AITA for ending my marriage because I didn't want to force my kids to live with my wife's oldest daughter again?
The original poster (OP) and his wife blended their families, combining his two children and her three, leading to a long-term commitment after two years of dating.
Issues began surfacing after they married, initially involving family sus**cions that the wife's oldest daughter was stealing and had behavioral problems, followed by the OP noticing missing money.
The situation worsened when the daughter's father successfully pet*tioned to move out of state, taking her, though the judge mandated he pay for all visitation costs back to the OP's home.
During these visits, the daughter's theft became more overt, culminating in her taking parts of the OP's 15-year-old son's Nintendo Switch, leading the OP to state he would not let his children deal with this behavior, even as his wife agreed to let the daughter move in permanently for the summer.
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The central conflict revolves around the OP prioritizing the safety and well-being of his biological children against his wife's expectation that he remain committed to the blended family unit, especially regarding her oldest daughter's proven pattern of theft and disrespect.
The OP ultimately separated with his children because he refused to subject them to further theft, while his wife argues he abandoned the two younger children by leaving.
Does the OP's decision to file for divorce to protect his own children from the stepdaughter's behavior make him wrong in this situation?
Users Wasted No Time Telling It Like It Is:
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