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Parents Make Teen Mom’s Life Hell, Try To Reconnect With Her And Her Daughter When Dad Gets Ill
Young woman looking pensive and sad on a white couch, reflecting on estranged dad with cancer seeking to reconnect.
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Parents Make Teen Mom’s Life Hell, Try To Reconnect With Her And Her Daughter When Dad Gets Ill

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Your parents should have your back when things get tough. Right? While that sounds like something obvious, not everyone passes the test. Unfortunately, some adults sound like they’re fairy-tale villains, actively trying to harm their kids for the choices they make.

Redditor u/ThrowRa6351iw526, a teenage mom, shared how her parents disowned her after she decided to keep the child. Not only that, but they also kept calling CPS on her for every little slight, making her life hell for years. However, once the woman’s dad became terminally ill, he wanted to reconnect with her and his granddaughter. The woman turned to Reddit for advice on how to handle the situation. Scroll down for the full story and the advice the internet gave her.

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    What a teenager needs the most when they find themselves pregnant is support from their parents, not shaming and emotional harm

    Pregnant young woman sitting by window, listening to music, reflecting on estranged dad and reconnecting with daughter story.

    Image credits: cookie_studio (not the actual photo)

    A young mom opened up about how her parents disowned her and terrorized her for years after she decided to keep her baby. Later, they begged her to reconnect

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    Text about estranged dad with cancer seeking to reconnect with daughter disowned after pregnancy, needing advice.

    Text about a daughter disowned after pregnancy and an estranged dad seeking to reconnect due to cancer diagnosis.

    Text excerpt illustrating a daughter’s experience with her estranged dad after he gets cancer and seeks reconnection.

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    Estranged dad with cancer seeking to reconnect with daughter he disowned over pregnancy struggles with family pain.

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    Text excerpt about a daughter’s life after being disowned by estranged dad who now seeks to reconnect after cancer diagnosis.

    Text on a white background stating they were able to afford a big flat and finally moved out of his parent's house.

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    Text excerpt from estranged dad gets cancer story, showing daughter's feelings about lack of support during pregnancy.

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    Nobody should be forced to reconnect with someone they despise at the drop of a hat. Rebuilding trust takes months and years of consistent effort

    Image credits: freepik (not the actual image)

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    The situation that the author described in her two viral posts sounds like a nightmare. Not only was she thrown out of her parents’ home for deciding to keep her child as a teenage mom, but she also had to deal with years and years of harassment.

    The woman shared that her parents had made her life hell. On top of that, her daughter had to go to therapy because she was traumatized by the couple constantly calling CPS for every perceived mistake the young mom made.

    To be clear, it’s a very personal and delicate decision, whether or not you should forgive your relatives for years of neglect, disgusting behavior, and emotional and mental violence. It’s your choice that matters the most here. And while other people can give you advice, ultimately, you and you alone make that decision.

    If you feel like reconnecting with your parents, do so. It’ll likely take months and years to create a new (hopefully, healthy) relationship with them.

    However, you shouldn’t feel pressured to ignore someone’s awful past behavior just because they now have a deadline due to their health. To be blunt, getting sick does not automatically forgive a person’s past sins, like disowning their teen child instead of doing the mature thing and supporting them when they need them the most.

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    And while everyone is theoretically capable of redemption, the person who has hurt you has to show that they’ve changed. They’re in no position to force you to forgive them. Genuinely rebuilding trust takes lots of time. You can’t fast-track something like this if you want it to be authentic.

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    You might also find yourself in a nuanced situation where you forgive the people who have hurt you without actually reconnecting with them. That way, you start the healing process, move on with your life, but feel no obligation to have a relationship with someone whom you don’t want as part of your life.

    On the flip side, keeping hold of all of that anger and sadness for years is going to eat away at your physical and mental health. It disempowers you. You may need years of therapy and self-care to accept what has happened and reframe it in a way that restores your confidence.

    Healing from trauma is a long and arduous process. You need to make sure that you find a therapist with the right skill set

    Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

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    The Cleveland Clinic explains that when it comes to trauma, the earlier it happens to you in life, the more it tends to leave an impact that follows you into adulthood, unless handled early. Children under the age of 8 are particularly vulnerable.

    Childhood trauma can result in:

    • Shame
    • Guilt
    • Low self-esteem
    • Risky behaviors
    • Addiction
    • Anxiety
    • Learning disabilities

    According to the Cleveland Clinic, tackling trauma requires multiple strategies, from seeking trauma-informed therapy and learning your triggers to guided meditation and self-care.

    When it comes to therapy, you should look for a counselor whom you can truly trust and who has the right skill set to help you.

    “The most important step is to establish a really safe therapeutic alliance before you open up about all the details of your trauma,” says psychotherapist Natacha Duke, MA, RP. On top of that, your therapist knows what tools can help you work through your trauma both safely and efficiently.

    Meanwhile, Verywell Mind also recommends looking for a trauma-informed therapist. “Individual trauma-focused psychotherapy is recommended over all other approaches for PTSD and traumatic experiences in general. Modalities like EMDR, somatic experiencing, trauma-focused CBT, Internal Family Systems, or art therapy can be good treatment options as well.”

    However, support groups aren’t recommended for trauma without individual trauma-informed support because talking about traumatic events can be re-traumatizing.

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    What are your thoughts, dear Readers? Do you think the young mom was right to refuse her parents from meeting her granddaughter because of the years they’d spent making her life hell? Or do you think she should have tried to reconnect with them since her dad was now terminally ill? Have you ever tried reconnecting with someone whom you have cut off in the past? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

    The story went viral, and many people wanted to share their advice with the young mom

    Screenshot of a Reddit conversation discussing an estranged dad with cancer wanting to reconnect with daughter.

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    Screenshot of a heartfelt comment about an estranged dad with cancer seeking to reconnect with his daughter.

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    Later, the woman shared a significant update. She confronted her parents and set some boundaries going forward

    Text update about estranged dad's cancer and reconnecting with daughter after disowning her for pregnancy.

    Text excerpt about estranged dad meeting without daughter, highlighting disappointment and unresolved family tension.

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    Text highlighting a daughter's anger after being disowned by estranged dad for getting pregnant, now seeking reconciliation.

    Text excerpt showing a daughter’s message about estranged dad who disowned her for pregnancy and refuses reconnection.

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    Text on a white background reads a statement about family conflict involving withholding a grandchild as estranged dad gets cancer.

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    Estranged dad with cancer seeking to reconnect with daughter he disowned over pregnancy, heartfelt family reunion request.

    Text message discussing daughter's therapy and her mental and physical health after trauma caused by parents and CPS visits.

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    The internet was very impressed with the way the woman handled the emotionally tense situation with her parents

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    Jonas Grinevičius

    Jonas Grinevičius

    Author, Senior Writer

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    Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

    Read less »
    Jonas Grinevičius

    Jonas Grinevičius

    Author, Senior Writer

    Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

    Shelly Fourer

    Shelly Fourer

    Author, Community member

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    Hey there! I'm Shelly, a Visual Editor at Bored Panda

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    Shelly Fourer

    Shelly Fourer

    Author, Community member

    Hey there! I'm Shelly, a Visual Editor at Bored Panda

    What do you think ?
    Al Ban
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    C.o.n.d.om is censored? Please kids use condoms

    LongFang
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Grand parents rights ? They called CPS on their daughter ! If my child had a kid at 16, i'd be pissed but would always support & never disown.

    Weltschmerz
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's because you're a decent human being. Some people still have such backwards mindsets!

    Load More Replies...
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    Kate Johnson
    Community Member
    Premium
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yep. Could have called this one. People like these parents rarely change. Her kid has already been traumatized enough by these losers. I wouldn't have even met with them at all. They made their choices, now they can live with the consequences.

    Paul C
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love the OP's husband's comment "Just because you are dying, doesn't mean you deserve forgiveness". OP's parents obviously haven't grown up since their disgusting behaviour, so they sure don't deserve forgiveness. Even if her father is dying.

    Touhou Youyoumu
    Community Member
    Premium
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Surprised, no YTA unhinged nutcase responses. Poor daughter. Another case of so called parents don't deserve children or grandkids.

    Paul Rabit
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd say OP handled that perfectly.

    Sabrina
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There won't even be a granddaughter if she listens to her parent to do an abortion; they still want to see her?

    SheamusFanFrom1987
    Community Member
    3 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If chumpf*u*c*k birthgivers want to use "grandparents' rights" as a s*h*i*t*t*y excuse to "reconnect" after disowning a child, I'm hereby calling for a "NOPE right" based on past treatment as these chumpf*u*c*k*s will likely be poor excuse for grandparents. OP's meeting with them has already proven as such. Obviously they've grown older but dumber instead of wiser. Good on OP for leaving them out in the cold like they did to her as a young mother and I hope her daughter does the same as well. May they perish alone and disowned by a daughter and granddaughter they failed in their most dire times!!! SMH!!!

    Uncle Panda
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Get someone to call CPS in their name and make that one final complaint...

    Sarah Ellison
    Community Member
    3 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I told my mom all the time when she was dealing with the declining health of an Aunt that just because a person is old doesn't erase the horrible things they did when they were younger. If they want people surrounding them in times of sickness, then they need to nurture those relationships when they're healthy. Also, there were NO good intentions behind those CPS calls. They were entirely malicious with the intention of punishing OP, because they felt she WASN'T being punished. Her friend's family took her in, so she wasn't out on the street like they wanted.

    Load More Comments
    Al Ban
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    C.o.n.d.om is censored? Please kids use condoms

    LongFang
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Grand parents rights ? They called CPS on their daughter ! If my child had a kid at 16, i'd be pissed but would always support & never disown.

    Weltschmerz
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's because you're a decent human being. Some people still have such backwards mindsets!

    Load More Replies...
    ADVERTISEMENT
    Kate Johnson
    Community Member
    Premium
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yep. Could have called this one. People like these parents rarely change. Her kid has already been traumatized enough by these losers. I wouldn't have even met with them at all. They made their choices, now they can live with the consequences.

    Paul C
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love the OP's husband's comment "Just because you are dying, doesn't mean you deserve forgiveness". OP's parents obviously haven't grown up since their disgusting behaviour, so they sure don't deserve forgiveness. Even if her father is dying.

    Touhou Youyoumu
    Community Member
    Premium
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Surprised, no YTA unhinged nutcase responses. Poor daughter. Another case of so called parents don't deserve children or grandkids.

    Paul Rabit
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd say OP handled that perfectly.

    Sabrina
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There won't even be a granddaughter if she listens to her parent to do an abortion; they still want to see her?

    SheamusFanFrom1987
    Community Member
    3 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If chumpf*u*c*k birthgivers want to use "grandparents' rights" as a s*h*i*t*t*y excuse to "reconnect" after disowning a child, I'm hereby calling for a "NOPE right" based on past treatment as these chumpf*u*c*k*s will likely be poor excuse for grandparents. OP's meeting with them has already proven as such. Obviously they've grown older but dumber instead of wiser. Good on OP for leaving them out in the cold like they did to her as a young mother and I hope her daughter does the same as well. May they perish alone and disowned by a daughter and granddaughter they failed in their most dire times!!! SMH!!!

    Uncle Panda
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Get someone to call CPS in their name and make that one final complaint...

    Sarah Ellison
    Community Member
    3 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I told my mom all the time when she was dealing with the declining health of an Aunt that just because a person is old doesn't erase the horrible things they did when they were younger. If they want people surrounding them in times of sickness, then they need to nurture those relationships when they're healthy. Also, there were NO good intentions behind those CPS calls. They were entirely malicious with the intention of punishing OP, because they felt she WASN'T being punished. Her friend's family took her in, so she wasn't out on the street like they wanted.

    Load More Comments
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