Mom Reconciles With Her Husband Who Mistreated Her Eldest Daughter, Wonders Why Daughter Is Acting Out

"Did he go through extensive therapy? No. We believe he doesn't need it."

Chelsi

• Published in Interesting
• December 27, 2023

A mom of four refused to address the real problem in her household even after more than a thousand Redditors pointed it out. OP asked for advice about a conflict between her husband, Josh, and her teenage daughter, Penelope.

OP and Josh have three kids together. They were once separated after OP deemed Josh's unkind treatment of Penelope unacceptable.

More than a year after they separated, the couple rekindled their relationship. OP said they loved each other too much to not be together.

She claimed that her husband stopped being unkind to his stepdaughter. However, a recent argument showed that it wasn't just one parental figure who failed Penelope.

Penelope spent practically an entire day watching TV, according to OP. Her siblings wanted to have their turn to watch their shows.

Josh mediated because OP was still working. OP intervened when she heard Penelope yell at Josh.

Josh told Penelope to let her siblings watch on the television. Penelope said she would as soon as the final episode was over.

OP's younger daughter sobbed because she badly wanted to watch her show. Josh told Penelope she could finish the episode later, took the remote, and gave it to his daughter.

Penelope yelled that since OP bought the couch, not Josh, his kids should sit on the floor while they watched. OP told her daughter that families were supposed to share things.

Penelope told OP that Josh never treated her like family. Josh snapped at Penelope.

He said he stayed silent while Penelope spent hours watching shows on the TV that he bought.

OP told Penelope that if that was how she wanted things to be, then so be it. Penelope cried and dumped a glass full of juice onto the couch.

OP and Josh yelled at Penelope to stay in her room. Her grandma said OP was too harsh on her daughter.

In one comment OP mentioned that she and Josh started dating when Penelope was 7 years old.

He behaved for one year but started to mistreat Penelope when she was 8. He has never apologized for his actions. OP thinks her adult husband is too shy to say sorry.

Josh's treatment of Penelope isn't being "mean" or "unkind." It's emotional abuse.

OP is determined to turn a blind eye to her husband's abuse of her teenage daughter.

OP failed her daughter. One day, Penelope will move out of the house and never look back.

OP decided that the mistreatment of her daughter was less important than her love life. Mother of the Year material.

What's important is that OP is happy and that Penelope is a moody teenager who should just be grateful for any morsel of affection she receives.

Everyone knows the eldest is the first pancake for parents to practice on.

OP should be ashamed of herself. Penelope deserves more than what OP is capable of giving her.

Penelope was telling the truth when she yelled that Josh never treated her like family. OP just took it as an attack to her beloved who can do no wrong.

OP has bigger issues than her children's TV schedule.

Penelope's "attitude problem" will only lessen when OP addresses her husband's mistreatment of her daughter. Based on her comments, OP will continue living in blissful ignorance.

She already chose the people who are important to her. Josh is number one, and her children with him are second.

Unfortunately, poor Penelope didn't qualify. Her mom is too busy making excuses for her lousy husband to notice how neglected her eldest daughter is.

Chelsi