6-year-old son refuses to get his bio mom a gift for Mother’s Day, but gets his step-mom a sentimental engraved necklace, stepmom relishes in the favoritism: “Teachers and daycare even avoid her”

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Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
May 11, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

Hey there internet goers. We're all familiar with the stereotypes about mothers. From the evil stepmother in fairytales, to the controlling and judgmental mother-in-law, mothers are infamous for their tactless behavior, their possessiveness, and their ability to become a nightmare person the second they want to or don't like someone. Do you know where this entire notion about mothers came from? It actually stems from Greek mythology, when Aprhodite was jealous of her son Cupid's love to the mortal woman Psyche. As the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite couldn't stand that there was a mortal woman on par with her beauty, to the point that gods and mortal men would pursue Psyche instead. She had Cupid go and prick her with one of his arrows so she falls in love with an ugly man in front of her, but he ends up becoming distracted by her beauty himself, and the rest is history. 

In the story below, it centers around two mothers. In this situation, it's the bio mom who's the "evil" one though. The child in question is a 6-year-old boy, and his bio mom makes his life a living nightmare. Imagine being so young and preferring to spend time with your stepmother rather than your bio mother. Read the full story below for all the juicy details. 

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  • 01

    AITA - no Mother’s Day gift for child’s step-mom

    Happy Mothers Day X
    via edenexposed from Getty Images / 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 34F, husband 35M, wondering if we're being too harsh for Mother's Day. We've been together over 3yrs, married, 1M together. We have 6M he shares 50/50 custody, and two from my previous, I have full custody. This is regarding the 6M's bio mother. Ever since he was 3, he's determined I was "mom"
    via u/purplespaghetty
  • 03
    and bio was "mommy". He didn't see "mommy" but 1x/wk for about a year. As she came back into his life, and courts allowed her to take back up to 50% custody, and that's how it was finalized. I've been more than civil toward her in person. We do not bad mouth her in front of kids. But this woman has issues, to
    via u/purplespaghetty
  • 04
    say the least. She has told 6M he can't do xx while with us, to a point he'll break down in car on way to school, cuz "mommy said he can't go with me." She makes him call me by my initials, not even step- mom. She constantly interrogates him during her time about what he
    via u/purplespaghetty
  • 05
    did while with us. I can get into detail if there's questions. She's uncouth, curt, and entirely obnoxious. Teachers and daycare avoid her like the plague, to a point they've tried to start drama with us. My husband and I usually giggle affirmingly, but say something along the lines of, that's how she is. Oh well. And cut it off.
    via u/purplespaghetty
  • 06
    I've gone out of my way, even last year, I had 6M draw a picture and had it transposed/engraved onto a necklace.
    via u/purplespaghetty
  • 07
    This year, my husband took 6M and picked out nice gift for me and flowers.
    via u/purplespaghetty
  • 08
    6M goes to mommy at 10am, empty handed. I cannot keep up with her shenanigans and feel she deserves nothing. Is this too harsh? We'll pull some roses from the rose bush or something so not entirely empty handed. But she'll
    via u/purplespaghetty
  • 09
    interrogate 6M and find out I got special gifts this year while we did nothing for her (note, we didn't exclude her if 6M wanted to get her something, cuz we aren't going to toy with his emotions like that). But she's also "stolen" holidays from us, ie celevrated them early
    via u/purplespaghetty
  • 10
    on her dsys, and 6M has come home for xx holiday and been adamant that the holiday already passed and we're pretending (all her words she's forced onto him), so I'm thinking if she's that mad about it, she can do another pretend Mother's Day for herself. Plus, we owe her nothing. I dunno. Having second thoughts, before we send 6M over to mommy.
    via u/purplespaghetty
  • 11
    Edit: 6M didn't want to make a card. He just wanted us to get flowers from our bush. So we did that. He was excited to give her. She just goes "oh thanks! Get in car you have to change for church!” Then she complained that my husband took too long to confirm
    via u/purplespaghetty
  • 12
    pickup time (it's in the parenting plan, no confirmation required). But 6M did want to show mommy the necklace he got me. Which I only feel bad about cuz I worry she's going to make 6M feel bad about it.
    via u/purplespaghetty
  • 13
    Cheezburger Image 10503221760
    via hopshomemade 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.

  • 14
    oleblueeyes75 I don't understand why you haven't gone back to court for this obvious parental alienation that seems to be profoundly affecting this child.
    via u/oleblueeyes75
  • 15
    Important_Donut_4746 NTA and not to pass the buck but this is your husbands territory, not yours for if she should get a Mother's Day gift. She's obviously very jealous of you and completely unhinged with how she treats
    via u/Important_Donut_4746
  • 16
    her child. You've got your hands full with this demon of a woman so don't let her ruin your day today! Happy Mothers Day and enjoy your kids today!
    via u/Important_Donut_4746
  • 17
    Medical_Gate_5721 I would have 6 ywar old make a card. This is teaching the child basic responsibility and courtesy. It's not a gift from your family to her. It's a gift from the child to their birth mother and is just a basic
    via u/Medical_Gate_5721
  • 18
    Goddess
    via meekBASE 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.

  • 19
    courtesy. Unless Mom rejects the gift and is an a about it, I think that's the best way to go.
    via u/Medical_Gate_5721
  • 20
    wlfwrtr NTA He can draw her a picture. It's his mom, no reason to go out of way for her. However, husband was wrong to involve son in your gift knowing she'll get after son for helping pick something for you.
    via u/wlfwrtr
  • 21
    newreddituser9572 Nta, it's not your responsibility to get something for the bio mom and your husband is under zero obligation to do it either. You take care of him, you're as
    via u/newreddituser9572
  • 22
    much a mom as bio mom now and his only responsibility is you, his kid and yalls happiness. If bio mommy wants gifts find a man who feels she's worthy of them.
    via u/newreddituser9572
  • 23
    Galadriel_60 If she is truly that bad then just be a friend to this child, because he will badly need one. And don't be surprised if the teenage years are really rough, because this child is being pulled in a lot of unstable directions.
    via u/Galadriel_60

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