"Van life" mom leaves family to become nomadic influencer, wholesome ex-husband steps up and adopts them for the family: 'The one good thing she did was abandon her dogs'

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Oct 24, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

The story below is one that has a beautifully wholesome ending, which is rarely the case for most stories. The protagonist is a man whose wife decided to try van life. She bought the van, moved out, and started traveling the world and trying to become an influencer for it. Through the course of her abandoning her life as a stable mom, she also abandoned her furry friends – her dogs. The ex-husband thought initially to put the dogs up for adoption, but then had a better idea. He decided that the kids could use some furry companions, and he adopted the dogs legally. 

She continually returns home and tries to win the dogs back, as well as the affection of her children, but the dogs are staying put. She's even suggested a lawsuit, which the ex-husband says, "go right ahead." It's not a given that he would adopt the dogs. They may hold an emotional space for him, but he was willing to put that aside for his children. 

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  • 01

    Am I wrong for not giving my ex-wife's dogs back?

    Kids with dog
    via Aflo Images from アフロ（Aflo） / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    My ex left me to pick up the pieces after she decided to try and be a van-life influencer. I was devastated but our kids were
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 03
    destroyed. Last year she barreled back into our lives because her van needed work and she needed a place to stay.
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 04
    I did not want her in my house with my kids. She refused to stay with her parents and because she had two dogs a hotel would have
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 05
    been expensive. My parents, my girlfriend at the time, and several old friends said I should help her out. So I took on her dogs so she could stay at a hostel.
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 06
    That worked out great because she met another nomad there. After her van was fixed they
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 07
    Van life
    via Jacob Lund / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 08
    departed together. I thank Christ every day I don't let her back into my kids life so intrusively. It was so much easier to explain that she
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 09
    was just gone again than to let them watch her leave.
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 10
    The one good thing she did was abandon her dogs. I told her to come get them but she said her new boyfriend was allergic so I should keep them for her.
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 11
    I almost took the dogs to a shelter. Instead I took them to a vet and registered them in my
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 12
    city. Now they are my dogs. Well to be honest they are my kid's and my girlfriend's dogs. The dogs love them and tolerate me.
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 13
    My ex is on town again. Great mom hasn't bothered seeing her kids since last summer but she wants her dogs back. I said no. I
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 14
    Dogs
    via Helena Lopes from Pexels / Canva

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 15
    said she left them behind like trash, like she leaves everything, so they are mine now. She made noises about suing me. I told her
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 16
    to go ahead. I would love to take this public. I'm sure her followers would love to know where her dogs were for a year and why.
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 17
    She saw the kids for an afternoon and she tried to get them to yell me to give her back the dogs. My
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 18
    kids are a little older now and see through her bullshit better. They said no.
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 19
    She is going a little crazy now and the breeder she got the dogs from won't sell her more since she abandoned the last two. She
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 20
    says that I'm trying to derail her career. And that I'm a jealous asshole that never tried to love my dreams like she is.
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 21
    I told her that my dreams have never changed. To raise my kids with a woman who loved me and our children. To have a life
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 22
    together and see it through. I said my dreams are coming together now that she has taken herself out.
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 23
    She did pay a lot for the dogs but she abandoned them in my opinion. AITAH?
    via u/Background-Rise958
  • 24
    No_Lavishness_3206 Holy crap. I remember your other post. You never answered any questions or
    via u/No_Lavishness_3206
  • 25
    updated. NTA. Your ex is kind of a monster though. Keep your kids and your dogs safe from her.
    via u/No_Lavishness_3206

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