Single Father Shunned For Taking His Son To The Barbie Movie And Buying Him A Sephora Gift Card

The boy's mother and other family members don't like what the father's doing

Senad

• Published in Interesting
• August 3, 2023

In a heartwarming Reddit post, a single father opens up about his wonderful relationship with his 12-year-old son, Michael. Michael is not your typical preteen boy, as he has a passion for fashion and make-up and has all-female friends.

He shies away from sports, but his father couldn't be prouder of his interests and his happiness. However, Michael's mother, Daniella, seems to have reservations about her son's interests.

Though she doesn't express it directly, she makes passive-aggressive comments about his female friends and disapproves of his "feminine" hobbies. Despite Daniella's opinions, OP firmly believes that his son's happiness and staying out of trouble are what matters most.

Recently, Michael turned 12, and Daniella usually throws a party for him, but this year, Michael decided against it when his mother disapproved of his plan to see the Barbie movie with his friends. However, in a lovely gesture, OP took Michael and his friends to the movie anyway, secretly without informing Daniella.

Michael and his friends had a fantastic time, and OP's love and support for his son's interests shone through when he gifted Michael a Sephora gift card, knowing how much Michael adored make-up and enjoyed shopping there. Unfortunately, Daniella discovered the gift card later when Michael pulled out his wallet and questioned him about it.

This revelation led to Daniella accusing OP of sending mixed messages and intentionally making parenting difficult for her. Family members and mutual friends sided with Daniella, believing that Michael should be encouraged to explore more "masculine" interests to prepare him for a world that may not always be open-minded.

They expressed concern about potential bullying in the future and believed that OP was living in "Fantasyland" by promoting self-expression and ignoring potential challenges.

Despite the backlash, OP remains steadfast in his belief that supporting Michael's authentic self is crucial for his well-being. He has always advocated for his son's happiness and intervened whenever there were bullying issues at school.

OP is a single father to his 12-year-old son, Michael

Michael's mother doesn't like his interests, but OP has been nothing but supportive of Michael

Michael told OP that he wants to go see the Barbie movie so he took him and his friends without his mother knowing

OP also bought Michael a Sephora gift card because he knows how much he loves make up

Daniella found out about the gift card and she wasn't happy

Daniella got other family members involved in this

OP is being accused for not preparing Michael for a cruel world where he will be bullied

Close-minded and insecure

Tiger Dad

Get full custody

The Reddit community overwhelmingly supports OP's approach and commends him for being an understanding, loving, and accepting parent.

The heart of the matter is that OP wants his son to be happy and true to himself, even if it means embracing interests and hobbies that may not fit traditional gender norms. He believes that nurturing his son's self-confidence and individuality will lead to a fulfilling life surrounded by supportive people.

Senad