Mom Wants To Be Included In This Father-Daughter Camping Trip, Ruins It By Making It About Her
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!
The story comes from a teen who meticulously planned a father-daughter weekend trip but had her mom ruin it and make it all about her
Image credits: Karoly Lorentey (not the actual photo)
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
158Kviews
Share on FacebookI 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.
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...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!
Jennifer Hanks: YES!! To everything you've written here. <3
Load More Replies...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.
@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...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.
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...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.
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...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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...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!
Jennifer Hanks: YES!! To everything you've written here. <3
Load More Replies...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.
@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...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.
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...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.
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...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.
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.
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.
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.



















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