Teen’s Smirk After Destroying Heirloom Ends 6-Month Relationship, Realizes Her Mistake Too Late

Nowadays, there are hundreds of different ways to make up a family. As long as there’s plenty of love present, it makes no difference whether you have one parent or four (including your stepparents). But although it’s perfectly fine for adults to find love again and again, it won’t necessarily be easy for their children to adjust to having someone new around.

One woman recently shared a story on Reddit detailing how her last relationship ended because of her ex’s daughter’s behavior. But now, the teen is reaching out to her for help, and she’s not having it.

This woman’s last relationship ended due to the cruel treatment she endured from her ex’s teen daughter

Teen crying with hands on face, sitting in a room, feeling upset.

Image credits: Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

But now, the teen has realized that she hates her dad’s new partner even more

Text about a woman discussing a past relationship with her ex-boyfriend and his daughter.

Text about a teen's conflict with her dad's ex-girlfriend, detailing rude comments and blame for a breakup.

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Text excerpt about a teen's conflict with her dad's new girlfriend and lacking support.

Text describing a situation involving a broken antique pitcher, deeply meaningful to the narrator due to its connection to their grandmother.

Teen in a pink shirt looking contemplative, with her hair down, outside on a sunny day.

Image credits: Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Text from a story about a teen upset with her dad's new girlfriend and an accident with a dining table.

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Text describing conflict between teen Tia and new girlfriend Jane, involving insults and broken belongings.

Text depicts a conversation about a teen's situation with her dad's new girlfriend and the role her mom plays in it.

Text about emotions, advice, and family conflict, mentioning a conversation about Tia’s feelings and seeking support.

Image credits: RestlessStardust

It’s common for teens to have complicated feelings about their parents entering new relationships

Image credits: Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Even if your parents have been divorced for a decade, which is the case for the teen in this story, it can still be challenging to accept that there’s someone new in one of your parents’ lives. According to Hidden Strength, when a teen resents the new partner of one of their parent’s, it’s possible that their resistance to change isn’t personal.

It might actually be coming from a fear that their parent is pushing them away or trying to replace them. They might also be jealous of how much time their parent is now spending with this romantic partner. And it’s possible that they feel bad for their other parent, if they assume that they’ve been left behind or forgotten.

Teens sometimes also find it embarrassing or gross that their parent would be dating and trying to find love again. And, in some cases, there might actually be something specific about the partner that they don’t like. And, of course, if the new partner doesn’t like the teen, the feeling will likely go both ways.

However, Hidden Strength notes that seeing a parent start dating someone new is not a valid excuse for bad behavior. If the teen is being hostile or acting out, it’s important for their parent to address it immediately. It’s recommended for the parent to ask their child what exactly is bothering them and how they can work together to find a solution.

Parents should make sure that their children are comfortable before bringing someone new into their lives

Image credits: Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

And when it comes to helping a child or teen accept a new partner who they’re not particularly fond of at first, Sydney Couple & Family Specialists recommends making sure that the hierarchy in the family is clear. Your child should always show respect to you and your partner, even if they’re not happy with the new arrangement yet.

It can also be helpful to encourage the new partner to get involved in activities like household chores and household traditions. This might make the child or teen view them more as part of the family, rather than a stranger in their home. 

If it’s necessary to discipline your child, try to do so one-on-one, without your new partner around. They might feel like they’re being ganged up on if the two of you are present when this happens. 

And the child or teen should always have their own safe space in the home. Their bedroom, a playroom or an upstairs space away from the rest of the home can be incredibly helpful if they feel overwhelmed and need to be alone. They should have somewhere they can go to process their emotions without worrying about someone barging in at any moment.

It’s important not to rush the process of having your child open up to a new partner. They might be feeling a complicated mix of emotions, and it’s completely natural to take time to adjust to any sort of life change. 

We would love to hear your thoughts on this situation in the comments below, pandas. Do you think this woman was obligated to help her ex-boyfriend’s daughter? Feel free to weigh in. Then, you can check out another Bored Panda article discussing similar issues right here. 

Later, the author replied to several readers and provided more details about the situation

Reddit comments discussing a teen's dislike of her dad's new girlfriend.

Reddit conversation about ex-girlfriends and new relationships, discussing issues with introductions.

A Reddit conversation discussing a teen's issue with a dad's ex-girlfriend and their interactions.

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Reddit user replies about a sentimental ceramic tray idea; mentions grandma's pitcher pieces and emotional mistake.

Reddit exchange about John dating after a month, with RestlessStardust replying sarcastically.

Reddit comments discussing a father's ex-girlfriend and his new girlfriend, with advice on self-reflection and therapy.

Reddit comments discussing a teen's emotional struggles with her dad's new and ex-girlfriend.

Reddit discussion about a teen dealing with her dad's new girlfriend and his ex-girlfriend's involvement.

A Reddit conversation about a breakup and contact with people involved.

Many agreed that the woman was not obligated to help the teen

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Comment about teen and dad's ex GF, discussing a situation involving Tia and her reaction to John's actions.

Reddit comment discussing teen's dislike for dad's new girlfriend and support for ex-girlfriend's approach.

Reddit comment discussing a teen's dislike for her dad's new girlfriend and her seeking his ex-girlfriend's support.

Reddit comment discussing a 16-year-old's maturity and consequences of abusing people.

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Reddit comment discussing a life lesson about a dad's ex-girlfriend.

Comment discussing a teen's dislike for her dad's new girlfriend and her relationship with dad's ex-girlfriend.

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Reddit comment discussing teen's behavior towards dad's ex-girlfriend.

Comment criticizing a teen, mentioning a father's happiness, with "NTA" at the end.

Comment discussing a teen disliking her dad's new girlfriend more than the ex-girlfriend.

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Text conversation discussing teen reaching out to dad's ex-GF, revealing feelings about dad's new girlfriend.

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Comment on teen's relationship with dad's ex and current girlfriend issues.

Reddit comment discussing teen's issues with dad's new girlfriend and parental dynamics.

Comment about man and his daughter, calling them an embarrassment and nightmare, saying NTA.

Comment criticizing new girlfriend, suggesting she destroyed something important.

Comment on Reddit about teen drama with ex-girlfriend dynamics and issues.

Reddit comment discussing teen's dislike for dad's new girlfriend.

Reddit comment discussing a teen's relationship issues with her dad's ex-girlfriend and new girlfriend.

Reddit comment discussing lessons from a teen's conflict with dad's new and ex-girlfriend.

Reddit comment discussing a story about a bully getting bullied back and parental intervention.

Comment discussing teen, family drama, and manipulation dynamics.

However, some thought that the author should have gone out of her way to help

Comment discussing a teen complaining to dad's ex-girlfriend about current girlfriend, mentioning behavior issues.

Comment discussing a father's relationship choices affecting his teenage daughter.

Reddit comment criticizing a teen's behavior toward her dad's new girlfriend.

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