Stepmother tries to force 9 and 10-year-old stepchildren to come over and spend time with her, they refuse so she takes it to court: "I deserve to show the children I love them"

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Jun 23, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

Welcome back internet people. If there's one thing therapy has taught me in all 10 years of going, it's that you can't change other people. You can't control their actions, how they feel, or how they treat you. Everyone is their own individual person. You can communicate with them about how you feel, how you want to be treated, or what you'd like the relationship to look like, but ultimately, they will only do what they want. If someone isn't serving you even after all that communication and good intention, it's okay to cut them out of your life. 


When it comes to step siblings, step parents, or stepchildren, there's even less incentive for cooperation. In the story below, the protagonist is a woman who's divorced from her husband. They share custody of their children, but his current wife seems to think she's an equal parent in the situation. To her surprise, the woman tries to force her stepchildren into loving her. Read the full story for all the juicy details. 

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01

    AITA for not agreeing to an increase in custody time at my ex's house when he won't be there but my children's stepmother and half siblings will be?

    "You're being unfair"
    via RichLegg 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.

  • 02
    My ex-husband and I have been divorced for 7 years, first separated almost 9 years ago. Our kids are 10 and 9. My ex is out of town from Monday
    via u/Evsesvermom

  • Custody battles are never easy. Divorce is a heavy weight on the couple, but it changes the children's lives forever. It's important to make the kids feel like they're not pieces of meat being picked apart. Not everyone is as tactful when it comes to these things, and the protagonist tries her best to keep everyone happy. 

  • 03
    morning to Friday morning every week due to work. Because of this our custody schedule always reflected that. He got three. weekends a month and three
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 04
    weeks every summer when he takes time off work. We alternate holidays assuming he's in town for those holidays. This has been the consistent schedule since our separation.
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 05
    Two and a half years ago my ex remarried and he and his wife asked if I would go to 50-50 and let his wife take care of our kids Monday through Friday while he's
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 06
    out of town. I said no. That I felt the kids should be with me if they weren't going to be with him. My ex said fine but his wife tried to pressure me herself. She said it
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 07
    wasn't fair to punish her and deny her a relationship with her new children because she married a man who takes his job seriously. I
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 08
    told her it was not my job to facilitate her relationship with her stepchildren, aka my children.
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 09
    A few months after that discussion they had a child of their own. Immediately my ex filed for 50-50 custody using the baby as a reason for our kids to
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 10
    stay with his wife every other week while he was out of town. The judge denied the request and said parenting time is for the
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 11
    Definition divorce Engli Divorce The le nt body.
    via Kameleon007 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.

  • 12
    parents, meaning me and meaning him. That was final and because my ex admitted to a change in his schedule and
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 13
    reduced time at home, one of his weekends was given to me. So now it's an every other weekend and the three weeks in summer schedule.
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 14
    My ex and his wife recently had another child together and they were told this baby would not change the mind of the judge
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 15
    either. So they came to me and told me that they feel I'm unfair when I refuse to let the kids go over just to be with their
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 16
    stepmother and half siblings. My ex said the kids don't want to go and that's a concern. He said they should want to spend time with their half siblings at a minimum
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 17
    Cheezburger Image 10520627200
    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.

  • 18
    and he doesn't really feel like they care about spending time with them. Having talked to my kids about if they'd want to go to their dad's house more to be with her
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 19
    and the kids, I know he's right. The kids told me they don't want to go to his house if he's not there. My ex finds this to be a huge problem and he said the
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 20
    way to fix this is 50-50 with me understanding his wife should be allowed to take care of our kids in his place. She told me she deserves to show her children
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 21
    that she loves them and doesn't see them as less than because they're not bl d. She told me I already destroyed their ability to
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 22
    have two moms by being selfish but I could at least let them bond more with the family by allowing this.
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 23
    I said no. I told my ex that it didn't feel like the right decision and the courts agree. He told me I wasn't being a good mom and instead I was putting my selfish
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 24
    wishes before what's best for the kids. His wife had a mini breakdown and ranted all over the co-parenting app ex and I use. AITA?
    via u/Evsesvermom
  • 25
    Successful_Article31 12h ago NTAH! If the ex wants 50-50 custody, he should change jobs to be there during M-F. This is obviously not a priority. It is on him.
    via u/Successful_Article31
  • 26
    AdmirableEgg7833 • 12h ago NTA. Its not your responsibility to encourage a relationship with your kids and their steps. Talk to you
    via u/AdmirableEgg7833
  • 27
    lawyer about your ex constant bu ying you to agree on 50/50.
    via u/AdmirableEgg7833
  • 28
    SquareGiraffe7373⚫ 12h ago. Go back to the judge and report her য¯¯¯e of the App that is solely meant for your communication with your Ex and him giving her access to the App too.
    via u/SquareGiraffe7373
  • 29
    She isn't a parent and should not have access to the App or be communicating with you.
    via u/SquareGiraffe7373
  • 30
    Tell him that if she keeps overstepping, you'll ask for supervised visits without her present or outside of his house.
    via u/SquareGiraffe7373
  • 31
    Her rants on the App are enough evidence to show the court that she is unstable and an unsuitable person to be around your children.
    via u/SquareGiraffe7373
  • 32
    She has two children of her own, her obsession with yours is unhealthy and disturbing.
    via u/SquareGiraffe7373

Tags

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