17-year Old Cuts Contact With Absent Father After Years of Favoritism Towards His Step-brother, Tensions Rise With His Mother When She Finds Out

Briana Viser • Writer and Editor

Sep 12, 2024 2:00 PM EDT

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. It's always heartbreaking when a parent isn't there for you. Growing up without a mother figure or father figure is difficult, and can cause problems in emotional development, attachment styles, and expectations in romantic relationships. It's hard to navigate the world without adult supervision, even when you're an adolescent and early adult. We all need a parent there for us.

In this Reddit thread, the boy's parents divorced when he was very young, at only 2-years old. He hasn't really had a father figure after the divorce, as his dad went on to remarry and have another kid. As the boy turns 17 and approaches the time he'll be attending college, the father suddenly wants to make amends, and apologizes for not being there for the boy. Blindsided, the boy tells his father he's not interested in having a relationship with him, and I don't blame him.