'I was sick of being blamed for his awful kids': Mom kicks out 16-year-old daughter after her husband's kids break the TV, blames daughter for stepkids getting taken away by CPS

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Aug 31, 2024 8:00 PM EDT

One of the most defining emotions of being a teenager is feeling blamed. Teenagers are the ultimate scapegoats by their parents and teachers because so much is expected of them, and they rarely have the tools to live up to said expectations. They're expected to bear adult responsibilities without the freedoms of adulthood. Combine that unjust situation with teenage hormones, and you are presented with a person who is unlikely to be super happy. 

I hate to see teens being tasked with raising their younger siblings because they aren't old enough for that responsibility. If they babysit occasionally, that's different, but handing your kids over to a teen and telling them "good luck" is neglectful at best. The latter is what happened to the teen at the center of this story. She was forced to take care of her step-siblings, and things got messy when she couldn't rise to the occasion.

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    Cheezburger Image 10396972032
    via Alexis Brown

    Photo does not depict the real subject in the story

  • 02
    AITA for getting my step-siblings taken away after my mom and step-dad kicked me out?
    via u/Scary-Indication-531
  • 03
    I (16F) am in a really bad situation and I'm not sure if I did the right thing so I need some input from internet people because idk if I trust any of the adults around me anymore.
    via u/Scary-Indication-531
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    My parents split up a couple of years ago because my mom cheated. I haven't seen my dad since he left because he moved out of state but he calls or texts sometimes. So I lived with my mom even though I didn't want to because she moved her boyfriend in and I hate both of them. He came with two kids (7M,5M) that he has most of the time and they are the worst behaved kids I've ever met. I was always in trouble because I would have to babysit them but they crash around and break things and I'm not a
    via u/Scary-Indication-531
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    They took my phone so I tried to call my dad from a friend's phone but he never answered and I couldn't remember my grandma's number. My friend told her parents even though I asked her not to tell anyone and they called the cops and it turned into a whole thing. My mom told them that I ran away because I was mad I had to babysit but they didn't believe her I guess because my grandma finally came and picked me up and she says I'm staying with her until my dad can get here to take me back with him
    via u/Scary-Indication-531
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    WintonWintonWinton 3d ago My grandma says it's not my problem but I know the kids hate going to their mom's because they pitch a fit any weekend they have to go. Also I know this is a big hassle for my grandma even though she doesn't say anything and it's not good for her health. Now my dad has to come back from overseas to deal with it too. Maybe I should have just apologized even though it wasn't my fault and waited it out. The kids: Are probably getting the parenting they need at their mom'
    via u/WintonWintonWinton
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    Grandma: She's dealing with the consequences of your mom's parenting/dad's absent parenting. her, but that's not your fault. for That environment is not great for you. Stick it out with Grandma and talk to your dad about it. Hopefully they'll work something out.
    via u/WintonWintonWinton
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    Individual_Trust_414 3d ago • Exactly, Mom has rules and dude's kids don't want any rules. I think you hit it precisely.
    via u/Individual_Trust_414
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    Fit_Lengthiness_396 • 3d ago And they are with their mother. They didn't go into the system. So, dude should shut his yapping yap.
    via u/Fit_Lengthiness_396
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    Extra-Visit-8385 • 3d ago All of this! And, while you are at your Grandma's, spend the time with her. Talk to her. Help her where you can. Given that you are worried about the impact to you, I assume you have a good relationship. She won't be around forever so make sure this is a time that you can remember fondly rather than only think about the insanity you were pulled out of.
    via u/Extra-Visit-8385
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    Capable_Platypus_158 • 3d ago Yes!! Even though you're in a rough situation, please don't take it out on the one person who was there for you in your time of need. You're NTA
    via u/Capable_Platypus_158
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    SugarCrisp7.3d ago And OP, thank your friend and their parents for having your back. They did the right thing for you when you weren't thinking straight
    via u/SugarCrisp7
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    ProgrammerLevel2829 • 3d ago - Regardless of all of that, those two wastes of space mom and stepdad - threw a minor child out of the house and took her only way to contact adults (her dad and grandma) who could protect and care for her. That is abuse. It is a terrible thing to do. A chill goes down my spine, thinking about the terrible things that could happen to OP on the streets by herself.
    via u/ProgrammerLevel2829
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    OP, you are worthy of love and protection. You are not a burden. Please let your grandma and dad care for you without guilt. You did nothing wrong. The adults failed you. I hope that things go better for you in your father's home. Your mom and stepdad don't deserve to have children.
    via u/ProgrammerLevel2829
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    ehh_ycantwegetalong ⚫ 3d ago the phone is also probably why the cops didn't believe OP ran away. No kid is going to leave behind their phone with the phone numbers of their primary contacts.
    via u/ehh_ycantwegetalong
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    Consistent-Ad1051 • 3d ago Exactly!!! The mom is an idiot if she thought she could kick her 16 year old out without a phone and not get in trouble with the authorities. That is child neglect!! OF COURSE OP would have to seek out an adult to shelter her and of COURSE said adult would feel obligated to report it to the authorities. The mom is an idiot and a
    via u/Consistent-Ad1051
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    East Hospital_2775 • 3d ago NTA and this is so not your fault. Child services doesn't remove children for an isolated incident like this. Either you're leaving out details you think are irrelevant, or there is additional you don't know. I'm sorry you're having to deal with all that, and I'm more sorry someone made you feel like this was on you.
    via u/East_Hospital_2775
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    owl_duc 3d ago It might have been the excuse the kid's mother and her lawyer were waiting for to pounce, but yeah, still not Op's circus.
    via u/owl_duc
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    Bleh3325 3d ago • This is exactly what I came to say. I used to be a CPS caseworker. There had to be a different reason to remove the smaller kids. OP, don't beat yourself up. You're not responsible for this at all.
    via u/Bleh3325
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    Edit: wow I didn't expect so many responses. Thanks for telling me that it's not my fault. I feel like I'm a big problem for everyone all the time so it's nice to hear maybe it's not me. It's just I feel really bad and I'm scared. I don't want to go back to mom. My grandma said that I can stay with her for as long as I want and she's happy to have me but I'm afraid everyone will change their mind. I really hope my dad gets here soon and that he doesn't get in trouble for having to come get me. H
    via u/Scary-Indication-531

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parents of teens family drama kids teenagers bad parenting bad parents raising teens family stepdad parent mom Parenting Fail parents Parenting FAILS children
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