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Mom Wants To Be Included In This Father-Daughter Camping Trip, Ruins It By Making It About Her
Mom Wants To Be Included In This Father-Daughter Camping Trip, Ruins It By Making It About Her
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Mom Wants To Be Included In This Father-Daughter Camping Trip, Ruins It By Making It About Her

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This incident comes from a 16-year-old teen who prepared the sweetest gift for her dad for Father’s Day—a camping trip for which she saved for months. And when her mom heard about their plans, she couldn’t miss a chance to participate, although normally, when she hears about “camping, her immediate reaction is ‘ew, no way.'”

But sooner than the author of this post knew it, her mother was already doing the trip her own way, from foods only she liked to activities she would shut down because “it would inconvenience her.”

As you can imagine, the vibe at the campsite was not the best, and the family drama escalated up to a boiling point when the mom just told the author to go and play with kids nearby. That’s when the daughter had enough and laid all that she thought out on the table.

Now she’s asking the dear people of the internet if it was an overreaction, so let us know what you think in the comments!

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    Image credits: Karoly Lorentey (not the actual photo)

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    The author added that even though the mom isn’t her biological mother, she has been treating her like she was

    And this is what people had to comment in response to the story

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    Liucija Adomaite

    Liucija Adomaite

    Author, Community member

    Read more »

    Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

    Read less »
    Liucija Adomaite

    Liucija Adomaite

    Author, Community member

    Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

    Austėja Akavickaitė

    Austėja Akavickaitė

    Author, Community member

    Read more »

    Austėja is a Photo Editor at Bored Panda with a BA in Photography.

    Read less »

    Austėja Akavickaitė

    Austėja Akavickaitė

    Author, Community member

    Austėja is a Photo Editor at Bored Panda with a BA in Photography.

    What do you think ?
    iblowsheep
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think mom is a narcissist, and dad should have stepped in on his daughter's behalf. He probably didn't because he has to suffer the consequences of his wife's narcissism too. likely his calling out his daughter's comments was more about self preservation than really thinking she was TA. But then again, maybe the girl has the situation distorted a bit being young and having a still developing brain it might not be too far fetched.

    Bettie-Jean Neal
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You hit it right on the nose. This is my own family dynamic, except bio-mom and step-dad. She too turns on the tears when you tell her about herself and point out her wrongdoing. Totally turns it back around.

    Load More Replies...
    Jennifer Hanks
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    First, what a thoughtful and loving daughter you are! A gift like that from one of my sons would make my YEAR! Secondly, if my husband said, "I want to go too" on my special Mother's Day trip, I would have gently suggested that we plan another trip for the whole family as I would understand my child's intention. In my view, your dad should have seen your desire to have this special trip with him, giving him what HE liked at great cost to you, and protected and cherished that time. You were generous to include her, even though it messed up your plans and your budget. I'm so sorry they didn't see that - parents mess up all the time, just like everybody else! You are a special young lady - keep being the lovely, giving young person you obviously are!

    Paddling Panda
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Jennifer Hanks: YES!! To everything you've written here. <3

    Load More Replies...
    kurisutofu
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would feel so betrayed by the dad. He's not even capable of understanding that she did that for him... That would be my last present for him, ever.

    Casey B
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    @John C you speak of "leveling" as if it's a positive parenting technique, it's not. Children are meant to be lifted up higher than ourselves. The dad's attempt at leveling would have brought his daughter down to the same selfish, immature level as his wife.

    Load More Replies...
    Wendy
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The mother sounds like the A here, especially when expecting a 16 year old to buy extra groceries. It sounds like the mother was trying to bully and punish the daughter for planning a father/daughter trip.

    Otter
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or she resented the fact that this kid wanted to do something big for the dad and make big sacrifices for a kid of that age just to make dad happy... but had never done anything of the kind for her. But she's the adult, part of being a kid is forgiving kids for being immature.

    Load More Replies...
    De Gueb
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So sweet that a 16 year old girls went to the effort to pay for a trip to spend some time with her Dad. I don't have kids but if I did I'd want a daughter like you.

    Loralie Chase
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm not sure why you were downvoted but I wanted to let you know that I think that girl would really appreciate you saying that.

    Load More Replies...
    Dre Mosley
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Step mom is a narcissistic asshole. Daddy should have grown a pair and stood up for his daughter. It's okay to call out your spouse when they're acting inappropriately.

    Carol Emory
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think her issue is one of lack of self confidence. She doesn't want to be excluded from everything because she feels like she's being treated as an outsider. I would have told her from the beginning that it was just a father-daughter trip and that maybe in the future you all could go camping as a family, but that you just want some alone time with dad. If she got snotty about it after that, it says more about her insecurities than your attitude. That being said, it was quite rude of her to make herself out to be the center of attention during a trip that she never paid for. You were NTA. Your step-mom needs to get over it.

    Otter
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    I believe mother was told from the beginning that it was a father-daughter camping weekend, and felt excluded, and you know, it is possible that there was an intent to exclude her, whether it was conscious or not. Some kids think it's okay to treat stepparents that way, or even parents, but the mother reacted by trying to exclude the kid in turn, and made it all worse.

    Load More Replies...
    Jerry Mathers
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Here's hoping that the dad understands how special that gift was and treats his daughter to same trip she was planning for him without the mama coming. As a father of a 15 year old, that gift would mean the world to me. And I would want it to happen. So Dad, if you ever read this, get on it. That trip is worth more than a bag of gold coins and memories you two would have would be priceless.

    Aahzmandus Pervect
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Both mom and dad are the A-holes here, no question about it.

    Neil Bidle
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mom is DEFINITELY the asshat here, daughter should have been firm that it was just her and dad the moment this woman asked. Equally, the dad should have stood up for his daughter and told his girlfriend that she wasn't going.

    Load More Comments
    iblowsheep
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think mom is a narcissist, and dad should have stepped in on his daughter's behalf. He probably didn't because he has to suffer the consequences of his wife's narcissism too. likely his calling out his daughter's comments was more about self preservation than really thinking she was TA. But then again, maybe the girl has the situation distorted a bit being young and having a still developing brain it might not be too far fetched.

    Bettie-Jean Neal
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You hit it right on the nose. This is my own family dynamic, except bio-mom and step-dad. She too turns on the tears when you tell her about herself and point out her wrongdoing. Totally turns it back around.

    Load More Replies...
    Jennifer Hanks
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    First, what a thoughtful and loving daughter you are! A gift like that from one of my sons would make my YEAR! Secondly, if my husband said, "I want to go too" on my special Mother's Day trip, I would have gently suggested that we plan another trip for the whole family as I would understand my child's intention. In my view, your dad should have seen your desire to have this special trip with him, giving him what HE liked at great cost to you, and protected and cherished that time. You were generous to include her, even though it messed up your plans and your budget. I'm so sorry they didn't see that - parents mess up all the time, just like everybody else! You are a special young lady - keep being the lovely, giving young person you obviously are!

    Paddling Panda
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Jennifer Hanks: YES!! To everything you've written here. <3

    Load More Replies...
    kurisutofu
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would feel so betrayed by the dad. He's not even capable of understanding that she did that for him... That would be my last present for him, ever.

    Casey B
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    @John C you speak of "leveling" as if it's a positive parenting technique, it's not. Children are meant to be lifted up higher than ourselves. The dad's attempt at leveling would have brought his daughter down to the same selfish, immature level as his wife.

    Load More Replies...
    Wendy
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The mother sounds like the A here, especially when expecting a 16 year old to buy extra groceries. It sounds like the mother was trying to bully and punish the daughter for planning a father/daughter trip.

    Otter
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or she resented the fact that this kid wanted to do something big for the dad and make big sacrifices for a kid of that age just to make dad happy... but had never done anything of the kind for her. But she's the adult, part of being a kid is forgiving kids for being immature.

    Load More Replies...
    De Gueb
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So sweet that a 16 year old girls went to the effort to pay for a trip to spend some time with her Dad. I don't have kids but if I did I'd want a daughter like you.

    Loralie Chase
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm not sure why you were downvoted but I wanted to let you know that I think that girl would really appreciate you saying that.

    Load More Replies...
    Dre Mosley
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Step mom is a narcissistic asshole. Daddy should have grown a pair and stood up for his daughter. It's okay to call out your spouse when they're acting inappropriately.

    Carol Emory
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think her issue is one of lack of self confidence. She doesn't want to be excluded from everything because she feels like she's being treated as an outsider. I would have told her from the beginning that it was just a father-daughter trip and that maybe in the future you all could go camping as a family, but that you just want some alone time with dad. If she got snotty about it after that, it says more about her insecurities than your attitude. That being said, it was quite rude of her to make herself out to be the center of attention during a trip that she never paid for. You were NTA. Your step-mom needs to get over it.

    Otter
    Community Member
    4 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    I believe mother was told from the beginning that it was a father-daughter camping weekend, and felt excluded, and you know, it is possible that there was an intent to exclude her, whether it was conscious or not. Some kids think it's okay to treat stepparents that way, or even parents, but the mother reacted by trying to exclude the kid in turn, and made it all worse.

    Load More Replies...
    Jerry Mathers
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Here's hoping that the dad understands how special that gift was and treats his daughter to same trip she was planning for him without the mama coming. As a father of a 15 year old, that gift would mean the world to me. And I would want it to happen. So Dad, if you ever read this, get on it. That trip is worth more than a bag of gold coins and memories you two would have would be priceless.

    Aahzmandus Pervect
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Both mom and dad are the A-holes here, no question about it.

    Neil Bidle
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mom is DEFINITELY the asshat here, daughter should have been firm that it was just her and dad the moment this woman asked. Equally, the dad should have stood up for his daughter and told his girlfriend that she wasn't going.

    Load More Comments
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