AITA for not letting my teenager take the car I purchased to the other house during dad’s custody time?
In the tangled web of co-parenting, one mother’s quiet determination shines through the frustration and silence of her ex-husband.
Despite their shared love for their son, the struggle over som**hing as simple as a car becomes a battlefield where fairness, responsibility, and the weight of blended families collide.
Caught in the crossfire is a teenage boy, torn between two homes and two parents who can’t find common ground.
His mother’s decision to take matters into her own hands sparks anger and accusations, revealing the raw emotional undercurrents that run beneath the surface of their fractured family dynamic.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Get the latest stories delivered to your inbox.
The original poster (OP) faced a d**dlock with their ex-husband regarding the shared responsibility of purchasing a car for their teenage son.
Unable to secure cooperation, the OP unilaterally purchased the car and then offered the ex-husband a structured, interest-free payment plan to share ownership.
When the ex-husband refused to contribute financially and balked at a contract ensuring the son eventually owned the vehicle, the OP kept the car at their residence during the ex-husband's custody time, leading to conflict with the son.
Was the OP justified in withholding the car from the ex-husband's time to force financial participation in a shared asset intended for their son, or did this action unfairly punish the child and escalate parental conflict?
The core question remains: does unilateral action to enforce perceived financial fairness override the practical need for shared resources during co-parenting transitions?
Users Wasted No Time Telling It Like It Is:
When users weighed in, they held nothing back. It’s a raw, honest look at what people really think.