17-year-old with 15 half-siblings gets chewed out by his mom for moving in with his paternal grandparents: '[Mom] called me selfish and told me I was bringing negative attention onto our family'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Dec 20, 2024 6:00 PM EST

I never understood why people would let God do their family planning for them. I see so many trad Instagram influencers with a bunch of kids, claiming that the number of kids they have naturally is the number of kids they were meant to have. I understand clinging onto this sentiment if you're a Catholic or an 18th-century farm laborer without any birth control, but if you're a modern-day Protestant, it seems a bit silly. 

Some people will have as many kids as God wills them to without any religious or dutiful reasons to back it up. It's much more common for people with more than seven kids to have that many because they're just irresponsible than to have that many because of some grand plan to have a large family. A mom or dad with 7+ children is much more likely to have those kids by multiple men/women, and the teen in this story has that on both sides. 

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10444183552
    via Andrej Lišakov (Unsplash+)

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    AITA for telling my mom moving to my grandparents is putting me first because nobody else will because I have the wrong parents?
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  • 03
    I (17M) have a really complicated family. I have older and younger half siblings on both sides. Of all the "siblings" I'm the only one without a full sibling and the only one who never gets prioritized.
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  • 04
    My dad has three women he rotates being with Anne, Jane and Heather. Dad has two kids with Anne. He has three with Jane. And three with Heather. Three of dad's kids are older than me and the other five are younger.
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  • 05
    My mom has two guys she's dating on and off Hank and Phil. She has four kids with Hank. Three with Phil. Hank's been in her life since high school and she was a teen mom to her oldest (first kid with Hank). Four of mom's kids are older than me (three with Hank and one with Phil) and three are younger.
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  • 06
    My parents basically had a fling that lasted less than a year and by the time I was born it was over. I think mom was back with Hank when I was first born. I also think dad has been married to Jane this whole time, but I don't really know.
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  • 07
    I was bounced between both houses more frequently than any of my friends with divorced parents would be. Sometimes I| spent a week or more with one parent but other times I'd be a couple of days in one house and sent to the other and sent back. I
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  • 08
    didn't have a sibling to share it with. Like yeah I had half siblings but they all had full siblings. So my parents, while maybe they cared a little, maybe. They cared way more about the kids from the longer lasting relationships.
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  • 09
    My mom's extended family saw her as trash and treated us kids the same way.
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  • 10
    In mom's house the kids stick very close to their full sibling group and so I was an outcast because of that. Dad's kids all get along a little better but they just don't like me because of who my mom is.
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  • 11
    My dad's parents are amazing and they kept me sane when I was younger and they have grown more supportive as I get older. And I asked them a few months ago if I could move in with them. They said of course and I slowly moved to their house. I didn't want to get either
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  • 12
    parent weird about it. They might not care as much about me but I'm pretty sure they don't want to look bad with a kid leaving before 18. My dad didn't care which was expected and he told me to pack the rest of my stuff at his house and he'd let me go to my grandparents. But mom was
    via u/Significant_Shirt692
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    ped when she realized. I was already living here by then. Mom asked me what the h I was thinking and she said I needed permission because I'm still a minor. She called me selfish and told me I was bringing negative attention onto our family.
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  • 14
    I told her moving in with my grandparents is putting me first and since nobody else will, because I have the wrong parents. She told me I'm an overdramatic teen and just because my half siblings don't
    via u/Significant_Shirt692
  • 15
    accept me doesn't mean she hasn't been a good mom to me. She told me I'm throwing everything away and being r ide about it too. AITA?
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  • 16
    dutchy_chris ⚫ 8h ago • Nta ofcourse. They only noticed you were moving out when you were already gone. Smh, what idiots. I have a 14yo and a 16yo and i know what they are up to (i usually keep out of it tho, the got to learn to live). Sorry your parents s k so bad
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  • 17
    Life_Barnacle_4025 My 16 year old lives in the opposite side of our country from us (moved away for school), and I still know most of the things they've been up to even though I keep out of it as you say.
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  • 18
    designatedthrowawayy Your mom thinks you're the one bringing negative attention to your family but has 8 kids by 3 different men while your dad has 9 kids by 4 different women. Like of course in a family of 15 kids you would feel pushed out. Wth.
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  • 19
    IOGIReaper family of 15 kids They literally made a football team with back up players
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  • 20
    bino0526 You deserve to be loved and paid attention to. Hang on to your grandparents. Stay with them where you will be wanted and loved.
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  • 21
    Don't be guilted or bu lied into going back to your mom's. Make sure you have your important documents (state issued ID or drivers license, birth certificate, and social security card). It's not your fault that your parents and halflings s BIG HUGS k.
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  • 22
    Curious-One4595 We know what causes pregnancy these days. Apparently your parents don't though. NTA. Classic case of having so many kids that it's impossible to give each one the love and care and guidance and parental companionship they
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  • 23
    need. And OP is getting the shortest stick. I'm sorry, OP. Enjoy the love at your grandparents. Mom doesn't want to look bad. Sorry, ma'am, that train has left the station and is already over the Alps.
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  • 24
    Low-Elevator-6090 Absolutely, you're NTA. You've found a supportive environment with your grandparents, and it's understandable you'd choose stability and affection over a chaotic home life. Everyone deserves to feel valued and supported, especially at home. Prioritizing your mental and emotional well-being is not only mature but essential. Moving in with your grandparents seems like a healthy decision for you, and it's important your mom understands this decision from your perspective, even if
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  • 25
    stardustmaster NTA. It sounds like you've been through a lot of instability and emotional neglect given the complexity of your family dynamics. Moving to your grandparents' seems like a well-considered decision made to find some stability and support that you feel is lacking from both of your parents. It's understandable that you would seek a more consistent and caring environment, especially during such a formative period of your life.
    via u/stardustmaster
  • 26
    Your mom's reaction might be influenced by her feelings of rejection or guilt, but that doesn't mean your decision is wrong. It's important to prioritize your own mental and emotional health, and living with your grandparents appears to be a positive step in that direction. You are not responsible for managing the adult reactions to your choices, especially when those choices are about safeguarding your own well-being. It's good that your grandparents are supportive and provide the stability and
    via u/stardustmaster
  • 27
    Continuing to communicate openly with your parents might help manage tensions, but ultimately, you should feel justified in making choices that best support your growth and happiness.
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  • 28
    Emotional_Fan_7011 NTA. Ask her, "exactly how have you been a good mom to me?" I would love to hear her answer. If she were a good mom, she would have noticed long ago something was wrong. She wouldn't have pushed you to go to your dad's house when you were clearly not wanted there.
    via u/Emotional_Fan_7011

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family drama teenager sibling rivalry teenagers siblings bad parenting bad parents parenting dad family grandparents sibling half sibling mom half siblings
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