Dad's New Wife Attempts To Stop His Teenage Son From Reading Percy Jackson Spin-Off Book Because It's LGBTQ+ Propaganda

"He's willing to let his wife make his parenting choices, and she's choosing to be the evil stepmother."

Chelsi

• Published in Interesting
• May 29, 2024

A new obstacle hindered a 16-year-old from forming a meaningful bond with his dad. The problem was his dad's wife, and her attempt to ban the book the teenager was reading because of its LGBTQ+ themes.

OP just recently reconnected with his dad after his parental rights were terminated. He didn't pay child support and didn't contact OP for a year because he didn't want OP to see him at the lowest point of his alcoholism.

He resurfaced and promised he would start trying to get better. He goes to a rehab facility, so OP's mom trusts him enough to allow the teenager to visit him during weekends.

OP said it was an awkward reintroduction. It was made even more awkward when OP argued with his dad's new wife.

It happened on the first weekend OP's mom trusted his dad enough to leave the teen on an overnight stay. OP brought the sequel to the Trials of Apollo series to pass the time.

His dad's wife saw the Rick Riordan book OP was reading and immediately said he shouldn't be reading it. She said the protagonist was bisexual and implied the book was LGBTQ+ propaganda.

OP told his dad's wife she couldn't dictate what he read because he was not a child and she was not his parent. OP's dad was immediately defensive of his wife.

His dad told OP not to disrespect his wife in her house. OP agreed and left his dad's house.

His mom reassured OP that he didn't have to go to his dad's house again if he was uncomfortable.

His dad accused OP of threatening him when OP said he wouldn't return to his house until he warned his wife to stop censoring the books he read.

Redditors supported OP's decision. He didn't threaten his dad and disrespect his wife like they accused him of.

OP shouldn't have to blindly follow what his dad and his wife say because they are related to him.

The fact that his dad immediately defended his wife without considering OP's position was a clear message as to where his priorities lie.

His dad's wife probably regularly visits the banned books list websites if she immediately recognized the book OP was reading.

The irony is even Dr. Seuss's books are now banned reading material according to some people.

His dad's decision to side with his wife told OP all he needed to know about his dad's attempts to parent him.

OP at least has his mom to support him and encourage him. The last people OP needs in his life are those who believe that books turn people gay.

Besides, OP is old enough to decide which books he's comfortable reading. The book he was reading is in the YA category, so it was a perfectly appropriate novel to peruse.

In an update that surprised no one but disappointed everyone, OP's dad doubled down. He chalked it up to a difference in opinion and asked OP to be the bigger person.

During the conversation, it was made clear to OP that he couldn't read any books his dad's wife deemed inappropriate whether he was at their or his mom's house. OP decided not to return to his dad's house after that conversation.

Is his dad's new wife that militant over a book? Was this a ruse to distance themselves from OP without feeling too much guilt about parental abandonment?

Beyond the blatant boundary-breaking, accepting that your parent does not have your back must have been difficult. OP gave his dad a second chance, but he squandered it.

Chelsi