Rich Parents Want To Adopt Their Son’s Friend From His Single Mom, The Mom Only Then Realizes All The Red Flags
Helping out a friend with raising their kids from time to time is one thing. Trying to replace them as a parent, however, is an entirely different ball game that gets everyone’s alarm bells ringing.
Redditor u/livinginfearmom turned to the r/TrueOffMyChest online community with a complicated and downright scary story. She explained how her son started getting along with a boy, whose parents eventually tried to push her out of the picture, and adopt him. You’ll find the full story, in the mom’s own words, as you scroll down. Bored Panda has reached out to u/livinginfearmom via Reddit, and we will update the article as soon as we hear back from her.
Not all red flags are obvious at the time. It’s only in hindsight that we realize how suspicious things were
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A mom turned to the internet for advice on how to deal with a very tense situation. Her son’s friend’s parents tried to adopt him
Image credits: RODNAE Productions (not the actual photo)
Everything started when the woman’s son became friends with a kid at his school
Image credits: Gustavo Fring (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Cliff Booth (not the actual photo)
The child kept spending more and more time with his friend’s family
One day, everything came to a head and the wealthy parents finally told the truth about their intentions
Image credits: Polina Zimmerman (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Irina Kraskova (not the actual photo)
Image credits: livinginfearmom
The mom wasn’t going to give up her son. There was no chance of that happening
Image credits: Felipe Cespedes (not the actual photo)
The OP’s story was very long, incredibly detailed, and revealed how some people will go to incredible lengths to manipulate others. The mom changed everyone’s names to help protect their identities and to keep herself as anonymous as possible.
Her son, ‘Owen,’ became friends with ‘Charlie.’ Eventually, they started spending more and more time together, and the OP got to know the friend’s parents, ‘Nate’ and ‘Paige.’ They were well off, and seemed warm and welcoming. In fact, they treated Owen like he was Charlie’s brother.
However, they were inserting themselves more and more into u/livinginfearmom’s son’s life, while slowly pushing her out of the picture. Things came to a head when they spoke up about becoming the boy’s guardians. “They told me to think about Owen and what’s best for him. I told them there was no way in hell I was going to give up my son,” the mom wrote on Reddit that she wouldn’t even entertain the possibility. Her son was her son, and nobody would be taking him away from her.
After reading through some of the comments on r/TrueOffMyChest, the mom decided to tell her son that spending time with his friend’s parents was no longer safe. Though he was upset, he seemed to understand the situation and knows that family is more important than all the gifts and trips he’d received. Meanwhile, his school is “taking measures to protect him,” and the OP blocked Nate and Paige everywhere that she could.
Seeking outside help is essential in these sorts of charged situations
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There are no ‘easy’ answers when the situation is as complicated and emotionally charged as this one. Before making any major moves, it’s essential that you ensure that your child is safe and that they’re no longer in contact with anyone whom you suspect has plans of taking him away from you.
If you are taking good care of your child, you are completely in the right and have nothing to worry about: nobody will be taking your child away. Consider contacting your family, friends, school representatives, Child Protective Services (or whatever the equivalent in your area is), the police, and seek legal advice. Try to figure out a way forward that keeps your family together without putting any of you in danger.
Documenting all the ways that others tried to push you out of the picture so that they could get to your child is imperative. The more hard evidence you have, the stronger a case you can build against them. Later on, it might be a good idea to seek the help of a family therapist or a children’s counselor: these professionals can help you process the entire situation and help you move past it.
It’s up to the authorities to deal with cases where there’s real neglect
Image credits: Edmond Dantès (not the actual photo)
It’s only in cases of real neglect that a child can be taken away, whether temporarily or to find a new home for them. However, the people to solve these sorts of situations would be government officials. No random family has the power to step in and decide to ‘adopt’ someone else’s kid because they can offer them more financial security. It’s ridiculous. It’s scary. And it has to be stopped.
If you do happen to spot signs of neglect, you can contact Child Protective Services to investigate the matter. There are four main types of neglect, ranging from physical and educational to emotional and medical. Physical neglect is often the most obvious: the child is dirty, hungry, and doesn’t have access to proper clothing or shelter.
According to the NSPCC, medical neglect means that the child isn’t given access to healthcare, including dental care while medical recommendations are ignored by the parents or guardians. Meanwhile, other types of neglect include not being given access to education and not having the emotional support that children require: they might be isolated, ignored, or humiliated.
Children who are neglected often have poor hygiene and appearance, health and development problems, and issues at home, and may show drastic changes in behavior.
The mom shared some more context in the comments of her post
The situation concerned a lot of readers. Here’s what some of them had to say
The mom later posted an update, sharing what she did next
She also decided to speak to her son about what happened with his close friend’s parents
yesterday's update from the mom on Reddit: "Well, what everyone feared would happen, did. Tuesday, [Owen] returned to school. I told him he could still talk with and play with Charlie. I was hesitant to drop him off but figured you can't live in fear. Most afternoon, my son takes the bus to a local rec center for aftercare. I had already told the school everything and that Nate and Paige were not to pick Owen up. I managed to call and even make sure he got on the bus. Aftercare was also made aware of the change in pick up list. Well, a half hour later, I get a call that Paige had tried to pick up my son. The front desk refused to release him. Didn't say why, just that she was no longer on the list. She wouldn't leave and the police were called. She was escorted out of the building. While she wasn't brought to jail, there is a police report and I am using this to go to court and get an order of protection...
...Paige and Nate are also banned from the rec center so if they *do* show up, they will get arrested for trespassing. The police are working on ways to protect us and the local social services office has been made aware of the situation, so should they try to make a claim, they're aware of the situation."
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Of all the stuff I've read on the internet, this story has scared me like nothing I've ever read. As a parent who has had to stay away from his kid for a few months, for work, I can sympathize with the Mom. I wish the and Owen the best.
Sometimes, I remember how, when I was 7, we moved to California from a tiny town in Nebraska and instead of walking to the K-12 school next door, I became a latchkey kid and had to take the school bus. I lost a LOT of keys, and dad can probably still replace a doorknob and deadbolt in his sleep. I can't even imagine how much mom must've worried over it in the 80s, but thank all the gods there was no internet to feed the anxiety even more.
Load More Replies... That's just terrifying. Those people are nuts. I'd consider a consultation with a lawyer, if she can afford it or can get a free consult. Just to be prepared if these people try anything. They are definitely not normal. I am glad her kid understands. It's too bad about the lost friendship, though.
Parents like that are likely raising a disturbed kid. Sounds like they wanted a 'precious' for their son and the real fear is what they'd do to him after they got him permanently.
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Nate and Paige seem to have some classist as f**k beliefs. Like, they're going to be better parents to a kid simply because they can provide more wealth. And that just because they have money, they have a *right* to even suggest just taking a kid away from someone. Those are some scary people I would avoid at all costs.
They figure they buy everything else they want, why not a kid? This story is terrifying. Back in the early 80s my cousin was almost kidnapped in kindergarten. Someone he did not know and neither did the school, or may aunt and uncle.
Load More Replies... When you are so rich you think you can buy anything. (Oh, wait. That's child trafficking, isn't it? Paige and Nate are just trying to be gentrify it.)
Well said. That couple would have taken Owen and moved away so they had full control over him. Owen is better off with his mom because growing up with loads of money can cause problems.
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The best memories I have growing up poor are time with my mom, that's when she had time. My father was never a part of my life. She did the best she could. Definitely pay check to pay check. Sometimes we would get nice things from people, but I remember the time with mom most. She was there for all of it, just like OP. Yes it was rough, but we made it. Those who spent money on me were nice and the gifts were nice, but they were there for the happy parts of my life, getting gifts. Not the struggles. OP was there for all of it. Those memories are worth more than gold. She's a badass parent who raised an awesome kid that ended up making someone else jealous. That wasn't the intent, but it happened, and they wanted him as a finished product. They would have destroyed him. He would have turned out just like his friend. Hope OP knows what this is worth. Hope OP KNOWS What SHE is worth. What a mother. Love it.
SO glad the update shared that the mom told her son, and got a restraining order against the psycho couple who wanted to buy a playmate for their child. CREEPY! 😳
Yeah, until the update, I thought maybe the rich parents were well-meaning, just very out of touch. With the update, it seems that this is indeed a dangerous situation. 😓
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Mom, you are an exceptional mother, kind, extremely smart and you have your act together. You'll figure all this out as you've made great strides already. Your instincts are very good and your head is on straight. Don't forget to take care of your stress through all of this and show your son what an exemplary human looks like.
Fifteen years ago, an elderly lady at my church came in with her seven month old grandson. My family started babysitting him from time to time and taking him on trips with us on occasion. Eventually, this little boy started spending a lot of time with my family and essentially became a part of our family. When he was nine, our family still would go get him from time to time and spend time with him. Around this time, his parents were both back in his life, but we still spent time with him. Ever since he was nine years old, he has been living with my parents and sees them as his godparents and sees my sister and I as his sisters. We didn't take him away from his family. His mother chose to leave him with my family.
That’s completely different. You didn’t try to BUY a playmate for your child.
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This is such a triggering story for me! Years ago, a woman who was like a sister to me tried to kidnap my son. She even tried to get some of my out-of-state family involved, no idea why she thought THAT was a hood idea. We hot him back, no police involved, thankfully.
WTPhhhhhh. I was an only child. My parents allowed me to take my friends on vacation and have sleepovers and go to sleepovers. My friends got appropriate gifts on their birthdays. Some of my friends came from familirs with less income. My parents tbh turned out to be such a mess later on I cut contact with them. But not once, not once did my parents ever try to steal anyone elses kid. Not being rich is not a crine and cerainly doesnt make you a bad parent. These people are damn scary. While I understand not wanting to accept moneu, a fund for legal fees might be appropriate. I think this is going to escalate. Best of luck. Glad you told your son, kids understand more than we think. Ask the svhool if there is a curator he can talk to to help with processing this.
This is just down right creepy. As a mom, I am terrified for OP. These people sound pretty wealthy, and if they take you to court, well I don't even want to think about what would happen then. Even the idea of having to give up a child is terrifying. Best of luck to you OP.
Money can buy a lot. It can even buy judges and it often does. BUT - stealing a child for the purpose of being a "brother" to their son, will sound crazy, even to a paid off judge. Don't forget, OP will have a lawyer, and I'm pretty sure that lawyer will have a good case. And, if it ever went public? . . . .
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That is so crazy and scary. Nate and Paige are insane. They simply want their son to have a “brother” and they don’t actually want Owen. I’m glad that Nate and Paige were banned from the rec center after Paige tried to pick up Owen again.
My daughter is an only child. Many times over the years I have "borrowed" her friends, so she would have a playmate when i took her to a children's museum or science center. I buy them lunch. I pay for a souvenir if they weren't given money. I host sleepovers. I never, ever thought about trying to keep someone else's child. The OP should not feel like she missed red flags. It was reasonable to think they were doing something mutually beneficial, up until Christmas.
Yeah like they were overly generous at worst up until when they essentially asked her to give them her own child like what the hell
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Damn rich people think they’re even entitled to just taking other people’s kids. Damn.
What an insane turn! My husband and I have always been the neighborhood "parents", even taking in 2 brothers when they showed up on our doorstep in the snow without shoes. The oldest was 18 and lived in our guest room until he saved enough to get his first apartment and we found a safe place for him. The youngest was 13, so we called his Youth Pastor and made him a spot on the couch. I would rather risk the police showing up than to send them home where their parents were throwing plates and dishes at each other. The police visited their house, but not mine. The parents divorced and everyone moved out of state, but my boys still visit me several times a year. We have a great relationship with their mother and she's called on us several times for the youngest because he'll go off his psych. meds and to encourage him to apply for mental disability. Their dad accused us of turning his kids against him, but we never spoke poorly of either parent. Love my boys!
Yeah but that's very different, you helped kids in need, while they were trying to lure with luxuries someone else's kid away from his loving mother just because they wanted a permanent well behaved playmate for their own kid
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Wow, that was scary ! What a loving and protective mom. This sounds like an enlightening made-for-TV movie idea. Margaret Hamilton (the Wicked Witch of the West) could play Paige if she (Ms. Hamilton) were still with us. She tried to take Toto, after all.
Wow. I was raised by a single mother who struggled with severe depression. I had very kind friends of parents who stepped in and helped my mother by taking me in and giving her the time she needed to get mental health assistance. Never once did they try and take me away from her. I'm very grateful for them and what they did for us. This woman is a wonderful parent, and these people were making it about money. I'm so happy her son took it as well as he did. What nerve these people had... they sound absolutely terrifying.
I‘m glad she talked to her son. At his age he is perfectly capable to understand what is going on and he sounds like a sensible kid. I knew he would rather stay with his loving Mom, then get all those riches.
I'm so glad she made social services aware of what is going on. My sister has had local police, adult protective services, AND the local animal welfare services weaponized against her by a crazy family member. The workers were GREAT, did their obligatory evaluations and started ignoring the reports from that family member once it was clear they were making false accusations. By reporting Paige and Nate first, she probably saved herself some future headaches Btw, I'm so happy we have those organizations to help the most vulnerable. I'd like it if they could fine people for making false accusations (after the second) so it would deter Karens from wasting their time.
If they feel this intensely about your son and you are fearful that they may attempt to take him you should probably be asking the most obvious questions.... Have they ever pursued a course of action like this in the past that was successful? Are the really "Charlie's" parents? Yeah... I would have them under a microscope and finding out every little bit I could find about them.
Oh my gosh. I hadn't thought of that but that is a definite possibility that Charlie isn't their kid either.
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I had experiences like this with both of my children. Richer families are just trying to have my well behaved
To everyone saying that Charlie's reaction was too perfect to be real... You are overlooking the fact that he is an only child of a single mother who has good, strong relationship with her son. Only children are often more mature and OP has fostered a healthy environment that he feels safe and loved in. They have no other family, they rely on each other in a unique way. I'm sure they have typical parent/ child stresses but threatening that bond would be terrifying for Charlie. I come from a nearly identical situation and his reaction seems 100% legit.
Uggh. Sorry I don't know how to edit this but I just realized I confused Owen for Charlie. Apologies!!
Load More Replies... This worries me. Where did Charlie come from? Did they get him this way? I mean really what kind of person does this? Maybe it worked before. Please be careful and I'd even have police check about Charlie. If all's well, good. And maybe it'll make them think twice before trying it again.
That's what I was thinking, like how sure is op that Charlie is actually theirs, I'm hoping when she talked to the school and police she didn't leave out that they went out of their way to buy and do expensive stuff for owen, like they were trying to buy Owen's affection (like they seem to do w/ Charlie) because that way if/when op said no to them taking her child they'd be able to get him to choose them bc they can afford more and they seem to think that's all there is to parenting. Paige and Nate are terrifying and honestly it should be checked whether or not Charlie is even theirs with them trying to do this to op.
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This is without a doubt one of the most terrifying things I've ever read on this site. I've witnessed children who loved a parental figure taken away and convinced that person was evil and didn't love them enough to stay. They were utterly turned against her and even as adults, they couldn't see past that brainwashing and pain. I'm praying for this mom and her sweet boy.
That’s absolutely scary, but consider this, too … they could easily afford to adopt any child in need of a home, but they either chose not to go that route or the adoption people didn’t trust them enough to let it happen! This definitely suggests how dangerous these people really are & goodness knows what would eventually happen to the child they choose & manage to “adopt”, but I don’t believe it would be a positive result. Heaven help any child they manage to wrangle into their custody. 😥
Oh my God the insanity and the entitlement of some people is beyond words. Great job at protecting your son from that sociopathic s***! Your son clearly knows no amount of fancy gifts or trips could ever compete with his own mom. I hope they leave your family 100% alone and if they don't I would take out an ad in my local paper warning people to be on the lookout for an unwell couple trying to buy/steal people's children
This is like a Lifetime movie. If the boy understands what mom told him, that's enough. I think OP had done a good job of raising him. He isn't "blinded by the light." So the fact that he wouldn't be having as much on the way of material things, it didn't phase him. He truly wants to stay with his mom. The way it should be. OP was wise to tell both school and police. They'll be watching out. This will turn out well, I think.
My heart breaks for both of them. She is fighting this without support from her family. Owen is probably terrified he will be kidnapped. I know when my daughters were taken by my estranged husband, they had nightmares and were terrified to stay away from home. They hid it as well as they could, but children worry about things they won't tell us about so that we don't worry. I hope this gets resolved and she and Owen can move and be safe.
My mind is boggled! Those people are insane. I can also imagine how badly it would go down the first time Owen didn't behave exactly how they wanted. I'm glad the various authorities are taking this seriously. Owen and his mum sound lovely and I hope this is soon behind them.
This is hands-down one of the scariest fúcking things I have EVER read on here!! If I was OP, I would be scouring the paper and internet, for another place to live. And then I'd use my tax refund to make it happen. I know, in this economy, it can be almost impossible to find affordable housing. I'm low-income too, so I get it. But I wouldn't feel safe at all, until I was living and even working someplace they didn't know about, and until my kid was in a different school. And then I'd go completely incognito. No social media accounts, prepaid cell phone (so my name isn't on it), anything I could do, to hide. At least until I knew they'd given up. I know you can't hide forever. You can't live your life in fear. And I know there are always ways of finding someone, it you want it bad enough, and you have the resources. But if it's my kid involved, I'd do anything and everything I could, to protect them. Not that I'm saying this mom isn't, because she IS.
This whole situation is just absolutely terrifying as héll. And it makes me want to RUN.
Load More Replies... To those inspired to help...almost every community has a group (many are church groups) whose sole purpose is to support single mothers in all they do. They will help with supplies, obtaining a HS diploma or GED, travel to doctor appointments, baby furniture, diapers, formula, breast pump - absolutely everything a young mom needs to be a successful mom earning a living wage. These groups need help in every way imaginable. I learned this first hand when my 15-year-old daughter became pregnant. Neither her dad nor I had the financial means to provide more than the basics. But, she finished high school using their on-campus daycare. She also completed 3/4 of what she needed for her CNA certificate and earned it while her daughter was less than a year old. She has worked on an advanced degree while earning much better than minimum wage as a Certified Nursing Assistant. She is on track to graduate with her BS in Hospital Administration next year, just after her daughter turns 8.
It's really sad that the other kid's parents don't actually love him either. If they did, they wouldn't let him be a spoiled brat, they would explain to him that he can have many, many friends but won't be able to get a sibling unless they adopt (from a child that is actually in need), and to be there for him. They want their kid's attention distracted so they can do whatever. The two of them should be pretty heavily investigated and have some thorough psych evals done on them. The kid needs to be seen too, just to see if anything's going on. Just because Owen didn't say he saw anything doesn't mean s**t isn't happening. My rents were always treating me like s**t when prying eyes weren't around, and acted like great, but stern, parents when "friends" were about.
You mean to tell me you think I'm gonna carry a child for nine months, (in my case, nine months plus 3 weeks), do everything I can to keep him from harm, provide for him, bathe him, sing silly songs to him and then hand him over to YOU?!?!? You must be smoking the NEW weed
Be honest with him, kids aren't dumb. Let them still play but no more overnights at their place
The scariest thing is that this couple probably DON'T mean anything as a jab to the OP but don't see the problem with just taking someone else's child. They just assume she should be okay with it. I feel bad for the OP and her kid but they may need to relocate (though from her provided info that probably is a very unlikely thing that can happen).
I'm glad Owen understood the situation after OP explained it to him and wasn't resentful. Nate and Paige should be ashamed of themselves for trying to buy a single mother's only child and family, and going from the update on Reddit, I have a sinking feeling this isn't the last we're going to hear about them.
This is beyond sick. Where do these well-to-do people think they are--18th-century France, when it was the thing to allow a rich person to "adopt" your only son? It sounds like this couple wasn't as interested in ADOPTING Owen as they were in OBTAINING him. Typical entitled folks with money; they think everything is for sale, even children. Disgusting.
wtf did i just read? i hope op tells her son the truth about everything, he might be understandably upset about suddenly losing out on his friend and everything the other family provided for him (bribed him with) they do seem like the whacko types that would kidnap the kid
I just had a thought. What about warning the landlord at the OP's apartment building as well? He or she may/may not see anything happening ~ I'm sure they have a lot of work to do! ~ but if they see someone hanging around? Watching from a car that keeps parking across the street? Asking questions in the neighborhood? That type of thing...this was my NIGHTMARE when my kids were young but thankfully they have all grown up now...now it's the grands I watch with bated breath. But this....THIS is just AWFUL.
Well, we live in a society that does not value children at all. Isn't it totally acceptable to just kill them? So it's not too crazy to think that yeah, gimme your kid. It's easy for us to take him.
"especially Owen's 100% perfect reaction" - I could NOT disagree more! I know a few kids, including an almost nine year old boy who I believe would respond EXACTLY the same way if you attempted to separate him from his mother! I have known him and his mother their entire lives and the boy will NOT be willingly parted from her, EVEN when his truly loving, devoted and ever present dad is around. Recent events with children being separated from parents at border crossings OR separated because of conflicts or natural disasters give me a real sense of what separation from a parent means to any child. Whether this story is fake or not, the damage caused by removing a child from a loving home is REAL!
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Dude, she's on reddit, even pretending that high school drop outs can't write well (this is not correct), she reads life stories on reddit, possibly even writes others herself. I'm not a programmer by any means bit I picked up HTML and CSS due to a site I was on a lot, never took a class in it. I don't know why you're trying to find a reason to say this story is fake. I mean, it could be, but your reasoning to claim it is is completely flawed.
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yesterday's update from the mom on Reddit: "Well, what everyone feared would happen, did. Tuesday, [Owen] returned to school. I told him he could still talk with and play with Charlie. I was hesitant to drop him off but figured you can't live in fear. Most afternoon, my son takes the bus to a local rec center for aftercare. I had already told the school everything and that Nate and Paige were not to pick Owen up. I managed to call and even make sure he got on the bus. Aftercare was also made aware of the change in pick up list. Well, a half hour later, I get a call that Paige had tried to pick up my son. The front desk refused to release him. Didn't say why, just that she was no longer on the list. She wouldn't leave and the police were called. She was escorted out of the building. While she wasn't brought to jail, there is a police report and I am using this to go to court and get an order of protection...
...Paige and Nate are also banned from the rec center so if they *do* show up, they will get arrested for trespassing. The police are working on ways to protect us and the local social services office has been made aware of the situation, so should they try to make a claim, they're aware of the situation."
Load More Replies... Of all the stuff I've read on the internet, this story has scared me like nothing I've ever read. As a parent who has had to stay away from his kid for a few months, for work, I can sympathize with the Mom. I wish the and Owen the best.
Sometimes, I remember how, when I was 7, we moved to California from a tiny town in Nebraska and instead of walking to the K-12 school next door, I became a latchkey kid and had to take the school bus. I lost a LOT of keys, and dad can probably still replace a doorknob and deadbolt in his sleep. I can't even imagine how much mom must've worried over it in the 80s, but thank all the gods there was no internet to feed the anxiety even more.
Load More Replies... That's just terrifying. Those people are nuts. I'd consider a consultation with a lawyer, if she can afford it or can get a free consult. Just to be prepared if these people try anything. They are definitely not normal. I am glad her kid understands. It's too bad about the lost friendship, though.
Parents like that are likely raising a disturbed kid. Sounds like they wanted a 'precious' for their son and the real fear is what they'd do to him after they got him permanently.
Load More Replies... Nate and Paige seem to have some classist as f**k beliefs. Like, they're going to be better parents to a kid simply because they can provide more wealth. And that just because they have money, they have a *right* to even suggest just taking a kid away from someone. Those are some scary people I would avoid at all costs.
They figure they buy everything else they want, why not a kid? This story is terrifying. Back in the early 80s my cousin was almost kidnapped in kindergarten. Someone he did not know and neither did the school, or may aunt and uncle.
Load More Replies... When you are so rich you think you can buy anything. (Oh, wait. That's child trafficking, isn't it? Paige and Nate are just trying to be gentrify it.)
Well said. That couple would have taken Owen and moved away so they had full control over him. Owen is better off with his mom because growing up with loads of money can cause problems.
Load More Replies... The best memories I have growing up poor are time with my mom, that's when she had time. My father was never a part of my life. She did the best she could. Definitely pay check to pay check. Sometimes we would get nice things from people, but I remember the time with mom most. She was there for all of it, just like OP. Yes it was rough, but we made it. Those who spent money on me were nice and the gifts were nice, but they were there for the happy parts of my life, getting gifts. Not the struggles. OP was there for all of it. Those memories are worth more than gold. She's a badass parent who raised an awesome kid that ended up making someone else jealous. That wasn't the intent, but it happened, and they wanted him as a finished product. They would have destroyed him. He would have turned out just like his friend. Hope OP knows what this is worth. Hope OP KNOWS What SHE is worth. What a mother. Love it.
SO glad the update shared that the mom told her son, and got a restraining order against the psycho couple who wanted to buy a playmate for their child. CREEPY! 😳
Yeah, until the update, I thought maybe the rich parents were well-meaning, just very out of touch. With the update, it seems that this is indeed a dangerous situation. 😓
Load More Replies... Mom, you are an exceptional mother, kind, extremely smart and you have your act together. You'll figure all this out as you've made great strides already. Your instincts are very good and your head is on straight. Don't forget to take care of your stress through all of this and show your son what an exemplary human looks like.
Fifteen years ago, an elderly lady at my church came in with her seven month old grandson. My family started babysitting him from time to time and taking him on trips with us on occasion. Eventually, this little boy started spending a lot of time with my family and essentially became a part of our family. When he was nine, our family still would go get him from time to time and spend time with him. Around this time, his parents were both back in his life, but we still spent time with him. Ever since he was nine years old, he has been living with my parents and sees them as his godparents and sees my sister and I as his sisters. We didn't take him away from his family. His mother chose to leave him with my family.
That’s completely different. You didn’t try to BUY a playmate for your child.
Load More Replies... This is such a triggering story for me! Years ago, a woman who was like a sister to me tried to kidnap my son. She even tried to get some of my out-of-state family involved, no idea why she thought THAT was a hood idea. We hot him back, no police involved, thankfully.
WTPhhhhhh. I was an only child. My parents allowed me to take my friends on vacation and have sleepovers and go to sleepovers. My friends got appropriate gifts on their birthdays. Some of my friends came from familirs with less income. My parents tbh turned out to be such a mess later on I cut contact with them. But not once, not once did my parents ever try to steal anyone elses kid. Not being rich is not a crine and cerainly doesnt make you a bad parent. These people are damn scary. While I understand not wanting to accept moneu, a fund for legal fees might be appropriate. I think this is going to escalate. Best of luck. Glad you told your son, kids understand more than we think. Ask the svhool if there is a curator he can talk to to help with processing this.
This is just down right creepy. As a mom, I am terrified for OP. These people sound pretty wealthy, and if they take you to court, well I don't even want to think about what would happen then. Even the idea of having to give up a child is terrifying. Best of luck to you OP.
Money can buy a lot. It can even buy judges and it often does. BUT - stealing a child for the purpose of being a "brother" to their son, will sound crazy, even to a paid off judge. Don't forget, OP will have a lawyer, and I'm pretty sure that lawyer will have a good case. And, if it ever went public? . . . .
Load More Replies... That is so crazy and scary. Nate and Paige are insane. They simply want their son to have a “brother” and they don’t actually want Owen. I’m glad that Nate and Paige were banned from the rec center after Paige tried to pick up Owen again.
My daughter is an only child. Many times over the years I have "borrowed" her friends, so she would have a playmate when i took her to a children's museum or science center. I buy them lunch. I pay for a souvenir if they weren't given money. I host sleepovers. I never, ever thought about trying to keep someone else's child. The OP should not feel like she missed red flags. It was reasonable to think they were doing something mutually beneficial, up until Christmas.
Yeah like they were overly generous at worst up until when they essentially asked her to give them her own child like what the hell
Load More Replies... Damn rich people think they’re even entitled to just taking other people’s kids. Damn.
What an insane turn! My husband and I have always been the neighborhood "parents", even taking in 2 brothers when they showed up on our doorstep in the snow without shoes. The oldest was 18 and lived in our guest room until he saved enough to get his first apartment and we found a safe place for him. The youngest was 13, so we called his Youth Pastor and made him a spot on the couch. I would rather risk the police showing up than to send them home where their parents were throwing plates and dishes at each other. The police visited their house, but not mine. The parents divorced and everyone moved out of state, but my boys still visit me several times a year. We have a great relationship with their mother and she's called on us several times for the youngest because he'll go off his psych. meds and to encourage him to apply for mental disability. Their dad accused us of turning his kids against him, but we never spoke poorly of either parent. Love my boys!
Yeah but that's very different, you helped kids in need, while they were trying to lure with luxuries someone else's kid away from his loving mother just because they wanted a permanent well behaved playmate for their own kid
Load More Replies... Wow, that was scary ! What a loving and protective mom. This sounds like an enlightening made-for-TV movie idea. Margaret Hamilton (the Wicked Witch of the West) could play Paige if she (Ms. Hamilton) were still with us. She tried to take Toto, after all.
Wow. I was raised by a single mother who struggled with severe depression. I had very kind friends of parents who stepped in and helped my mother by taking me in and giving her the time she needed to get mental health assistance. Never once did they try and take me away from her. I'm very grateful for them and what they did for us. This woman is a wonderful parent, and these people were making it about money. I'm so happy her son took it as well as he did. What nerve these people had... they sound absolutely terrifying.
I‘m glad she talked to her son. At his age he is perfectly capable to understand what is going on and he sounds like a sensible kid. I knew he would rather stay with his loving Mom, then get all those riches.
I'm so glad she made social services aware of what is going on. My sister has had local police, adult protective services, AND the local animal welfare services weaponized against her by a crazy family member. The workers were GREAT, did their obligatory evaluations and started ignoring the reports from that family member once it was clear they were making false accusations. By reporting Paige and Nate first, she probably saved herself some future headaches Btw, I'm so happy we have those organizations to help the most vulnerable. I'd like it if they could fine people for making false accusations (after the second) so it would deter Karens from wasting their time.
If they feel this intensely about your son and you are fearful that they may attempt to take him you should probably be asking the most obvious questions.... Have they ever pursued a course of action like this in the past that was successful? Are the really "Charlie's" parents? Yeah... I would have them under a microscope and finding out every little bit I could find about them.
Oh my gosh. I hadn't thought of that but that is a definite possibility that Charlie isn't their kid either.
Load More Replies... I had experiences like this with both of my children. Richer families are just trying to have my well behaved
To everyone saying that Charlie's reaction was too perfect to be real... You are overlooking the fact that he is an only child of a single mother who has good, strong relationship with her son. Only children are often more mature and OP has fostered a healthy environment that he feels safe and loved in. They have no other family, they rely on each other in a unique way. I'm sure they have typical parent/ child stresses but threatening that bond would be terrifying for Charlie. I come from a nearly identical situation and his reaction seems 100% legit.
Uggh. Sorry I don't know how to edit this but I just realized I confused Owen for Charlie. Apologies!!
Load More Replies... This worries me. Where did Charlie come from? Did they get him this way? I mean really what kind of person does this? Maybe it worked before. Please be careful and I'd even have police check about Charlie. If all's well, good. And maybe it'll make them think twice before trying it again.
That's what I was thinking, like how sure is op that Charlie is actually theirs, I'm hoping when she talked to the school and police she didn't leave out that they went out of their way to buy and do expensive stuff for owen, like they were trying to buy Owen's affection (like they seem to do w/ Charlie) because that way if/when op said no to them taking her child they'd be able to get him to choose them bc they can afford more and they seem to think that's all there is to parenting. Paige and Nate are terrifying and honestly it should be checked whether or not Charlie is even theirs with them trying to do this to op.
Load More Replies... This is without a doubt one of the most terrifying things I've ever read on this site. I've witnessed children who loved a parental figure taken away and convinced that person was evil and didn't love them enough to stay. They were utterly turned against her and even as adults, they couldn't see past that brainwashing and pain. I'm praying for this mom and her sweet boy.
That’s absolutely scary, but consider this, too … they could easily afford to adopt any child in need of a home, but they either chose not to go that route or the adoption people didn’t trust them enough to let it happen! This definitely suggests how dangerous these people really are & goodness knows what would eventually happen to the child they choose & manage to “adopt”, but I don’t believe it would be a positive result. Heaven help any child they manage to wrangle into their custody. 😥
Oh my God the insanity and the entitlement of some people is beyond words. Great job at protecting your son from that sociopathic s***! Your son clearly knows no amount of fancy gifts or trips could ever compete with his own mom. I hope they leave your family 100% alone and if they don't I would take out an ad in my local paper warning people to be on the lookout for an unwell couple trying to buy/steal people's children
This is like a Lifetime movie. If the boy understands what mom told him, that's enough. I think OP had done a good job of raising him. He isn't "blinded by the light." So the fact that he wouldn't be having as much on the way of material things, it didn't phase him. He truly wants to stay with his mom. The way it should be. OP was wise to tell both school and police. They'll be watching out. This will turn out well, I think.
My heart breaks for both of them. She is fighting this without support from her family. Owen is probably terrified he will be kidnapped. I know when my daughters were taken by my estranged husband, they had nightmares and were terrified to stay away from home. They hid it as well as they could, but children worry about things they won't tell us about so that we don't worry. I hope this gets resolved and she and Owen can move and be safe.
My mind is boggled! Those people are insane. I can also imagine how badly it would go down the first time Owen didn't behave exactly how they wanted. I'm glad the various authorities are taking this seriously. Owen and his mum sound lovely and I hope this is soon behind them.
This is hands-down one of the scariest fúcking things I have EVER read on here!! If I was OP, I would be scouring the paper and internet, for another place to live. And then I'd use my tax refund to make it happen. I know, in this economy, it can be almost impossible to find affordable housing. I'm low-income too, so I get it. But I wouldn't feel safe at all, until I was living and even working someplace they didn't know about, and until my kid was in a different school. And then I'd go completely incognito. No social media accounts, prepaid cell phone (so my name isn't on it), anything I could do, to hide. At least until I knew they'd given up. I know you can't hide forever. You can't live your life in fear. And I know there are always ways of finding someone, it you want it bad enough, and you have the resources. But if it's my kid involved, I'd do anything and everything I could, to protect them. Not that I'm saying this mom isn't, because she IS.
This whole situation is just absolutely terrifying as héll. And it makes me want to RUN.
Load More Replies... To those inspired to help...almost every community has a group (many are church groups) whose sole purpose is to support single mothers in all they do. They will help with supplies, obtaining a HS diploma or GED, travel to doctor appointments, baby furniture, diapers, formula, breast pump - absolutely everything a young mom needs to be a successful mom earning a living wage. These groups need help in every way imaginable. I learned this first hand when my 15-year-old daughter became pregnant. Neither her dad nor I had the financial means to provide more than the basics. But, she finished high school using their on-campus daycare. She also completed 3/4 of what she needed for her CNA certificate and earned it while her daughter was less than a year old. She has worked on an advanced degree while earning much better than minimum wage as a Certified Nursing Assistant. She is on track to graduate with her BS in Hospital Administration next year, just after her daughter turns 8.
It's really sad that the other kid's parents don't actually love him either. If they did, they wouldn't let him be a spoiled brat, they would explain to him that he can have many, many friends but won't be able to get a sibling unless they adopt (from a child that is actually in need), and to be there for him. They want their kid's attention distracted so they can do whatever. The two of them should be pretty heavily investigated and have some thorough psych evals done on them. The kid needs to be seen too, just to see if anything's going on. Just because Owen didn't say he saw anything doesn't mean s**t isn't happening. My rents were always treating me like s**t when prying eyes weren't around, and acted like great, but stern, parents when "friends" were about.
You mean to tell me you think I'm gonna carry a child for nine months, (in my case, nine months plus 3 weeks), do everything I can to keep him from harm, provide for him, bathe him, sing silly songs to him and then hand him over to YOU?!?!? You must be smoking the NEW weed
Be honest with him, kids aren't dumb. Let them still play but no more overnights at their place
The scariest thing is that this couple probably DON'T mean anything as a jab to the OP but don't see the problem with just taking someone else's child. They just assume she should be okay with it. I feel bad for the OP and her kid but they may need to relocate (though from her provided info that probably is a very unlikely thing that can happen).
I'm glad Owen understood the situation after OP explained it to him and wasn't resentful. Nate and Paige should be ashamed of themselves for trying to buy a single mother's only child and family, and going from the update on Reddit, I have a sinking feeling this isn't the last we're going to hear about them.
This is beyond sick. Where do these well-to-do people think they are--18th-century France, when it was the thing to allow a rich person to "adopt" your only son? It sounds like this couple wasn't as interested in ADOPTING Owen as they were in OBTAINING him. Typical entitled folks with money; they think everything is for sale, even children. Disgusting.
wtf did i just read? i hope op tells her son the truth about everything, he might be understandably upset about suddenly losing out on his friend and everything the other family provided for him (bribed him with) they do seem like the whacko types that would kidnap the kid
I just had a thought. What about warning the landlord at the OP's apartment building as well? He or she may/may not see anything happening ~ I'm sure they have a lot of work to do! ~ but if they see someone hanging around? Watching from a car that keeps parking across the street? Asking questions in the neighborhood? That type of thing...this was my NIGHTMARE when my kids were young but thankfully they have all grown up now...now it's the grands I watch with bated breath. But this....THIS is just AWFUL.
Well, we live in a society that does not value children at all. Isn't it totally acceptable to just kill them? So it's not too crazy to think that yeah, gimme your kid. It's easy for us to take him.
"especially Owen's 100% perfect reaction" - I could NOT disagree more! I know a few kids, including an almost nine year old boy who I believe would respond EXACTLY the same way if you attempted to separate him from his mother! I have known him and his mother their entire lives and the boy will NOT be willingly parted from her, EVEN when his truly loving, devoted and ever present dad is around. Recent events with children being separated from parents at border crossings OR separated because of conflicts or natural disasters give me a real sense of what separation from a parent means to any child. Whether this story is fake or not, the damage caused by removing a child from a loving home is REAL!
Load More Replies... Dude, she's on reddit, even pretending that high school drop outs can't write well (this is not correct), she reads life stories on reddit, possibly even writes others herself. I'm not a programmer by any means bit I picked up HTML and CSS due to a site I was on a lot, never took a class in it. I don't know why you're trying to find a reason to say this story is fake. I mean, it could be, but your reasoning to claim it is is completely flawed.
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