Reddit users supported the mother, stating that she is not obligated to provide for the child of her ex-husband’s affair. They advised her to focus on her own children and not feel guilty for his financial difficulties. Some users mentioned organizations and charities that could provide gifts for his children. Overall, the majority of comments sided with the mother and criticized the ex-husband for expecting her to step in when he was the one who created the situation.
The Reddit post garnered over 11,000 upvotes and 5,000 comments, with many users expressing outrage on behalf of the mother. The consensus was that she was not in the wrong for refusing to buy a gift for the child of her ex-husband’s affair. The mother was declared not the "a**" in the situation, and many praised her for standing her ground and prioritizing her own children. Overall, the story sparked a dialogue about parental responsibility, family dynamics after divorce, and how to navigate challenging situations involving blended families and financial struggles.
