Woman Excludes Son From Lavish Vacation With Her Daughter, Leading to Ex-husband Filing for Full Custody When Hears of Her Obvious Favoritism

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Nov 3, 2024 2:00 PM EST

It's never easy to watch your parents get divorced. The legal disputes and separate houses can embitter a child with resentment that lasts their entire life. Divorce should be done with tact and empathy for the child's needs. Split families can result in splitting relationships and growing favoritism, either by the child or the parent. 

How would you feel if your sibling was being taken on a luxurious vacation by your mother, but you weren't invited? 

In this Reddit thread, the original poster (OP) is a divorced man whose wife is taking their daughter on a luxurious vacation to Paris, without their son. OP can tell how the trip is affecting his son, and how he feels less loved by his mother. Wanting to protect his son's feelings, he insists to his ex that she take both the children. His ex-wife refuses, which leads to threats about the children's custody. 

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01
    r/AITAH 16 hr. ago cosmicbabeonrise AITA for refusing to let my ex-wife take our daughter on a lavish vacation because I think it's unfair to our son?
    via u/cosmicbabeonrise
  • 02
    My (35M) ex-wife (32F) and I divorced two years ago after a rough split. We share two kids, a 12-year-old son and a 9-year-old daughter. My ex has always been the "fun" parent, while I handle the day-to-day stuff. She recently got engaged to a wealthy guy and has been spending a lot of money on experiences for the
    via u/cosmicbabeonrise
  • 03
    kids, which I get, but it's starting to create issues.
    via u/cosmicbabeonrise
  • 04
    Here's the problem: my ex announced she's taking our daughter on a trip to Paris. Just her and our daughter, not our son. When I asked why, she said it was a "bonding experience" because our daughter loves art, and this was her way of making up for time missed when she was young. I get that. But I see how
    via u/cosmicbabeonrise
  • 05
    hurt my son is by it. He asked why he isn't going, and she brushed it off, saying she'd take him somewhere "someday."
    via u/cosmicbabeonrise
  • 06
    I don't think that's fair. I think both kids should have the same experiences, or it'll cause resentment. I told her it wasn't okay to just leave him out, especially after he's already been struggling with the divorce and feeling like he's "less loved" by her.
    via u/cosmicbabeonrise
  • 07
    I then took it a step further and said if she goes through with this, I'll file for full custody because she's emotionally neglecting our son. Now she's furious, calling me controlling and saying I'm punishing her for moving on and having the means to provide better experiences for the kids. She accused me of wanting them to be miserable just because I
    via u/cosmicbabeonrise
  • 08
    can't afford the same. That's not true. I just want both kids to feel equally valued.
    via u/cosmicbabeonrise
  • 09
    She's still planning on going, and I'm digging my heels in. The kids don't know about the custody threat, but my family thinks I'm overreacting and should let it go. Am I the a hole for trying to stop this trip....?
    via u/cosmicbabeonrise
  • 10
    celticmusebooks • 16h ago • Can she actually take your daughter out of the country without you signing off on it?
    via u/celticmusebooks
  • 11
    Agoraphobe961 • 16h ago • NTA. There's nothing wrong with an amazing experience like a Euro-trip as bonding time, but she needs to also be making an effort with your son. If she had planned Paris for baby girl and then a trip to Italy with your son, that would've been a
    via u/Agoraphobe961
  • 12
    comparable trip. Not Paris for one and nothing for the other.
    via u/Agoraphobe961
  • 13
    ZippyKoala 16h ago • NTA - it would be fine if she said that yes, she's taking your daughter to Paris and then had a firm plan in the immediate future to take your son somewhere equally foreign and exciting for something he is interested in, but "somewhere,
    via u/ZippyKoala
  • 14
    someday" doesn't cut the mustard.
    via u/ZippyKoala
  • 15
    tsscaramel 16h ago NTA. Start saving text messages and get that full custody because your ex's attitude tells me that she's already picked a favourite so you'll need to be the one fighting for your son.
    via u/tsscaramel
  • 16
    E 14h ago Edited 14h ago OP, if you are in the US, she will need your permission to take your daughter out of the country. To get a passport, you BOTH have to be at the office.
    via u/Emotional_Fan_7011
  • 17
    • XplodingFairy... 16h ago. Well she can't take your daughter out of the country without your permission so there's that.
    via u/XplodingFairy
  • 18
    I would allow it IF she planned an equally meaningful one on one trip with your son within a reasonable amount of time but that can start being planned now so he doesn't feel left out in the moment.
    via u/XplodingFairy
  • 19
    Weekly_Cantal... • 16h ago we have done solo trips with mom 1 kid it never caused any issues but both kids knew about it way in advance and knew they would get their own trips as well
    via u/Weekly_Cantal
  • 20
    edit: we let them pick their own destinations (one went California for Disney Land, the other went Florida for Disney World lol I was like. they could have taken one trip!)
    via u/Weekly_Cantal

Tags

family drama drama siblings family feud relationships lol divorce love family reddit thread Reddit funny money dating vacation
Scroll Down For The Next Article