Teen Is At A Loss After Her Parents Return From A 7-Year-Long ‘World Trip’ And Want Her Back
Interview With Author
One of the biggest parts of parenthood is being there for your child—emotionally as well as physically. The unfortunate reality is that, for some parents, their kids aren’t a priority. They have other goals and ambitions and focus on them. And that can really hurt.
Redditor u/Intelligent_Horse_, a 17-year-old teen, turned to the AITA online community for advice. The OP wanted their take on a particularly delicate situation at home. She shared how her parents left her to live with their best friends for 7 years while they galavanted around the globe. You’ll find the full story below. Bored Panda reached out to u/Intelligent_Horse_ and she was kind enough to answer our questions. She shared her thoughts on the response her post got and what a great parent should be like, and revealed what it’s like to live so close to nature. You’ll find our full interview with the OP below.
Responsible parents are there for their children, supporting them as much as they can. Some parents, however, have different priorities
Image credits: Rawpixel (not the actual photo)
A teenager asked the internet for advice after sharing how her parents left her to live with their friends these past 7 years
Image credits: Wavebreakmedia (not the actual photo)
The teen opened up about her situation in an update to her post
Image credits: CreativeNature_nl (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Intelligent_Horse_
The young woman stayed with the best people imaginable, who consider her their own child
The author of the post shared that ‘Pete’ and ‘May’ consider her to be their daughter. Unfortunately, they’re not really clear on the details of why the OP’s biological parents left her, why they didn’t visit, and why they’re stopping their globe-trotting adventure now. However, from their point of view, the teenager can continue to live with them.
And she seems to love her new life! She’s close to nature. She gets to ride horses and take care of them. And she doesn’t want to throw all of that away to live with her parents halfway across the US again. She shared how she and ‘Pete’ sat down to write a long letter, explaining the upsides of her staying in Montana.
The AITA community was incredibly supportive and helpful. They gave the OP some practical advice and expressed their shock that any parent would dump their kid to go traveling for a whopping 7 years. And without even visiting their child. Calls, emails, and postcards aren’t a real alternative to physical contact.
“Apparently my parents have always been a bit strange. Very little sense of responsibility, never taking things seriously, always getting in trouble. Guess they didn’t really grow out of that phase,” u/Intelligent_Horse_ wrote.
Image credits: Kindel Media (not the actual photo)
“I really appreciate Pete and May because they were always there for me”
Redditor u/Intelligent_Horse_ told Bored Panda that she’s incredibly happy that so many people have been giving her so many kind words and pieces of advice, “even though the situation isn’t great.” She was very pleasantly surprised by how kind complete strangers can be.
“A lot of the things they have said were things I never really thought about, like what if my parents had been lying to me the entire time about their reasoning for traveling. I was actually a bit scared that my parents would be able to take me away from where I am now without my consent, but a lot of people told me that I wouldn’t have to worry about that because I’m apparently already old enough to make my own decision, and that if it does go to court, it would take too long for it to make a difference,” the OP opened up to us.
She noted that another piece of advice she got was that it’s best not to be rude to her parents “because they can apparently still make things difficult for me or for Pete and May. There was a lot of good advice actually!”
For the redditor, the essence of a great parent is being there for their child. “I really appreciate Pete and May because they were always there for me. When I was having trouble they helped me, when I felt sad they comforted me, we spent a lot of happy times together making fun memories. They made me feel comfortable and safe. And they gave me the freedom to be myself,” she told Bored Panda.
Meanwhile, we were curious about what it’s like to live so close to nature, day in and day out. “Living in nature is just so peaceful. The air is so clean, and it always feels like I can take everything at my own pace,” the redditor shared.
“There’s no rush for anything. It’s so comforting to be able to sit outside and hear nothing. Also, the night sky is beautiful! Stargazing is so relaxing.”
Image credits: Monstera (not the actual photo)
Neglectful parents can have negative impacts on their kids’ growth and development
According to Verywell Mind, uninvolved parents tend to be emotionally distant from their kids. They focus on their own problems in life and limit their interactions with their munchkins. Not only that, they usually show very little affection, set little to no expectations, and aren’t involved in supervision. In short, their priorities are elsewhere.
At its core uninvolved parenting, also known as indifferent and neglectful parenting, is about a mismatch between the parents’ behavior and their children’s needs. And while some parents might be intentionally neglectful, others might be impacted by stress, poor mental health, or a lack of education when it comes to childcare.
Neglect comes in a few main forms. Physical neglect, for instance, means that the parents fail to provide their kids with basic necessities like food, shelter, medical care, and clothing. Emotional neglect, meanwhile, is characterized by a total lack of interest in the child’s life, as well as failing to support them or showing them love. Neglectful parents also ignore the need for proper education and aren’t consistent in the rules they set (if they set any at all…).
The negative impact of such behavior is huge. Neglected children tend to have behavioral problems, and emotional issues, and perform very poorly at school. That’s on top of the possible medical issues that come from malnourishment and improper care. The kids can also develop self-esteem issues and have problems trusting others. Thankfully, the author of the post had her parents’ friends who were able to take good care of her. She seems to be thriving.
In cases such as this, it can help to seek a therapist’s help in order to come to terms that one’s parents weren’t there for them. Meanwhile, seeking out others with similar experiences can help the person understand that they are not alone in this. And of course, having proper parental figures in one’s life—even if not related by blood—are a saving grace.
The author of the post answered some questions in the comments
The internet was very supportive of the teen. Here’s what some users had to say
The young woman later shared another update with her readers
7 years is the statute of limitations on many tax evasion and financial fraud crimes, as well as many civil law issues. If I were a 'betting man' my money would be on them waiting out that 7 year period. 😐
Whoa - this girl should freeze her credit to make sure her parents don't take out loans and credit cards using her social insurance number. That isn't unheard of either.
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Same - This is devastating and I want to give her a hug
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When you sit down to write the letter-I'd just thank them for leaving you with such wonderful people. At least they did that part right. Also, thank them for teaching you one of life's greatest lessons on how not to treat people, especially your children. I wouldn't even waste ink asking why they did what they did, I wouldn't tell them how it made me feel, etc.... they obviously don't /didn't care. Then I'd sign it- "toodles" -and not give it another thought. Then I'd go horseback riding....
Perfect 😂. Especially the horseback riding part. That’s my favorite :D
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On one side, my heart breaks for the little girl who was abandoned. On the other it rejoices at the life she was given with her real parents. May the three of them always enjoy the sweetness of life
Who can go on "vacation" for seven years? Where does the money come from? Are they Spys? Secret Agents? What do you think?
The most favoured theory on that Reddit thread seems to be that they were running from the law...
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I remember that plot line from General Hospital when I was a kid.
Load More Replies... Why does it take weeks to communicate? Hello 21ST century technology aka internet, emails, snap chat....like hundreds of freaking instant apps? I don't know what to make of this, way too weird.
It wouldn't matter if we all had instant mind-to-mind telepathy. OP's biological parents just do not give a single shít. That's the entire explanation why they take weeks to communicate. They literally just do not care enough about their child. They're the narcissistic main characters of their lives and their child was just biological baggage.
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It does, but I worry about her not having peers that she socializes with. If it was mentioned, I missed it. She already has been schooling online for years. She should at least consider attending college at least for a couple of years. She sounds relatively content, but somewhat isolated.
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i feel like pete and may have opinions but they are too decent to lay it out there
Things like this happen a lot. I had a friend whose mother kicked him out of the house at 13 because her new boyfriend didn't want her to have a kid. She also raided the college fund his grandparents set up for him to buy the jackass a boat. Last I heard both her and the boyfriend were being charged with grand larceny and bitching about how ungrateful my friend was for pressing charges.
Anyone who kicks a 13 year out should be charged with child abandonment. There is no way a child that age can support themself.
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Dear mother and father. I need to thank you for giving me the greatest gift of all, a Mom and Dad. You are welcome to come and have a short visit, but as I have obligations and a very fulfilling life, I will continue to grow away from you.
yeah its gotta be a crime right? they can travel to almost every country in the world but not back to the US to visit their daughter even once in seven years. That seems to me like they couldn't re-enter the US.
This is kinda what happened to me. Only my Dad abandoned my mom, me, and my 2 brothers. Then 10 years later wanted to meet for dinner when he was in the state for a friend's funeral. I honestly don't know what possessed me to go. Maybe morbid curiosity of if he missed me at all. Honestly this dinner messed me up but also set me straight at the same time. For 10 years I was in denial. I believed my dad was coming back one day and it would be as if nothing changed. That belief kept me going but it also held me back in grown-up and maturing in a lot of ways. My dad left when I was turning 17 years old. My youngest brother was 10. He became suicidal. My other brother became angry. All our hopes and dreams came crashing down. We lost the house. We lost the RV that my parents had just bought and had trips planned for. It got used once before my dad left. We moved into a small 3 bedroom apartment. My brother and I had to get jobs out of high school. And yet he acts like he did nothing wrong.
I'm sorry that this happened to you, Bekah. I hope things are better now.
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She had seven years with the people who are essentially her adoptive parents, and ten years with her original parents. Considering most people have no memories at all from before they were three years old, and even memories from around age 3 - 5 can be pretty hazy by the time you're seventeen, it's entirely likely that she has more memories of Pete and May than she does of her original parents. At this point they are essentially strangers. She's a stranger to them too--everyone is a completely different person at 17 than they were at 10. Her parents don't know her anymore, and she doesn't know them.
Pete & May sound amazing. Focus on that relationship and what you know makes you happy. Be strong and courageous to protect yourself from your harmful parents. Neglect & abandonment is abuse and they are likely worse. Lots of toxic parents in this world. Making yourself the priority, & your strength & courage will always benefit you in unimaginably. Learn to forgive your parents for your own benefit, and let go of what’s toxic. They will never give you real and honest answers to your questions and take no accountability. They can make your life a living hell if you don’t protect yourself in having strong boundaries and make yourself the priority. Be selfish when it comes to them and anyone that doesn’t give you the respect you deserve. Give yourself a ton of kindness, love, and selfcare especially before, during and after any contact with people like this. Find your true happiness & love for life, & that will benefit you,the important and worthwhile people and pets in your life vastly.
I understand this girl completely. When I was young, I was passed from house to house because my mom couldn't afford three children after our father left for another woman, so, being the middle child, I was sent off to live with other relatives. It really messes with your head. My mom would take me back for a while and then off I would go again. I had so many trust issues, because nobody seemed to want me. I later found out, that everyone wanted me and that is what caused all the infighting with the adults. To a child, it is devastating and if I was given the chance, I would have stayed where I felt wanted. It took a lot of years to work through that issue and I hope this young woman makes the right decision for herself.
If you really want to stay. Your "adopted parents" can file an emergency hearing to get permanent custody of you. No judge would give you back to parents who abandoned you, especially if you want to stay with them and they want you! Your real parents are not your parents, the wonderful couple who raised, lived, cared, and most importantly were there for you. My best advice! Advocate for yourself!! Do not go to people you don't know. You have parents, the ones who are raising you. I wish you the best of luck! Don't be afraid to hurt their feelings! They didn't care enough about you to raise you. You have no bond with them, do what is best for you, not the people who birthed you. In my opinion, they are losers. No way in the world would I ever abandon my children!! You know where home is, and that's where you live! Tell the court you want them to officially adopt you! Ask your birth parents first, maybe they will allow it, but if not get the court involved.
You seriously have to wonder about them being on the lam and riding out some statute of limitation situation, specifically taxes. If not, then this is bizarre. Fist bump to the friends that embraced this situation and gave her a life of fulfillment. If it was me I would stay put. Biology is overrated. I bond with my friends more than I ever will with my brother.
Wow. This is insane to me. It makes me wonder what those first 10 years were like for OP. It sounds like they had a kid, regretted it, and just decided to live their life without her. No WAY they are allowed back. They burned that bridge a long time ago.
Honestly, rather than going to live with them, I'd talk to a lawyer to see if you can sue them for child abandonment, and then maybe get an emancipation declaration?
OP your parents abandoned you. They have no legal right to you. Enjoy your life!
Your parents ABANDONED you! You are 17 years old, I do not believe they can force you to move back with them and if I were you I would refuse. What they did is emotional abuse. I'm so sorry.
They left their kid for 7 years. About the time it takes for certain "legal things" to pass the prosecuting expiration date?? It's really fishy. If OP is doing virtual schooling, there's no reason she couldn't have done that from wherever parents were. If her temp guardians want her to stay, I think she's better off staying with them. You can't just desert your child for 7 years and expect to pick up where you left off.
The statute of limitations on whatever major fraud they committed finally expired, and now it's safe for them to come back to the States.
Either they covered up being in jail for something Pete and May are also covering up ... or they were on the run to evade being in jail, and now, things are long enough ago to not legally matter anymore. I can't find any other explanation that clicks in with what information we're given here. How much has been hidden from OP, we cannot possibly know for sure. Whatever way OP decides, she won't be the A about this.
She got postcards and calls from all over the world, so they definitely weren't in prison.
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At 17 you're close to being 18 and an adult. If they force Pete and may to give you back have them draft a bill for your time with them for your parents to repay. 7 years abandoned because they took a trip and barely communicated with people they left you with? I'd say they just wanted to be child free. Drag it out. Don't leave where you are. Even if you have to emancipate from them as parents you have enough evidence. And maybe Pete and may would consider adopting you into their family legally. They seem great for you.
Why did they bother even having a child if they didn’t want to care for her themselves? What a bizarre situation. And I’m guessing they didn’t contribute financially to the costs of her upbringing. She is so lucky though that she was left in the care of such wonderful people, who have given her a great childhood, valuable life skills and a sense of belonging. With that kind of support, she will do well in this life, and be able to leave those behind who mean nothing at this stage.
What in the ever loving f... Those idiot parents don't deserve to know their daughter. At the very least, she was set up with some good people who did a far better job of raising her than her biological folks ever could. Whatever the reason for them leaving for 7 bloody years, wanting to come back like that is a bit ridiculous, especially when she's closing in on adulthood.
My immediate thought is whether there was a 7 year statute of limitations for some crime they committed. Whatever the reason, totally NTA if you don't want to have a relationship with them. You have parents; Pete and May. The world travellers are just your egg and sperm donor.
nta. i was crying every day from the departure gate, when i had to leave my kids for 12 months for work! facetimed every few hours for hours till we all fell asleep, waking up with videocall still on! 7years i might as well slit my th****!
I can totally see parents abandoning their kids like this. I was about 2-3 years old when my parents left me to live with my grandparents and move out. There were periods, where I was not hearing from them for weeks, heard my granny arguing with mom to come visit constantly.. Plot twist? my parents lived in the same small town and was not considered "risky" parents or so. Even otherwise - very respected people. Been living like this till I was 10-11. Felt like an alien living with parents again and they had no clue how to raise me, because I was just random 10 year old living along with random grown ups.
For someone who was left for years with a horrible caretaker, this wouldn't have been so bad for me. The situation is horrible but the people who raised her sound awesome. They could have been bad people.
This is suspicious as can be. No one goes camping for 7 years leaving their child behind. Parents were pretty obviously on the run, either from financial issues, crime or both (is 7 years related to a Statute of Limitations?). What's to stop parents from taking her out of US to somewhere where she'll have no rights, can be abused and forced to work or worse. Chid needs a lawyer, an investigator and a restraining order. Guardians need a layer, restraining order and a formal No Trespassing order.
She's 17 and the the "step" parents have guardianship over her. You are overreacting.
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Well something is definitely off. Nothing sums up. I really hope her parents aren't wanted criminals for something. 7 years is a VERY long time . Enough to close a ongoing case .
This is understandably scary and confusing. But some make very good points. I understand that you don't want to know anything bad about your bio parents, e.g. perhaps a criminal background, which is very likely but you already know that their behavior and actions are NOT NORMAL. It is already criminal in all 50 states. Bringing this to the attention of an attorney who can protect your rights, have your bio parents pay for your college, or find out the truth could protect you and your 'real' parents. You don't know who your bio parents are, what motivated them and who may be looking for them. Keep yourself safe, your 'real' parents safe and you do this by stop covering their shady behavior for them. The last thing a family court wants to do is take a 17 yr old out of a loving home, where safe guardians have been providing love, care and support for so long with the bio parents permission. You and your 'real' parents won't get in trouble. But you need to protect yourself from the bios.
I think the parents got into trouble overseas. They may have been locked up for sometime. Some things that would get a slap on the wrist in America, will get you caned in other countries. She writes she got postcards, but these days it is all selfies and social media posts. Anyone can send a post card for the parents. With their flaky attitude and history, I wouldn't be surprised if they got in trouble.
I got so genuinely sad reading this. Honestly she should just stay with Pete and May, she deserves to be happy.
Dude I didn't think it was possible but these parents are even more demented than one of my friend's parents. And those parents are DEMENTED
If anyone can find the link to this that would be awesome! I'm trying right now, I'm very curious how it's going for her. I'm hoping everything works out, and that her "parents" just agree and don't try to make her move back. Her real parents are awesome people who are so kind for taking her in like that and just going "well I guess your our kid now." Edit: found it! https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/comments/151vwae/wibta_if_i_told_my_parents_i_dont_want_to_go_back/?rdt=59653
In Australia you can live wherever you want one you turn 16 as long as you are not in moral danger... not the same in the USA?
No, we don't have a law like that. The legal age of adulthood is 18. However, if her parents contest this in court, it is likely that she wouldn't be forced to live with her parents because of her age and the fact that her parents abandoned her. The Judge would be required to keep her desires in mind when making the decision.
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It sounds to me like they now want her back because she’s almost an adult and they don’t have to do all the heavy lifting of parenting a young child. My good friend was in a very similar situation only her mom came to reclaim her when she was about 14. She got super close to hothead family caring for her and was really resentful when her mom came back and took her from a stable home to living in chaos.
My immediate thought was they wete doing spy stuff or something dangerous because why not bring her along. Unless they wrte inctedibky wealthy. But then why wouldn't they visit her as pert if the trip? Or take her along once tshe got old enought to travel all the time. my thought after that was were they paying their mortthis whole time? Why would they need to go back to chicago? Why not move to Montana then and rekindle a relationship. While she still stays in a stable loving home... like start visition? But now that others folks mention they were running from something makes more sense then they had a travel bug because they could habe gotten her years ago years
NTA & then some. Obviously OP's bio parents aren't fit to raise her & I'd recommend consulting an atty in case they return & get pushy. I have my doubts they will if faced with a custody/ back child support/emancipation/ child abandonment fight. There's little chance they'd prevail & I'd wager they haven't the stomach for it. Rarely do courts ignore a 17yr old's preferences in these situations. These "parents" are delusional.
Although extremely sad, feeling abandoned by your owe parents, you need to understand something really important. Family is NOT blood. Family are those who care and take care of you. Life ALWAYS have a very strange way of putting things right where they belong. You were meant to close to nature and horses. And ur now foster parents whom i bet couldn't have children but wanted some., was given a wonderful daughter to love and cherish. Stay where ur heart tells u to stay. It's going to get ugly but u have proof ur biological parents never cared. Godspeed
I hope she goes to a lawyer. Just to officially separate her from the birth parents, their finances, and their background.
I have a feeling that even if she were to return to her birth parents that they wouldn’t like her anymore because of the way she turned out, (she isn’t the same kid they abandoned), and then they’d abandon her a second time. It seems to me that the very BEST thing to have happened to her was being left in the care of Pete and May. (Those two are SAINTS!) No matter what happens, in a year she’ll be relieved of all parents anyway, so even if she were to return to the 🫏🕳️ s, it’d be temporary anyway. I really hope she stays put, as those jerks don’t deserve the kid they abandoned. She sounds as if she turned into a TERRIFIC young woman with an AMAZING support system, and I kinda envy her!
My vote goes to bio parents being in some hot water abroad that took seven years to serve. After all, Pete and May knew them since infancy and didn't seem to have a clue; or do they?
I read the beginning incorrectly. But, I still think they left their parental duties far behind and I don't think they deserve her love anymore.
You're not the AH. Seems to me like Pete & May should have applied for legal guardianship after one year. THEY are your parents, in every sense of the word. THEY made you their priority.
My grandparents raised me until I was 11. Provided everything I needed and wanted. They spoiled me, but I wasn't spoiled, if you understand. I knew I was loved & wanted. Mom divorces a father I barely knew & married someone I never met, and takes me away to everything new .. including becoming the family slave & victim of her husband's vicious hate & abuse. I never forgave him when he died and I'll never truly forgive my mother for not only not wanting me before the hell I survived, but not letting me go back when the hell began. My Nana & Grampa were my parents, and I haven't been the same since being taken from them, nor losing them 10 years ago.
What do Pete and May think of you staying with them for good? They have "temporary" guardianship, they can petition to make it permanent. After 7 years of absence while the were busy having fun-fun-fun, not to mention that they reneged on their original agreement, your "parents" don’t look much like a responsible and caring pair, so methinks Pete and May’s chances are pretty good. And speaking of which, at 10 you were not exactly a toddler, NOT too young to go on a world tour. They just didn’t want you underfoot. And going off on a trip for seven months would be bad enough, but seven YEARS? They DID abandon you. Worst comes to worst and you’re forced to go back to your "parents", check with Pete and May if they'll take you back after that. In a mere year you’ll be 18, and free as a bird to go where you please.
Isn't "Child Abandonment" a real thing? If the people who dropped her off expect her to go back with them + they took Pete + Mary to court to get OP back, wouldn't the judge get the drop-off people for abandonment? (I refuse to call the drop-off people "parents" cuz they aren't - Pete + Mary are.)
Also, just as an aside, can we talk about the aliases she used? Pete and May? Someone's a Spiderman fan, lol!
Totally agree that something's fishy here. Either they were running from a crime, or already imprisoned, and didn't want to tell her. Maybe they thought that by telling her they were simply traveling, they were sparing her feelings. But if they did get in trouble, facing their consequences would've been a much bette life lesson for her. And though it would've hurt her, yes, their abandonment hurt her much more. Because instead of maybe just being upset that her parents broke the law and got in trouble, what they did straight up made her think they don't care about her. If it was the backpacking cult that someone else mentioned, well, that would be really stupid. But cults have brainwashed people into doing MUCH stupider things (Jim Jones, anyone?). If it was really just traveling, and they let her for no good reason, they don't deserve her. And they never did. Either way, OP is old enough to make her own decisions. And she should stay where she's happy.
Then again, if they were already imprisoned, they couldn't have sent those post cards. I have a friend who's been in before, and he said, even if one could order a bundle of blank post cards, the prison would never let those cards be sent out, under the pretense of being somewhere else. And even that aside, if all the postcards came from one place, they'd all have the same postmark, no matter where they *said* they were from. And the prison might even mark all outgoing mail in some way. Also, it's much harder to smuggle things in and out of prisons than people realize. Unless the guards are crooked. But still. No, I don't think they were locked up. I think they were running from something. And when, as others have said, the statute of limitations ran out, they finally came back, hoping for a happy reunion and a resumption of their normal lives. But it doesn't work that way.
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WOW @ Pete and May, though. Truly amazing people, by the sound of it.
THIS is why we need to decriminalise abortion. Some people are just not suitable parents, and need to be given the option to opt out before a child gets tied to a tree like a dog. Yes it's monstrous what they did, nobody can argue different... but this was clearly not a couple that should have been allowed to carry to term. Somebody should have stepped in and prevented what this child now has to live with for the rest of her life.
I’m just wondering how the so called ”parents” financed their very long trip. Did they have money saved? Did they stay and work here and there to finance further travel? Where did they sleep and what did they eat? Maybe they stayed with local people and slept on the floor, but they would still need money for some things. Hm. 🤔 Apart from OP, Pete and May were abandoned too, in a way. Did the ”parents” mention a date when they would be back? If I left my child with someone I would give specific information on when I would come back, and which train/bus etc I would be on. That’s grown up behaviour. And btw, are there not any grandparents? Where are they? Do they have anything to say about this? They might all be deceased, but I wonder… were they abandoned by the ”parents”, as well? And thank you Nathaniel for the expression. I will add Twatbaskets to my collection of inventive insults. 🤣
big shout out to Pete and May. Incredible people, taking on a child in the short term and then raising her as their own for the long term. I feel like something else is possibly going on here that the OP doesn't know about yet? Whatever the eventual outcome is, I hope the OP remains in the love of Pete and May xxx
If this is a true story... This child has been put away to safety to the most possible extent at that moment. A ranch in the middle of nowhere, home schooled, a not blood related childless couple sort of known from before as caretakers, not one family member ever mentioned, quite a rare and controlled communication with her parents (no response for weeks) etc. It all looks like some kind of a protection program.
There's more to being a parent than providing the genetic material.
OP was abandoned by her parents, pure and simple. A seven-year world tour is another name for waiting out the statute of limitations. Those two probably figured that they were home-free regarding whatever charges they were avoiding (tax evasion, embezzlement, fraud), and decided to return to the US. Most likely, they're broke, and are counting on Dearest Daughter to "help them out." Because.....fa-a-a-a-mily. If they ever decide to show up on her doorstep, I hope that OP isn't there. If she is, she should tell them to go back on their world tour--permanently. They aren't her parents--they just happened to be in the same room when she was conceived.
I agree with most folks that her parents were probably running from something like tax fraud. The statutes of limitations has expired and now they can’t be charged. The daughter wouldn’t find anything online since they were not arrested.
They were out of the country for seven years. Seven years is the Statute of Limitations for a lot of crimes in the US. If she doesn't want to know if her parents are criminals, then I'd suggest she doesn't look any harder. She's 17. She can live with whoever she wants, and no court in the land would force her back after the judge found out what they did. The one GOOD thing they did was give her to new parents who cared about her and raised her well.
There has to be more to this. Were they actually in jail and didn't want to say anything? How did they afford all this travel?
What this girl needs is her own lawyer. First to go to the judge and get emancipated, which I think just about any judge would grant. Second, the lawyer can search much better than her about whether they're criminals trying to ride out a statute of limitations.
My money is on them running out a statute of limitations. I wonder what the OP's life was like before she was abandoned. Were they well off? How did they pay for their food, travel and accommodations? I don't think the OP would have any legal issues if she chooses to stay with Pete and May against her bio parents' wishes. They have no legs to stand on, and risk getting into legal trouble themselves if they ask law enforcement to force OP to live with them. How are they going to explain why their child wasn't with them for the past seven years?! They could be charged with child abandonment/neglect. There may even be a law that says they have effectively forfeited their parental rights and maybe Pete and May can formally adopt OP.
I hope this is fake because this is so sad. She absolutely should not have to leave her home to go back with stranger's Essentially. They're strangers. They didn't want to be in her life for 7 fucken years.. now they think they can just come in & uproot her life all over again.. they're treating her like she's an object. It's disgusting. These aren't parents. These are ppl who gave birth to a child. There has to be something she can do legally. Like, I'm pretty sure she can emancipate herself. Especially when they abandoned her.
Travelling is expensive. Transport, hotels, everything cost a lot of money. Are they rich, or did they work while travelling? And more importantly: who just leave their kid with friends, give them guardianship and travel without bothering to visit from time to time? Unless they travelled on foot, that would explain, why they were gone for 7 friggin years.
When the parents became long overdue, Pete and May should have told them to come back, and if they didn't, termination of parental rights should have been initiated, followed by adoption. It would have been better for everyone.
Get an attorney, it's that simple. A child advocate would be a good place to start
You dont just leave your child! Omg! I cant imagine leaving my children to "go travel"... would bring them or NOT go!! 100% the parents are involved in some kind of creme!
How did the parents get money for 7 years? Maybe they were really in jail
Incredible story - maybe her parents were in jail for 7 years or something. Never visited? that seems really odd, unless you really can't visit.
the fact the parents said she was to young to join them on the trip screams abandonment right off the bat. no kid is too young to go on a trip. that is just her parents wanted to b kidless for awhile. she was 10 wen they left and that the age where kids start to really figure themselves out. she found out she likes nature better then city life. whether they r her parents or not they missed important times of her life. probably the most crucial times for a growing girl. they dont deserve to b in her life. in all honestly if she went to court id hope everyone finds her situation as a case of abandonment cuz that would mean legally her bio parents gave up all rights to her wen they left. u cant abandon someone they come back years later and tell them they missed u. u cant do that. chances r if this happened to me at 10 id forget wat my parents looked like. i was such a scatterbrained kid id completely forget about them. theyd come to pick me up 7 years later and id say "who r u".
Honestly, there's lots of things that need to be yelled at the parents. Be it the child abandonment issue, the child support issue, the child custody, child abuse too.... As a child less person with not really similar commitment issue, I really hope I never turned like them...
Uh hell no they don't matter in your life so live your best one!
The parents have to be spies. Tuxedos and evening gowns at cocktail parties with nefarious entities. Big rings with poison inside. Earbuds and a guy in a truck who picks them up when they're making a big escape. Sometimes they park across the street in an unmarked van and watch their daughter as she leaves school. They love her too much to make contact and put her in danger. It makes just as much sense.
THE PARENTS WERE RUNNING FROM THE LAW, THE CHILD SAFETY WAS AT STAKE, ONE NEEDS TO CHECK THE VALIDITY OF THE PROBLEM.,
This is a crazy story. Her parents are the two that raised her for the second half of her life. BUT i'm concerned about this girl....she leads a very secluded life. Does she have any friends her age? She spends her whole time being home schooled and with the horses? She needs to get out in the world to become more independent. Go to college....at least commute to a school. Meet new people, be exposed to new ideas and opinions. The horses will be there. Pete and May should be encouraging her to broaden her horizons. I am sure by now they view her as their own daughter. SHe is a lucky girl to have people care for her like that!
7 years is the statute of limitations on many tax evasion and financial fraud crimes, as well as many civil law issues. If I were a 'betting man' my money would be on them waiting out that 7 year period. 😐
Whoa - this girl should freeze her credit to make sure her parents don't take out loans and credit cards using her social insurance number. That isn't unheard of either.
Load More Replies... Same - This is devastating and I want to give her a hug
Load More Replies... When you sit down to write the letter-I'd just thank them for leaving you with such wonderful people. At least they did that part right. Also, thank them for teaching you one of life's greatest lessons on how not to treat people, especially your children. I wouldn't even waste ink asking why they did what they did, I wouldn't tell them how it made me feel, etc.... they obviously don't /didn't care. Then I'd sign it- "toodles" -and not give it another thought. Then I'd go horseback riding....
Perfect 😂. Especially the horseback riding part. That’s my favorite :D
Load More Replies... On one side, my heart breaks for the little girl who was abandoned. On the other it rejoices at the life she was given with her real parents. May the three of them always enjoy the sweetness of life
Who can go on "vacation" for seven years? Where does the money come from? Are they Spys? Secret Agents? What do you think?
The most favoured theory on that Reddit thread seems to be that they were running from the law...
Load More Replies... I remember that plot line from General Hospital when I was a kid.
Load More Replies... Why does it take weeks to communicate? Hello 21ST century technology aka internet, emails, snap chat....like hundreds of freaking instant apps? I don't know what to make of this, way too weird.
It wouldn't matter if we all had instant mind-to-mind telepathy. OP's biological parents just do not give a single shít. That's the entire explanation why they take weeks to communicate. They literally just do not care enough about their child. They're the narcissistic main characters of their lives and their child was just biological baggage.
Load More Replies... It does, but I worry about her not having peers that she socializes with. If it was mentioned, I missed it. She already has been schooling online for years. She should at least consider attending college at least for a couple of years. She sounds relatively content, but somewhat isolated.
Load More Replies... i feel like pete and may have opinions but they are too decent to lay it out there
Things like this happen a lot. I had a friend whose mother kicked him out of the house at 13 because her new boyfriend didn't want her to have a kid. She also raided the college fund his grandparents set up for him to buy the jackass a boat. Last I heard both her and the boyfriend were being charged with grand larceny and bitching about how ungrateful my friend was for pressing charges.
Anyone who kicks a 13 year out should be charged with child abandonment. There is no way a child that age can support themself.
Load More Replies... Dear mother and father. I need to thank you for giving me the greatest gift of all, a Mom and Dad. You are welcome to come and have a short visit, but as I have obligations and a very fulfilling life, I will continue to grow away from you.
yeah its gotta be a crime right? they can travel to almost every country in the world but not back to the US to visit their daughter even once in seven years. That seems to me like they couldn't re-enter the US.
This is kinda what happened to me. Only my Dad abandoned my mom, me, and my 2 brothers. Then 10 years later wanted to meet for dinner when he was in the state for a friend's funeral. I honestly don't know what possessed me to go. Maybe morbid curiosity of if he missed me at all. Honestly this dinner messed me up but also set me straight at the same time. For 10 years I was in denial. I believed my dad was coming back one day and it would be as if nothing changed. That belief kept me going but it also held me back in grown-up and maturing in a lot of ways. My dad left when I was turning 17 years old. My youngest brother was 10. He became suicidal. My other brother became angry. All our hopes and dreams came crashing down. We lost the house. We lost the RV that my parents had just bought and had trips planned for. It got used once before my dad left. We moved into a small 3 bedroom apartment. My brother and I had to get jobs out of high school. And yet he acts like he did nothing wrong.
I'm sorry that this happened to you, Bekah. I hope things are better now.
Load More Replies... She had seven years with the people who are essentially her adoptive parents, and ten years with her original parents. Considering most people have no memories at all from before they were three years old, and even memories from around age 3 - 5 can be pretty hazy by the time you're seventeen, it's entirely likely that she has more memories of Pete and May than she does of her original parents. At this point they are essentially strangers. She's a stranger to them too--everyone is a completely different person at 17 than they were at 10. Her parents don't know her anymore, and she doesn't know them.
Pete & May sound amazing. Focus on that relationship and what you know makes you happy. Be strong and courageous to protect yourself from your harmful parents. Neglect & abandonment is abuse and they are likely worse. Lots of toxic parents in this world. Making yourself the priority, & your strength & courage will always benefit you in unimaginably. Learn to forgive your parents for your own benefit, and let go of what’s toxic. They will never give you real and honest answers to your questions and take no accountability. They can make your life a living hell if you don’t protect yourself in having strong boundaries and make yourself the priority. Be selfish when it comes to them and anyone that doesn’t give you the respect you deserve. Give yourself a ton of kindness, love, and selfcare especially before, during and after any contact with people like this. Find your true happiness & love for life, & that will benefit you,the important and worthwhile people and pets in your life vastly.
I understand this girl completely. When I was young, I was passed from house to house because my mom couldn't afford three children after our father left for another woman, so, being the middle child, I was sent off to live with other relatives. It really messes with your head. My mom would take me back for a while and then off I would go again. I had so many trust issues, because nobody seemed to want me. I later found out, that everyone wanted me and that is what caused all the infighting with the adults. To a child, it is devastating and if I was given the chance, I would have stayed where I felt wanted. It took a lot of years to work through that issue and I hope this young woman makes the right decision for herself.
If you really want to stay. Your "adopted parents" can file an emergency hearing to get permanent custody of you. No judge would give you back to parents who abandoned you, especially if you want to stay with them and they want you! Your real parents are not your parents, the wonderful couple who raised, lived, cared, and most importantly were there for you. My best advice! Advocate for yourself!! Do not go to people you don't know. You have parents, the ones who are raising you. I wish you the best of luck! Don't be afraid to hurt their feelings! They didn't care enough about you to raise you. You have no bond with them, do what is best for you, not the people who birthed you. In my opinion, they are losers. No way in the world would I ever abandon my children!! You know where home is, and that's where you live! Tell the court you want them to officially adopt you! Ask your birth parents first, maybe they will allow it, but if not get the court involved.
You seriously have to wonder about them being on the lam and riding out some statute of limitation situation, specifically taxes. If not, then this is bizarre. Fist bump to the friends that embraced this situation and gave her a life of fulfillment. If it was me I would stay put. Biology is overrated. I bond with my friends more than I ever will with my brother.
Wow. This is insane to me. It makes me wonder what those first 10 years were like for OP. It sounds like they had a kid, regretted it, and just decided to live their life without her. No WAY they are allowed back. They burned that bridge a long time ago.
Honestly, rather than going to live with them, I'd talk to a lawyer to see if you can sue them for child abandonment, and then maybe get an emancipation declaration?
OP your parents abandoned you. They have no legal right to you. Enjoy your life!
Your parents ABANDONED you! You are 17 years old, I do not believe they can force you to move back with them and if I were you I would refuse. What they did is emotional abuse. I'm so sorry.
They left their kid for 7 years. About the time it takes for certain "legal things" to pass the prosecuting expiration date?? It's really fishy. If OP is doing virtual schooling, there's no reason she couldn't have done that from wherever parents were. If her temp guardians want her to stay, I think she's better off staying with them. You can't just desert your child for 7 years and expect to pick up where you left off.
The statute of limitations on whatever major fraud they committed finally expired, and now it's safe for them to come back to the States.
Either they covered up being in jail for something Pete and May are also covering up ... or they were on the run to evade being in jail, and now, things are long enough ago to not legally matter anymore. I can't find any other explanation that clicks in with what information we're given here. How much has been hidden from OP, we cannot possibly know for sure. Whatever way OP decides, she won't be the A about this.
She got postcards and calls from all over the world, so they definitely weren't in prison.
Load More Replies... At 17 you're close to being 18 and an adult. If they force Pete and may to give you back have them draft a bill for your time with them for your parents to repay. 7 years abandoned because they took a trip and barely communicated with people they left you with? I'd say they just wanted to be child free. Drag it out. Don't leave where you are. Even if you have to emancipate from them as parents you have enough evidence. And maybe Pete and may would consider adopting you into their family legally. They seem great for you.
Why did they bother even having a child if they didn’t want to care for her themselves? What a bizarre situation. And I’m guessing they didn’t contribute financially to the costs of her upbringing. She is so lucky though that she was left in the care of such wonderful people, who have given her a great childhood, valuable life skills and a sense of belonging. With that kind of support, she will do well in this life, and be able to leave those behind who mean nothing at this stage.
What in the ever loving f... Those idiot parents don't deserve to know their daughter. At the very least, she was set up with some good people who did a far better job of raising her than her biological folks ever could. Whatever the reason for them leaving for 7 bloody years, wanting to come back like that is a bit ridiculous, especially when she's closing in on adulthood.
My immediate thought is whether there was a 7 year statute of limitations for some crime they committed. Whatever the reason, totally NTA if you don't want to have a relationship with them. You have parents; Pete and May. The world travellers are just your egg and sperm donor.
nta. i was crying every day from the departure gate, when i had to leave my kids for 12 months for work! facetimed every few hours for hours till we all fell asleep, waking up with videocall still on! 7years i might as well slit my th****!
I can totally see parents abandoning their kids like this. I was about 2-3 years old when my parents left me to live with my grandparents and move out. There were periods, where I was not hearing from them for weeks, heard my granny arguing with mom to come visit constantly.. Plot twist? my parents lived in the same small town and was not considered "risky" parents or so. Even otherwise - very respected people. Been living like this till I was 10-11. Felt like an alien living with parents again and they had no clue how to raise me, because I was just random 10 year old living along with random grown ups.
For someone who was left for years with a horrible caretaker, this wouldn't have been so bad for me. The situation is horrible but the people who raised her sound awesome. They could have been bad people.
This is suspicious as can be. No one goes camping for 7 years leaving their child behind. Parents were pretty obviously on the run, either from financial issues, crime or both (is 7 years related to a Statute of Limitations?). What's to stop parents from taking her out of US to somewhere where she'll have no rights, can be abused and forced to work or worse. Chid needs a lawyer, an investigator and a restraining order. Guardians need a layer, restraining order and a formal No Trespassing order.
She's 17 and the the "step" parents have guardianship over her. You are overreacting.
Load More Replies... Well something is definitely off. Nothing sums up. I really hope her parents aren't wanted criminals for something. 7 years is a VERY long time . Enough to close a ongoing case .
This is understandably scary and confusing. But some make very good points. I understand that you don't want to know anything bad about your bio parents, e.g. perhaps a criminal background, which is very likely but you already know that their behavior and actions are NOT NORMAL. It is already criminal in all 50 states. Bringing this to the attention of an attorney who can protect your rights, have your bio parents pay for your college, or find out the truth could protect you and your 'real' parents. You don't know who your bio parents are, what motivated them and who may be looking for them. Keep yourself safe, your 'real' parents safe and you do this by stop covering their shady behavior for them. The last thing a family court wants to do is take a 17 yr old out of a loving home, where safe guardians have been providing love, care and support for so long with the bio parents permission. You and your 'real' parents won't get in trouble. But you need to protect yourself from the bios.
I think the parents got into trouble overseas. They may have been locked up for sometime. Some things that would get a slap on the wrist in America, will get you caned in other countries. She writes she got postcards, but these days it is all selfies and social media posts. Anyone can send a post card for the parents. With their flaky attitude and history, I wouldn't be surprised if they got in trouble.
I got so genuinely sad reading this. Honestly she should just stay with Pete and May, she deserves to be happy.
Dude I didn't think it was possible but these parents are even more demented than one of my friend's parents. And those parents are DEMENTED
If anyone can find the link to this that would be awesome! I'm trying right now, I'm very curious how it's going for her. I'm hoping everything works out, and that her "parents" just agree and don't try to make her move back. Her real parents are awesome people who are so kind for taking her in like that and just going "well I guess your our kid now." Edit: found it! https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/comments/151vwae/wibta_if_i_told_my_parents_i_dont_want_to_go_back/?rdt=59653
In Australia you can live wherever you want one you turn 16 as long as you are not in moral danger... not the same in the USA?
No, we don't have a law like that. The legal age of adulthood is 18. However, if her parents contest this in court, it is likely that she wouldn't be forced to live with her parents because of her age and the fact that her parents abandoned her. The Judge would be required to keep her desires in mind when making the decision.
Load More Replies... It sounds to me like they now want her back because she’s almost an adult and they don’t have to do all the heavy lifting of parenting a young child. My good friend was in a very similar situation only her mom came to reclaim her when she was about 14. She got super close to hothead family caring for her and was really resentful when her mom came back and took her from a stable home to living in chaos.
My immediate thought was they wete doing spy stuff or something dangerous because why not bring her along. Unless they wrte inctedibky wealthy. But then why wouldn't they visit her as pert if the trip? Or take her along once tshe got old enought to travel all the time. my thought after that was were they paying their mortthis whole time? Why would they need to go back to chicago? Why not move to Montana then and rekindle a relationship. While she still stays in a stable loving home... like start visition? But now that others folks mention they were running from something makes more sense then they had a travel bug because they could habe gotten her years ago years
NTA & then some. Obviously OP's bio parents aren't fit to raise her & I'd recommend consulting an atty in case they return & get pushy. I have my doubts they will if faced with a custody/ back child support/emancipation/ child abandonment fight. There's little chance they'd prevail & I'd wager they haven't the stomach for it. Rarely do courts ignore a 17yr old's preferences in these situations. These "parents" are delusional.
Although extremely sad, feeling abandoned by your owe parents, you need to understand something really important. Family is NOT blood. Family are those who care and take care of you. Life ALWAYS have a very strange way of putting things right where they belong. You were meant to close to nature and horses. And ur now foster parents whom i bet couldn't have children but wanted some., was given a wonderful daughter to love and cherish. Stay where ur heart tells u to stay. It's going to get ugly but u have proof ur biological parents never cared. Godspeed
I hope she goes to a lawyer. Just to officially separate her from the birth parents, their finances, and their background.
I have a feeling that even if she were to return to her birth parents that they wouldn’t like her anymore because of the way she turned out, (she isn’t the same kid they abandoned), and then they’d abandon her a second time. It seems to me that the very BEST thing to have happened to her was being left in the care of Pete and May. (Those two are SAINTS!) No matter what happens, in a year she’ll be relieved of all parents anyway, so even if she were to return to the 🫏🕳️ s, it’d be temporary anyway. I really hope she stays put, as those jerks don’t deserve the kid they abandoned. She sounds as if she turned into a TERRIFIC young woman with an AMAZING support system, and I kinda envy her!
My vote goes to bio parents being in some hot water abroad that took seven years to serve. After all, Pete and May knew them since infancy and didn't seem to have a clue; or do they?
I read the beginning incorrectly. But, I still think they left their parental duties far behind and I don't think they deserve her love anymore.
You're not the AH. Seems to me like Pete & May should have applied for legal guardianship after one year. THEY are your parents, in every sense of the word. THEY made you their priority.
My grandparents raised me until I was 11. Provided everything I needed and wanted. They spoiled me, but I wasn't spoiled, if you understand. I knew I was loved & wanted. Mom divorces a father I barely knew & married someone I never met, and takes me away to everything new .. including becoming the family slave & victim of her husband's vicious hate & abuse. I never forgave him when he died and I'll never truly forgive my mother for not only not wanting me before the hell I survived, but not letting me go back when the hell began. My Nana & Grampa were my parents, and I haven't been the same since being taken from them, nor losing them 10 years ago.
What do Pete and May think of you staying with them for good? They have "temporary" guardianship, they can petition to make it permanent. After 7 years of absence while the were busy having fun-fun-fun, not to mention that they reneged on their original agreement, your "parents" don’t look much like a responsible and caring pair, so methinks Pete and May’s chances are pretty good. And speaking of which, at 10 you were not exactly a toddler, NOT too young to go on a world tour. They just didn’t want you underfoot. And going off on a trip for seven months would be bad enough, but seven YEARS? They DID abandon you. Worst comes to worst and you’re forced to go back to your "parents", check with Pete and May if they'll take you back after that. In a mere year you’ll be 18, and free as a bird to go where you please.
Isn't "Child Abandonment" a real thing? If the people who dropped her off expect her to go back with them + they took Pete + Mary to court to get OP back, wouldn't the judge get the drop-off people for abandonment? (I refuse to call the drop-off people "parents" cuz they aren't - Pete + Mary are.)
Also, just as an aside, can we talk about the aliases she used? Pete and May? Someone's a Spiderman fan, lol!
Totally agree that something's fishy here. Either they were running from a crime, or already imprisoned, and didn't want to tell her. Maybe they thought that by telling her they were simply traveling, they were sparing her feelings. But if they did get in trouble, facing their consequences would've been a much bette life lesson for her. And though it would've hurt her, yes, their abandonment hurt her much more. Because instead of maybe just being upset that her parents broke the law and got in trouble, what they did straight up made her think they don't care about her. If it was the backpacking cult that someone else mentioned, well, that would be really stupid. But cults have brainwashed people into doing MUCH stupider things (Jim Jones, anyone?). If it was really just traveling, and they let her for no good reason, they don't deserve her. And they never did. Either way, OP is old enough to make her own decisions. And she should stay where she's happy.
Then again, if they were already imprisoned, they couldn't have sent those post cards. I have a friend who's been in before, and he said, even if one could order a bundle of blank post cards, the prison would never let those cards be sent out, under the pretense of being somewhere else. And even that aside, if all the postcards came from one place, they'd all have the same postmark, no matter where they *said* they were from. And the prison might even mark all outgoing mail in some way. Also, it's much harder to smuggle things in and out of prisons than people realize. Unless the guards are crooked. But still. No, I don't think they were locked up. I think they were running from something. And when, as others have said, the statute of limitations ran out, they finally came back, hoping for a happy reunion and a resumption of their normal lives. But it doesn't work that way.
Load More Replies... WOW @ Pete and May, though. Truly amazing people, by the sound of it.
THIS is why we need to decriminalise abortion. Some people are just not suitable parents, and need to be given the option to opt out before a child gets tied to a tree like a dog. Yes it's monstrous what they did, nobody can argue different... but this was clearly not a couple that should have been allowed to carry to term. Somebody should have stepped in and prevented what this child now has to live with for the rest of her life.
I’m just wondering how the so called ”parents” financed their very long trip. Did they have money saved? Did they stay and work here and there to finance further travel? Where did they sleep and what did they eat? Maybe they stayed with local people and slept on the floor, but they would still need money for some things. Hm. 🤔 Apart from OP, Pete and May were abandoned too, in a way. Did the ”parents” mention a date when they would be back? If I left my child with someone I would give specific information on when I would come back, and which train/bus etc I would be on. That’s grown up behaviour. And btw, are there not any grandparents? Where are they? Do they have anything to say about this? They might all be deceased, but I wonder… were they abandoned by the ”parents”, as well? And thank you Nathaniel for the expression. I will add Twatbaskets to my collection of inventive insults. 🤣
big shout out to Pete and May. Incredible people, taking on a child in the short term and then raising her as their own for the long term. I feel like something else is possibly going on here that the OP doesn't know about yet? Whatever the eventual outcome is, I hope the OP remains in the love of Pete and May xxx
If this is a true story... This child has been put away to safety to the most possible extent at that moment. A ranch in the middle of nowhere, home schooled, a not blood related childless couple sort of known from before as caretakers, not one family member ever mentioned, quite a rare and controlled communication with her parents (no response for weeks) etc. It all looks like some kind of a protection program.
There's more to being a parent than providing the genetic material.
OP was abandoned by her parents, pure and simple. A seven-year world tour is another name for waiting out the statute of limitations. Those two probably figured that they were home-free regarding whatever charges they were avoiding (tax evasion, embezzlement, fraud), and decided to return to the US. Most likely, they're broke, and are counting on Dearest Daughter to "help them out." Because.....fa-a-a-a-mily. If they ever decide to show up on her doorstep, I hope that OP isn't there. If she is, she should tell them to go back on their world tour--permanently. They aren't her parents--they just happened to be in the same room when she was conceived.
I agree with most folks that her parents were probably running from something like tax fraud. The statutes of limitations has expired and now they can’t be charged. The daughter wouldn’t find anything online since they were not arrested.
They were out of the country for seven years. Seven years is the Statute of Limitations for a lot of crimes in the US. If she doesn't want to know if her parents are criminals, then I'd suggest she doesn't look any harder. She's 17. She can live with whoever she wants, and no court in the land would force her back after the judge found out what they did. The one GOOD thing they did was give her to new parents who cared about her and raised her well.
There has to be more to this. Were they actually in jail and didn't want to say anything? How did they afford all this travel?
What this girl needs is her own lawyer. First to go to the judge and get emancipated, which I think just about any judge would grant. Second, the lawyer can search much better than her about whether they're criminals trying to ride out a statute of limitations.
My money is on them running out a statute of limitations. I wonder what the OP's life was like before she was abandoned. Were they well off? How did they pay for their food, travel and accommodations? I don't think the OP would have any legal issues if she chooses to stay with Pete and May against her bio parents' wishes. They have no legs to stand on, and risk getting into legal trouble themselves if they ask law enforcement to force OP to live with them. How are they going to explain why their child wasn't with them for the past seven years?! They could be charged with child abandonment/neglect. There may even be a law that says they have effectively forfeited their parental rights and maybe Pete and May can formally adopt OP.
I hope this is fake because this is so sad. She absolutely should not have to leave her home to go back with stranger's Essentially. They're strangers. They didn't want to be in her life for 7 fucken years.. now they think they can just come in & uproot her life all over again.. they're treating her like she's an object. It's disgusting. These aren't parents. These are ppl who gave birth to a child. There has to be something she can do legally. Like, I'm pretty sure she can emancipate herself. Especially when they abandoned her.
Travelling is expensive. Transport, hotels, everything cost a lot of money. Are they rich, or did they work while travelling? And more importantly: who just leave their kid with friends, give them guardianship and travel without bothering to visit from time to time? Unless they travelled on foot, that would explain, why they were gone for 7 friggin years.
When the parents became long overdue, Pete and May should have told them to come back, and if they didn't, termination of parental rights should have been initiated, followed by adoption. It would have been better for everyone.
Get an attorney, it's that simple. A child advocate would be a good place to start
You dont just leave your child! Omg! I cant imagine leaving my children to "go travel"... would bring them or NOT go!! 100% the parents are involved in some kind of creme!
How did the parents get money for 7 years? Maybe they were really in jail
Incredible story - maybe her parents were in jail for 7 years or something. Never visited? that seems really odd, unless you really can't visit.
the fact the parents said she was to young to join them on the trip screams abandonment right off the bat. no kid is too young to go on a trip. that is just her parents wanted to b kidless for awhile. she was 10 wen they left and that the age where kids start to really figure themselves out. she found out she likes nature better then city life. whether they r her parents or not they missed important times of her life. probably the most crucial times for a growing girl. they dont deserve to b in her life. in all honestly if she went to court id hope everyone finds her situation as a case of abandonment cuz that would mean legally her bio parents gave up all rights to her wen they left. u cant abandon someone they come back years later and tell them they missed u. u cant do that. chances r if this happened to me at 10 id forget wat my parents looked like. i was such a scatterbrained kid id completely forget about them. theyd come to pick me up 7 years later and id say "who r u".
Honestly, there's lots of things that need to be yelled at the parents. Be it the child abandonment issue, the child support issue, the child custody, child abuse too.... As a child less person with not really similar commitment issue, I really hope I never turned like them...
Uh hell no they don't matter in your life so live your best one!
The parents have to be spies. Tuxedos and evening gowns at cocktail parties with nefarious entities. Big rings with poison inside. Earbuds and a guy in a truck who picks them up when they're making a big escape. Sometimes they park across the street in an unmarked van and watch their daughter as she leaves school. They love her too much to make contact and put her in danger. It makes just as much sense.
THE PARENTS WERE RUNNING FROM THE LAW, THE CHILD SAFETY WAS AT STAKE, ONE NEEDS TO CHECK THE VALIDITY OF THE PROBLEM.,
This is a crazy story. Her parents are the two that raised her for the second half of her life. BUT i'm concerned about this girl....she leads a very secluded life. Does she have any friends her age? She spends her whole time being home schooled and with the horses? She needs to get out in the world to become more independent. Go to college....at least commute to a school. Meet new people, be exposed to new ideas and opinions. The horses will be there. Pete and May should be encouraging her to broaden her horizons. I am sure by now they view her as their own daughter. SHe is a lucky girl to have people care for her like that!
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