’He was never around me enough for me to care about him’: 15-year-old son decides to move away with mother without saying goodbye to his estranged father and half-siblings

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Mar 19, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

When one of our parents decides early on that they would rather not be an active force in our lives, usually that should be a hint to their character. It's one thing to leave because the parent knows the absence of them in your life will benefit you more than their presence would, but that's not always the case. 

Many parents decide to get up and get gone simply because they don't want to take responsibility for the person they've brought into the world. Then, when you least expect it, they'k=ll show up in your life again with little remorse, a new wife, and some new kids. Say hello to your new siblings!

Such is the case in this next story when a 15-year-old boy's father refrains from being in his life for years when he was a young child. The father is now back, and the boy is forced to spend time with his father, his new wife, and his half-siblings. However, he and his mother are now moving away to be closer to her side of the family, and the 15-year-old teen refuses to give his father's family the benefit of a goodbye. That doesn't go over well with his father. Scroll to read.

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  • You can't force family, that's the bottom line. A 15-year-old is old enough to understand what they do and don't want in their life, and if that is his estranged father and stranger half-siblings, then so be it. Forcing a relationship that is not promised to be fruitful is a recipe for disaster and will end up hurting everyone involved tenfold in the long run. 

  • "I didn't really develop a relationship with them in the 5 years since I found out [my father] existed."
    via Nekane Gonzales for Unsplash

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • "AITA for not telling my half siblings I'm moving away and won't see them anymore leaving our father to do it?"

    My mom got permission from a judge to move to another state with me (15m). I wanted to go and I'm excited to move closer to my mom's family so I can hang out with the cousins I'm close to more and I have friends in mom's home town too.
    via Spilmelor
  • My father (because he's not a dad) is mad about it. I already don't spend a lot of time there. But once I move I have nothing to bring me back here. But my father has two kids with his wife.
    via Spilmelor
  • They're 6 and 4 and the 6 year old gets excited to see me and thinks of me as a real brother while I don't think of him or his sister as siblings and I didn't really develop a relationship with them in the 5 years since I found out he existed. Guess I should make that make sense.
    via Spilmelor
  • So when my parents broke up (they weren't ever married) my father didn't spend much time with me or pay much attention to me. When I was with him (and I think it was only because of child
    via Spilmelor
  • support) he'd dumb me on whatever woman he was having S with. He had a lot of girlfriends. They'd be left babysitting while he worked or went to bars or whatever else he did.
    via Spilmelor
  • His wife was one of those women. But he dropped her for others and her son was 1 before she told my father about him. She and her son moved in with him and they got married and had
    via Spilmelor
  • another kid. When she moved in she tried to be there for me but I kept my distance. She told me she wanted me and her son to be close and for her son to see his brother being a part of the family
    via Spilmelor
  • and she wanted me to agree to try for that reason. But I didn't want to and I was never a total a hole but I just never cared. I spent as little time as I could
    via Spilmelor
  • there and never cared about any of them. That means my father too. He was never around me enough for me to care about him.
    via Spilmelor
  • Cheezburger Image 10481529344
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Last year my father lost his job so he was around the house more and taking care of his younger kids. Still didn't do good enough to be called a dad but I think the time in the house is why this is an
    via Spilmelor
  • issue now. Because he's around his kids to hear them complain and to deal with the tears and stuff. He told me I needed to be at his house more because the kids missed me but I just ignored him.
    via Spilmelor
  • Now the move is a way bigger thing and he knows I won't be coming back. I don't think he actually cares. But his 6 year old will probably miss me since he gets excited and stuff when I'm
    via Spilmelor
  • there. I won't be sitting him down and saying anything. I don't even think I'll say goodbye. The last time I have to be there I'll leave as normal and then the move will happen. But my father wants me
    via Spilmelor
  • to do it and he told me it's infuriating that I'm leaving him to clean up the mess that comes from my choice. He told me his kids will feel bad that I just left and didn't care enough to say
    via Spilmelor
  • goodbye. I told him that was his problem since I don't care and he doesn't even care if he sees me again he just doesn't want to deal with everything after I move.
    via Spilmelor
  • His wife heard us fight about it and she told me I owe her kids some kind of talk because they bonded with me even though I didn't with them and they're too innocent to be collateral damage. AITA?
    via Spilmelor
  • Efficient_Way6064 NTA you don't owe them anything after how your dad treated you.
    via Efficient_Way6064
  • Mother Search3350 Not your monkeys not your circus All the best with the move and I hope you have a fantastic life surrounded by family and friends who love and care about you and your happiness and not using you like some emotional support animal for their kids. NTAH
    via Mother_Search3350
  • mysterious_nomad NTA. Your dad sounds very selfish and is acting like a hypocrite. You don't owe him, his wife, or their kids anything. They're young and likely won't remember you after a few years. And even if the 6 year old who likes you, does remember you, they can look you up when they're an adult if they want to try to reconnect. But your dad can be the one to tell them why you're leaving, because ultimately, it sounds like it's because of HIM and his carelessness towards you.
    via mysterious_nomad
  • QueenbieCozy Honestly, you're moving away and not telling them is probably the best way to handle the situation. Saying goodbye might make it more emotional and drawn out. Plus, you don't owe them anything since you didn't develop a relationship with them in the first place. NTA.
    via QueenbieCozy

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reddit stories family dynamics family drama aita entitled parents AITAH blended family reddit story family feud parenting family reddit thread Reddit Parenting Fail parents Parenting FAILS
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