18-year-old embarrasses stepmom at family dinner, she refuses to apologize after stepmother continually tries to take the place of her bio mom: “It’s like she’s always trying to compete with my mom”

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Mar 27, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. The world is a strange and unusual place. It's had civilization wondering about its origins, meanings, and philosophies since the beginning of time. Where did we come from? Why are we here? Is there an answer to these questions, or just eternal ponderings? There's a lot of hustle and bustle, and it can be distracting once you're in the rat race of life. None of this has to do specifically with family relations, stepmothers, or the story below, but I wanted to go on an existential musing anyway. 

Stepmothers have a reputation for a reason. They seem to always act a bit possessive, overbearing maybe, as if they want to be the "mother" to their stepdaughter or stepson. This usually comes at a price for their relationship to their stepchildren, because no one likes to be forced into an unrequited relationship. 

The story below is about a stepmother and her stepdaughter. The protagonist lost her mom many years ago, but even at 18-years-old she still thinks of her bio mom as her "mother," and not her stepmother. Read the full story below for all the juicy details. 

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01

    AITAH for embarrassing my stepmom at dinner after she tried to “teach me a lesson” about my real mom?

    "You think being a mom is trying to erase the actual one"
    via Foxys_forest_manufacture from Getty Images Pro / Canva

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

  • 02
    I (18F) live with my dad and my stepmom (43F). My mom passed away when I was 10, and it's still a sensitive subject for me. My stepmom came into the picture a couple of years later, and while we're civil, we're definitely not close.
    via u/ImaginaryStop6423
  • 03
    She's always had this weird vibe ― like she's trying to compete with my mom even though my mom isn't here. She gets snippy when I talk about her or wear anything that belonged to her (like my mom's old necklace I wear basically every day).
    via u/ImaginaryStop6423
  • 04
    Anyway, a few nights ago, we were out for dinner with my dad, stepmom, and her parents. Her mom asked about the necklace, and I said, "It was my mom's. She gave it to me before she passed. I wear it every day."
    via u/ImaginaryStop6423
  • 05
    Stepmom immediately cut in with, "Well, technically I'm your mom now. I've done more mothering in the last 8 years than she did in 10."
    via u/ImaginaryStop6423
  • 06
    I swear the whole table went silent. I just laughed and said, "If you think being a mom is about trying to erase the actual one, then yeah, you've been amazing."
    via u/ImaginaryStop6423
  • 07
    She looked like she'd been slapped. Her mom gasped. My dad told me to apologize, but I refused. I said I was tired of her acting like my mom never existed, and I wasn't going to play along anymore.
    via u/ImaginaryStop6423
  • 08
    Cheezburger Image 10485164032
    via Maryam from Pexels / Canva

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

  • 09
    Now my stepmom is barely speaking to me, and my dad says I "need to be the bigger person" because "she's just trying to connect."
    via u/ImaginaryStop6423
  • 10
    But to me, that didn't feel like connection that felt like erasure. - AITA for calling her out in front of everyone?
    via u/ImaginaryStop6423
  • 11
    . Fast-Opening-1051 14h ago Nta Who the f thinks that belittling a de d parent is "connecting" that's disgusting and your dad's missing his spine just like your step mum's missing her heart
    via u/Fast-Opening-1051
  • 12
    -babypink ⚫14h ago NTA period. I don't even. have anything else to say, how dare she say that to you
    via u/babypink
  • 13
    • ivygreen_2 14h ago Thats no way to connect at all. Saying she has done more parenting than your own mom who passed. Thats so insensitive and she got served
    via u/ivygreen_2
  • 14
    Funny-Wafer1450 • 14h ago NTA. She is the one who owes you an apology, and so does your dad. He should be sticking up for you.
    via u/Funny-Wafer1450
  • 15
    And your reply was perfect. Sometimes evil stepparents forget that children grow up to be adults who don't have to take their b.s. anymore. She just got a lesson in that. Good for you.
    via u/Funny-Wafer1450
  • 16
    Gemfyre1 • 14h ago Nta. Why does the teenager need to be the bigger person?
    via u/Gemfyre1
  • 17
    Celestial Moth38 • 14h ago Well, if being a mom means trying to outshine a ghost, I think your stepmom just got haunted!
    via u/Celestial Moth38
  • 18
    Cheezburger Image 10485163776
    via aldomurillo from Getty Images Signature / Canva

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

  • 19
    Megaholt 14h ago Yeah, no-she crossed a line she shouldn't have, and you did nothing wrong there.
    via u/Megaholt
  • 20
    Round-Ticket-39 • 14h ago Look.. even her parents know she oversteped
    via u/Round-Ticket-39
  • 21
    anaisaknits • 14h ago NTA. Your father is an AH for allowing her to continue with her nasty vibes and little attacks. If anyone needs to apologize it is her to you. This coming from a mom.
    via u/anaisaknits
  • 22
    PrairieGrrl5263 • 14h ago NTA. She started, you finished. Fair play.
    via u/PrairieGrrl5263
  • 23
    She disrespected your mother and her role in your life. Your father should have called her out for that but failed to. Where he failed, you succeeded. NEVER apologize for defending your mother's memory.
    via u/PrairieGrrl5263

Tags

family drama drama teenagers stepmom family feud relationships lol love family reddit thread Reddit funny dating
Scroll Down For The Next Article