Dad misses 14-year-old daughter's ballet performance in favor of 1-year-old son's daycare drop off, mom demands he sort out his priorities: ‘He didn't show up at all’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jun 26, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

Kids don't remember a lot, but they do remember the times their parents showed up, and the times that they didn't. No matter how big or small the event is, whether it is a middle-school graduation or a kindergarten talent show, if you don't show up, they will know, and they will carry it with them for the rest of their life.

Sounds dramatic? That's because it is. 

Kids are dramatic, and they need their parents to be there for them. There is no way around it, no shortcuts, no discounts. If you're not there in times they need you, they will be affected by it.

If there is one thing I love to watch on TikTok, it is those videos of little kids looking for their parents before a performance; at first, they panic because they can't find them, but then their tiny faces light up when they finally spot their family in the crowd. I always tear up, and then I promise myself that when I have kids of my own, I will always show up for them.

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  • Unfortunately, this cannot be said about the dad in the story below. When his 14-year-old daughter had her big ballet performance, he was off with his 1-year-old son, and his daughter will forever remember that he did not show up. 

    Keep scrolling to read the full story.

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    Cheezburger Image 10521134592
    via AleksandarNakic

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

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    AITA for telling my ex-husband that he needs to sort out his priorities?

    I (34F) and my ex-husband, Jerry (35M) divorced around 4 years ago, and we have a 14 year old daughter together. He got remarried to his wife,
    via [deleted]
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    Laura (33F) 2 years ago, and they have a son together (1 M). My daughter's passion is ballet, and she's been training
    via [deleted]
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    since she was 5. Her training company had put on a production of Swan Lake, where she played a double role of the leads. It was her
    via [deleted]
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    dream project, and she was thrilled to do it. My ex- husband and I supported her all the way through rehearsals.
    via [deleted]
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    On the day of the show, I had arrived at the auditorium before the show started. I continuously kept on messaging Jerry as to when he
    via [deleted]
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    would arrive, but he kept on telling me that he had to drop off his son to his first day in daycare before he came there. He didn't show up at all, and
    via [deleted]
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    my daughter was almost on the verge of tears. However, she got thunderous applause from the audience, as she was perfect.
    via [deleted]
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    Cheezburger Image 10521135104
    via Kazuo ota

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

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    Later, my ex-husband called me up, telling me that his son started crying when he was about to drop off him to daycare, and he had to stay
    via [deleted]
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    back to calm him down and put him to sleep, which delayed the entire thing. I told him that his priority should be our daughter, and that his son
    via [deleted]
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    has Laura to calm him down and put him to sleep. He called me selfish, and now he put his mom on my trail to berate me and call me selfish. AITA?
    via [deleted]
  • 13
    Mizukiheart2503 NTA, it is not uncommon for toddlers to cry when leaving their parents but it doesn't give him any excuse to not attend the show his daughter has been practicing for so much time.
    via Mizukiheart2503
  • 14
    stopthecap03 NTA. He ditched your daughter's big moment for a crying toddler who had another parent home. You just told him the truth, he didn't like hearing it. That's on him.
    via stopthecap03
  • 15
    567Anonymous Was Swan Lake at 8am or something? I don't understand how a ballet performance was the same time as daycare drop off?
    via 567Anonymous
  • 16
    Patently Ridiculous You aren't wrong but you can't be his mom too. Let him bury himself Take care of your daughter
    via PatentlyRidiculous
  • 17
    teasingorb He had weeks to plan for both things..this wasn't some surprise. Priorities matter and your daughter deserved better. You're NTA.
    via teasingorb
  • 18
    TheRealBabyPop People really need to learn what the word "selfish" actually means. ΝΤΑ
    via TheRealBabyPop
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    WomanInQuestion NTA - his son won't remember who soothed him. His daughter will have this day seared into her brain for the rest of her life.
    via WomanInQuestion

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family drama aita baby kids mother siblings reddit story parenting performance ballet family sister Reddit women parents children Father
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