-
Schoolchildren boarding school bus going for field trip.
Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
-
This dad has split custody of his 7-year-old son with his ex-wife, Abi. Abi is remarried and has a 7-year-old stepdaughter, and the two kids are in the same grade at school. Abi also has really poor financial management skills, which is one of the reasons why she split up with her first husband.
The two kids have a school field trip to a museum coming up soon, and it costs $25 to go on it. Dad easily paid for his son, without Abi's help, and about a week before the trip, Abi asked him to also cover for her stepdaughter.
Now, while we can all agree that the 7-year-old kid does not deserve to miss a fun school trip because her mom is so bad with money that she can't afford to pay $25 for her to go, is that really a problem this father has to deal with? He has nothing to do with the stepdaughter, other than her attending the same school as his son, and he doesn't think he should carry the financial burden of her.
Plus, he knows that once he starts giving his ex-wife money for her stepdaughter's needs, he will never stop. She will never stop asking for money, and saying no now is a crucial boundary to ensure that doesn't happen.
The question is: is $25 worth risking the father's relationship with Abi and perhaps causing strain in the whole family dynamic?
-
AITAH for not paying $25 so my son's stepsister could go on their grades field trip?
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Sad-looking young girl at a school field trip.
Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Like what you see? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.