A father, Dave, has two children, and they stay with him for a week and their mother for the other week. They also spend more time with him during the summer because he has a beach house that they enjoy. However, Dave's ex-wife remarried and had more children with her new husband. They are upset that their children are not experiencing the same things as Dave's children, and Dave feels guilty. He sends his kids a weekly allowance, and this has caused arguments with their half-siblings. Dave got his son a Switch and clothes for Christmas, while his daughter got a new camera and MacBook. Their mother called and had a frank conversation about making their siblings feel excluded. Dave does not feel comfortable including them in their trips and gifts, and his children should not have to hide their joy or possessions. Is Dave the A-hole?
Unsplash | Unsplash
Meet Dave and his two kids, Sara and Alex 😎
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
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Co-parenting success despite family trip disagreement 👨🏻💻
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
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Beach house bonding with dad but no room for step-siblings 😔
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Step-siblings left out: Father's family trips causing hurt feelings 😔
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Kids excluded from family trips; financial situation causing tension. 😔
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
Weekly allowance causes family tension and arguments 💸
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
Generous dad gifts son IOU for PS5 and more on Christmas
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Father spoils daughter but neglects stepchildren on family trips
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Inclusive parenting is key to avoid sibling rivalry 😊
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Ex-husband denies ex-wife's kids a chance to experience beach life 🏖️
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
Divorced dad refuses to take ex-wife's kids on trips 😕
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
Father defends decision to exclude ex-wife's children from trips 🧳
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
Father defends son's right to not share switch at ex-wife's house 🎮
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Disney trip causes drama between divorced parents 🎢✨
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Ex-wife wants kids on family trips, but is it fair? 🤔
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Daughter's new car causing drama for father and ex-wife
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Ex-wife complains about father not including her kids in trips
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Finding middle ground: A peace offering for excluded children 🤝
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
Co-parenting wins: Ex-wife's kids get a Nintendo switch 🎮
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
Co-parenting win! Father includes kids in family trips post-divorce 👍
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
Father excludes stepchildren, offers to pay for games as compromise 💰
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
Ex-husband's bf upset over Target trip with Sara's kids 🤔
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
OP receives helpful advice on excluding ex-wife's children from trips.
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
Grateful for the advice on excluding ex's kids on trips 💕
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
Why this father doesn't include his ex-wife's children?
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
Siblings excluded from family trips? Here's a solution ✌️
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
Exclusion of ex-wife's children from family trips explained. 🚫👨👧👦
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
Father excludes ex-wife's children from family trips for safety reasons
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
Father prioritizes son's age and practicality over ex-wife's children.
sweetandlowlife | sweetandlowlife
Father refuses to take ex-wife's children on family trips 😭
Dave, a 44-year-old father, is facing a dilemma on whether or not to include his ex-wife's children on his family trips. Dave's kids, 16-year-old Sara and 14-year-old Alex, stay with their mother for one week and with Dave for another week, except for the summers when they go to Dave's beach house. Dave's ex-wife remarried and had more children, and they have never been on vacation or had the same experiences as Dave's kids. Dave's ex-wife wants him to include her children on the trips, but Dave is hesitant because he doesn't feel responsible for them and doesn't want his kids to hide their joy or possessions. Dave's son also refuses to share his switch with his step-siblings. Dave's ex-wife thinks that not including her children is damaging her kids mentally. Dave is seeking advice on whether or not he is the asshole for not including his ex-wife's children on his trips. Read on to see what advice he gets from Redditors.
The debate over Santa and presents, but let's not forget the real issue.
shoxford | shoxford
NTA for not including ex-wife's kids on family trips 🚶♂️💼👨👧👦, and giving extra allowance to Sara 💰👍
doodleboopen | doodleboopen
Ex-wife's children are not OP's financial responsibility. NTA.
LucidOutwork | LucidOutwork
Ex-wife's poor decision-making causes family tension and financial disparity.
[deleted] | [deleted]
No obligation to ex's kids, but considerate actions can mend relationships.
realghostofchaos | realghostofchaos
Sibling love triumphs over unfairness in gift-giving. 💕
PancakeWomen2000 | PancakeWomen2000
Blended family dynamics: NTA for not including ex's kids. 🤝
MoonLover10792 | MoonLover10792
Protecting his children's lifestyle, father needs to talk it out. 💬
Flocceenaucee | Flocceenaucee
Ex-wife punishing kids for her choices, NTA for excluding them 🙅♂️👨👧👦
Alert-Potato | Alert-Potato
Navigating economic disparity and jealousy in blended families 👍
Practical_Heart7287 | Practical_Heart7287
No obligation to ex-wife's children on family trips. NTA 🙅♂️
siddles95 | siddles95
Excluding ex-wife's children from trips: NTA, but parenting problems arise 👍
christina0001 | christina0001
Prioritizing your own children's needs doesn't make you an a**hole 🙅♂️
SoValkyrieMama | SoValkyrieMama
No obligation to include ex's kids on family trips. NTA 💼
Blue_winged_yoshi | Blue_winged_yoshi
Father not responsible for ex-wife's children, but may cause resentment.
Ryuloulou | Ryuloulou
Divorced father considers full custody, but ex-wife wants to raise kids. 🤔
Delicious_Archer_273 | Delicious_Archer_273
Father refuses to take ex-wife's kids on trips, commenters suggest adjustments.
Confident_Storm_4884 | Confident_Storm_4884
Father defends his decision, commenters disagree on sharing etiquette 🤝💼
amberwaves83 | amberwaves83
Co-parenting concerns arise over excluding ex-wife's children from trips.
CarpeCyprinidae | CarpeCyprinidae
Exes not bound to make new spouse's kids happy. 👍
Morrigan-71 | Morrigan-71
Ex-wife's kids not his responsibility, weird to insist on inclusion 🤔
NottheNSA94 | NottheNSA94
Divorced parents' conflicting material expectations cause tension and disagreement. 🤔
amjay8 | amjay8
NTA - Father prioritizes his kids, ex-wife needs to manage jealousy 💁♂️
upthecreekwthnocanoe | upthecreekwthnocanoe
Co-parenting communication is key, but NTA for treating your own kids.
Silverstream367 | Silverstream367
Step siblings on family trips: legal obligation or personal choice? 🤔
Dark_Phoenix25 | Dark_Phoenix25
Father takes no blame for ex-wife's financial situation. 🤷♂️
wedtog2020 | wedtog2020
Showing empathy towards half-siblings is important, but no obligation. NTA
gonzojeff | gonzojeff
Father considers having his ex-wife's children move in full-time.
trishlopez1 | trishlopez1
Blended family dynamics: NTA for excluding ex-wife's children from trips 💼👨👩👧👦
Mysterious-System680 | Mysterious-System680
No obligation to include ex's kids in family trips. NTA 👍
semerien | semerien
Ex-wife's entitled children? Not your problem anymore! 🙅♂️
GSstreetfighter | GSstreetfighter
Set boundaries and prioritize your own family's vacation time 🏖️
CajunKC | CajunKC
Parenting priorities and gift-giving goals 🎁👪
FancyPantsMead | FancyPantsMead
Considerate suggestion for a potentially toxic family situation 🙏
momo10567 | momo10567
Divorced parent shares experience of not owing ex-wife's children anything 🤷♂️
jeall0 | jeall0
Avoiding drama over fairness, NTA for excluding ex's children 🙅
Lovegivingadvice | Lovegivingadvice
Ex-wife expects ex-husband to include her new kids. NTA.
fromhelley | fromhelley
Suggests small gesture of kindness for ex-wife's children, NTA.
Jxb1000 | Jxb1000
Financial responsibility for step-siblings debated. NTA.
Neravariine | Neravariine
Boundaries with ex's new kids? NTA sets the record straight 🙅♂️
Eelpan2 | Eelpan2
Step siblings get lavish gifts, commenter learns to let go. 💻🎁
pokegirl395 | pokegirl395
Supporting his own children doesn't make him responsible for ex's.
Flat_Summer | Flat_Summer
Your kids, your responsibility. 🙅♂️ Keep the peace with ex.
_Bisclavert | _Bisclavert
No obligation to include ex-wife's new kids. Case closed. 🤷♂️
Altruistic-Calendar1 | Altruistic-Calendar1
Don't sweat it, NTA. 🙌
kermitstarr27 | kermitstarr27
Prioritizing your own kids over step siblings - NTA 👍
Professional_Lion713 | Professional_Lion713
Supportive comment for father who excludes ex-wife's children 🙌
[deleted] | [deleted]
Personal property boundaries respected in split family dynamics 🚫👨👦
mort-er | mort-er
Stepchildren not your responsibility. NTA, case closed. 👍
spicybEtch212 | spicybEtch212
Exclusion of ex-wife's children on trips sparks discussion on resentment
DW_Wishmaster | DW_Wishmaster
Don't let jealousy rob your kids of opportunities 👨👧👦✨
Eened | Eened
Gifts are implicit parenting decisions, discuss with co-parents! ❌👍
schottenring | schottenring
Father prioritizes his own kids over ex-wife's children. NTA.
VitalityVixen | VitalityVixen
