My stepchildren treated me like their real mother for many years, but when their biological mother reappeared, everything changed. They pushed me to the limit until I left their house. A few days later, they begged me to come back.
I’ve been married to my husband, Tommy, for six years. He has two 16-year-old twin boys, Jack and Lily, whose mother hasn’t been a part of their lives since they were eight.
Twins on a yacht | Source: Pexels
When Tommy and I got together, we went to family therapy, and I made it clear that I wasn’t there to replace their mother. We wanted to make sure my transition into their lives was smooth and didn’t affect the children’s mental and emotional well-being.
Children in therapy | Source: Pexels
Things have been going well for the past six years, and I think therapy has a lot to do with it. The twins even started calling me Mom around the age of 12 or 13. However, things have gotten worse in recent months.
A daughter hugging her mother | Source: Pexels
Their biological mother, Maggie, has returned to their lives. The children were initially skeptical, but they were ultimately thrilled to have her back. I, too, was happy to see the twins establish a relationship with their biological mother.
Shocked twins | Source: FreePik
However, after about six months with Maggie, they started calling me by my real name, Carol. It hurt, but I never challenged it. It was their right to call me by my first name, since the title “Mom” belonged to someone else.
A sad woman | Source: Pexels
But things went downhill from there. They started disrespecting me, sometimes ignoring me when they came home late. They no longer respected curfew rules, stopped cleaning up after themselves, and started talking back to me. What hurt me most was that they insisted I wasn’t their real mother.
Three weeks ago, there was a huge argument during which the twins called me names. I cry every time I remember them calling me names. They even accused me of causing their parents to split up. This was untrue, as I didn’t meet Tommy until two years after the breakup. When I stood my ground and got angry at them for their disrespect, they went to live with Maggie.
Upset twins | Source: FreePik
Tommy knew what had happened and didn’t support me. He didn’t tell his children and claimed they had the right to live with their mother if they wanted. I was heartbroken and felt disrespected.
A bored man with his hand on his face | Source: Pexels
To teach them and my husband a lesson, I canceled our planned Disney World vacation. They didn’t believe I would cancel a pre-paid outing, but when Thursday night arrived and I hadn’t started the usual vacation preparations, they were shocked.
Incredulous twins | Source: FreePik
The twins were furious. Jack and Lily called me jealous, selfish, and horrible. “You’re just jealous because our mother came back and you’re nothing. We never loved you to begin with!” said Lily. Tommy stood there, silent.
“Tommy, are you going to intervene?” I asked him, hoping he would support me.
“You were wrong to cancel, Carol,” he said calmly.
A couple arguing | Source: Pexels
That was the final straw. I packed my bags and went to the hotel. Tommy flooded my phone with calls and texts, asking me to come back. He claimed I was overreacting and shouldn’t have canceled the trip.
A woman on her phone | Source: Pexels
Yesterday, he told me that Maggie had disappeared again. The twins went back to their father’s house and asked where I was. When their father revealed that I had left because of their behavior over the past few months, the children started crying. He also told them that I was filing for divorce.
Jack and Lily suddenly realized that I was an important maternal figure in their lives. They also realized that as soon as their biological mother realized she needed to take care of her children instead of partying, she quickly left without saying goodbye.
A woman crying next to another person | Source: Pexels
The children were in tears. They called me to apologize and ask me to come back. I knew I could easily forgive them, but I doubted I would ever be able to come back. I was not only angry at the children for disrespecting me, but also furious that my husband didn’t support me. The children sincerely apologized, but Tommy didn’t ask for forgiveness. He only asked me to come back.
A person crying on the floor | Source: Pexels
I was firm in my decision to divorce Tommy over the phone, which shocked him. However, I told the children they could visit my new house and live there whenever they wanted, as I loved them very much. “Sorry, Tommy. I don’t know how you can say you love me and watch others disrespect me without doing anything,” I told him.
The children were upset by my decision, but they understood that they were wrong and that their father had let me down.
A couple talking | Source: Pexels
I’m well aware that their mother was manipulating them. I also know that they’re not yet adults and mature enough to grasp the gravity of the situation at that time. That’s why I’ve forgiven them and still want them as children, but the same isn’t true for Tommy.
A few days later, Tommy called me back. This time, he was calmer.
A woman on the phone while writing | Source: Pexels
“Carol, please, let’s talk,” he pleaded.
“Tommy, there’s nothing more to say. You didn’t support me when I needed it most,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
“The children are devastated. They realized they were wrong. Can’t you come home and talk to them?” he begged me.
“I won’t be back, Tommy. Not for our wedding. But I will come see Jack and Lily,” I said.
A woman looking at a house | Source: FreePik
When I arrived home, the twins rushed to me, tears streaming down their faces.
“Carol, we’re so sorry,” Lily sobbed. “We were wrong. We didn’t mean what we said.”
Two people hugging | Source: Pexels
Jack nodded, tears in his eyes. “We were so happy to have Mom back. But when she left… we realized how much we’d hurt you.”
I hugged them tightly, feeling their pain and regret. “I love you both so much. But it’s not just about what you said. There’s a bigger problem between your father and me.”
Two women hugging | Source: FreePik
“Please don’t leave us,” Lily whispered. “I’m not leaving you. You can visit me anytime, and you’ll always be welcome in my new apartment,” I reassured them.
Tommy stood there, silent. He still hadn’t apologized. He just looked defeated.
A quiet man | Source: Pexels
“Tommy, I’m moving out. I’ll come back to get my things. I hope you understand why I have to do this,” I said, my voice breaking.
“I understand, Carol. I’m sorry,” he finally whispered, but it was too late.
A regretful man thinking | Source: Pexels
As I packed my things, I felt a mixture of sadness and relief. Sadness at the end of my marriage, but relief at having stood up for myself. The twins helped me pack, and we discussed how we could still be a family, but in a different way.
As I left, Jack and Lily hugged me tightly. “We love you, Carol,” they said in unison. “I love you too,” I replied, tears streaming down my face. “We will get through this. Together.”
A woman in tears | Source: Pexels
Over the next few weeks, I moved into my new apartment. The twins visited me frequently, and we slowly began to rebuild our relationship. They apologized sincerely, and I could see they were genuinely remorseful.
Today, as I reflect on everything that happened, I wonder if I did the right thing by preserving my relationship with my stepchildren while divorcing Tommy. Did I make the right choice? Was it worth prioritizing my self-esteem and emotional well-being over maintaining a marriage in which I felt unsupported?
Read also: My kids listed my house on Airbnb while I was in the hospital – I found a way to teach them a lesson
This work is inspired by real events and people, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the story. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims regarding the accuracy of events or character portrayals and are not responsible for any misinterpretations. This story is provided “as is,” and all opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
Để lại một phản hồi