1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:04,440 Speaker 1: So it's been about seven months since my last update, 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: and a lot had happened in five months. No, even 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:11,040 Speaker 1: more can happen in seven months. Yeah, and I thought 4 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: one was well overdue. I actually intended on sitting down 5 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: and writing one out a few months ago. But life 6 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:18,479 Speaker 1: gone the way. A lot has happened, most of it good, 7 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:21,800 Speaker 1: some of it not. I'm sure you can guess what 8 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: or who the reason for the not good moments were. 9 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 1: So Mom was silent through Lydia's birthday in October, but 10 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: made a huge song and dance for Aaron's in November. 11 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:34,480 Speaker 1: None of us make a habit to check her social 12 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 1: media accounts, and honestly, we'd have blocked her if it 13 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 1: weren't for Lexi, but Leo sent a screenshot in the 14 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 1: group chat about a post she'd made. The post essentially 15 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: painted Aaron as the perfect child, her precious angel, and 16 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 1: said how she'd always be proud of her. She didn't 17 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: even mention Lydia on her page at all during her birthday, 18 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 1: but I can't say I'm surprised. Thanksgiving was different but fun. 19 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: We all drove to our paternal grandparents' place a few 20 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: hours away to spend it with them. Technically, it was 21 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 1: supposed to be an in law year, since Jade and 22 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 1: I tend to switch who we spent it with so 23 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 1: that neither one of our families were being left out, 24 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,559 Speaker 1: but she suggested we switch it up this year so 25 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:16,919 Speaker 1: that I could be with my siblings on the first 26 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:21,119 Speaker 1: big holiday since the fallout. My in laws are great 27 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 1: people and have been really supportive throughout all this, and 28 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: I'm really grateful for them too. Mom didn't reach out 29 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:29,119 Speaker 1: to us on the day, but I could tell she 30 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: was fuming. It didn't help that she was being asked 31 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 1: questions after Lydia posted a Thanksgiving Day photo that didn't 32 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:41,960 Speaker 1: include her or erin. Yeah, so I guess this is 33 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 1: one of the ways that the mom is unraveling. 34 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 2: So in the seeds of destruction. 35 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 1: In December, she started a group chat with all of 36 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: us and Dad, essentially telling us it was time to 37 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 1: stop this petty drama and focus on family. Wait, so 38 00:01:57,440 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 1: good day? Oh no, no, no, So Dad is not saying that, 39 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: Oh he's just in the group. 40 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 2: Evil Mom saying let's stop all the page rumma. 41 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, but none of us are stupid. Ha. We all know. 42 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 1: She wanted to show off her picture perfect family over Christmas? 43 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 1: And how could she do that when all but two 44 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 1: of our children can't stand. 45 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 2: To be near two of her seven? 46 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, dude, and one of them is better than nothing. Yeah. 47 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: Ann was in the group but didn't speak up, which 48 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 1: was odd for her, but none of us really thought 49 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: much of it at the time. Dad said he'd swing 50 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 1: by to see Lexi, but had no interest in spending 51 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: Christmas with her until she was ready to admit the 52 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: pain that had caused us. A week later, My birthday 53 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: also went ignored by her, but that was fine. It 54 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 1: only proved that she had no intention of admitting that 55 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:50,239 Speaker 1: she was a bad guy. But she got more desperate 56 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: as Christmas drew because John picture perfect Christmas. 57 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 3: She wants she wants to show the way evil mom 58 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 3: never lets the world. 59 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 1: Know that she's evil. See she lets the war. 60 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 3: I don't think she's the greatest mom ever when only 61 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 3: two of her seven children want to be with her. 62 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 1: Also TLDR for Tina coming in that we stick in 63 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:10,079 Speaker 1: the chat. 64 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 2: Here we go. 65 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: So basically I think I can condense this into like 66 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: two sentences. So op is one of seven. Aaron was 67 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: the golden child, always loved and adored by the mom. 68 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:28,080 Speaker 1: Then Aaron had her wedding intentionally planned the same day 69 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 1: as Nadia, one of the younger kids, as Nadia's graduation, 70 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: and then OPI figured it out from Nadia and was like, hey, 71 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 1: we need to support this graduation. Is the only thing 72 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 1: that our family really like comes to bat for because 73 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 1: everyone else all the time is focused on Aaron and 74 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: then basically breaks the glass ceiling or or so the 75 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 1: other who's the mirage has faded, and now all the 76 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: children and the dad start to realize that there has 77 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: been intense golden child favoritism for Aaron, and now are 78 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: kind of like shutting out the mom who's still favoriting Aarin, 79 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: and the mom is crumbling, crumbling, big time, big time. 80 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 1: She got more desperate as Christmas drew closer. The messages 81 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: and phone calls started up again, but I could ignore 82 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:27,239 Speaker 1: those for the most part. What I could not ignore 83 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: was coming home from work to find her on my doorstep. 84 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 1: She told me she'd been waiting for ages like I 85 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:42,480 Speaker 1: was expecting her visit and had done it intentionally, which 86 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,720 Speaker 1: honestly I probably would have given the state of our relationship. 87 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,040 Speaker 1: So basically she stole up the doors like what took 88 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: you so long to get the door. I've been waiting 89 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,599 Speaker 1: here for ages and Opie's like, what are you talking about? 90 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 1: You just showed up. Oh, I'm just grateful. My family 91 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: wasn't at home. Jade was on her way back from 92 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: work herself, and our son was their parents. I didn't 93 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 1: want to invite her inside, but honestly, given how desperate 94 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 1: she looked, I also didn't want to deal with her 95 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 1: where my neighbors could see. This woman told me that 96 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 1: Christmas was about family and was about forgiveness. She told 97 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: me I was taking it too far by keeping her 98 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: grandson away from her, and how confused he must be 99 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 1: without her. She said it was like I was using 100 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:31,839 Speaker 1: my son to punish her. I told her it's better 101 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:35,839 Speaker 1: this way because we all knew what would happen if 102 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 1: Aaron had a child. Someday my son would be pushed 103 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 1: to the side like the rest of us were, and 104 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 1: I did not want that for him. She said, I 105 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 1: was being ridiculous and once again use the line I 106 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 1: love you all equally bullshit lies. I asked her to 107 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 1: leave because nothing was changing my stance and I was 108 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 1: not going to be spending Christmas with her. All. She 109 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 1: got angry. She started yelling, and while I want to 110 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 1: say I kept my composure, I didn't. I started yelling too. 111 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,679 Speaker 1: The more I yelled, the more worked up I got 112 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:15,720 Speaker 1: to the point that I started shedding tears. Read it. 113 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 1: This was years of hurt rushing to the surface. I 114 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 1: don't think I will ever understand how she can claim 115 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 1: to love us all equally but to tell her crying 116 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 1: son to stop being so dramatic. She left only when 117 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,720 Speaker 1: Jade came back and saw the state I was in. 118 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: Jade's little but fierce. It would do anything for me 119 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:42,279 Speaker 1: and my son, and I swear my mom left terrified 120 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 1: of her that day. The jay is oh piecing of 121 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: another Yea, that's right, Oh he's us booth. The social 122 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 1: media post picked up again. She played victim, shared posts 123 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,920 Speaker 1: about children not respecting the sacrifices mothers make for them 124 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 1: and stuff like that. She posted how we didn't appreciate 125 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 1: all that she had done for us, but we all 126 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 1: ignored it. We did our own Christmas. Jade, our son, 127 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:11,119 Speaker 1: and I visited the in laws on Christmas morning, watched 128 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 1: our son and nieces open their parents there, and then 129 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 1: went over to Lydia's house, the oldest she offered to 130 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 1: host us all this year. Dad took place in the kitchen, 131 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 1: joined by his assistant chefs, Josh and Lydia's husband. We 132 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 1: didn't see our mom and Aaron until January. Now we're 133 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: going like another month. I love how we're going through 134 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 1: all of these like months, like it gets crazier and crazy. 135 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,239 Speaker 2: I'm just flying through the seasons. I see it all. 136 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:37,720 Speaker 1: We didn't see our mom or Aaron until January. Lexi 137 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: turned five. So there was a party and we weren't 138 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 1: about to punish our sister for the actions of the 139 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: demon that bought us, so we went there. There were 140 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:49,000 Speaker 1: some questions, but people didn't push when it was obvious 141 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: that none of us wanted to get into it. Mom 142 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: acted like everything was fine, but Aaron stayed away from us. 143 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 1: At the end of the party, as we were helping 144 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 1: clean up, Mom said it was good that we were 145 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: finally putting things behind us. Not on my watch. 146 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 2: Why is Mom here? 147 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 1: I mean, but that's not what's happening. That's not at 148 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 1: all what's going on all. At the end of the party, 149 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 1: as we're helping up said it was fine. Opening hangs by, 150 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 1: Lydia told her. The only thing that we were putting 151 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: behind us was her ice cold. Is that too harsh? Again? 152 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 3: I mean we're we're getting more of the background, and 153 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:35,199 Speaker 3: it's like and it's been very heavily like mentioned or referenced. 154 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 3: We don't know the specifics, but basically it seems like 155 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 3: the mom has treated everyone like this whole life. Mind 156 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 3: you listen. Lydia's thirty one, right, she's the oldest. So 157 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 3: she's lived with the mom being this way the longest 158 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 3: and has seen at the lot probably from the day 159 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 3: Aaron was born prematurely, Lydia saw her mom acting like this, 160 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 3: so of almost. 161 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: True, there's a lot of pent up anger. I I 162 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 1: feel like a lot of people in chatting comments are 163 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: would be like deserve I feel like, honestly just for 164 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 1: own self preservation, Like you don't need to stick to 165 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:12,439 Speaker 1: the knife, Like if you you're twisting the knife. If 166 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 1: you if you twist the knife, what you're gonna do 167 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 1: is you're gona make someone scream and then you're gonna 168 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:19,079 Speaker 1: have to deal with that, you know, And it's like 169 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 1: like why why do this? You know, now she's going 170 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 1: to now she's gonna now you're gonna like ruin the peace, 171 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:28,200 Speaker 1: and it's it's not like it like, what does that accomplish? Truly, 172 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:31,719 Speaker 1: it doesn't accomplish anything but her being hurt more, it. 173 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:32,839 Speaker 2: Does accomplish a bar. 174 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: It is a bar. That's that started off again, but 175 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: she quickly realized she was out numbered and headed inside. 176 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:44,600 Speaker 1: That was when Aaron approached us with her husband. Honestly, 177 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:46,960 Speaker 1: I was expecting her to tell us to go easy 178 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 1: on our mom or something, but instead she apologized. She 179 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 1: said she'd been doing a lot of thinking since all 180 00:09:56,440 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 1: of this started, and she realized that she us badly 181 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: her whole life, and part of that was influenced by 182 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: the way our parents treated her. She told us she 183 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 1: didn't expect us to forgive her, but that she just 184 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: wanted to tell us she was sorry. We left a 185 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: little while later. There were silence at the end of 186 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: January and February for Leo Natty's birthday, but we were 187 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 1: expecting that our days never did matter to her. After all, 188 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:28,080 Speaker 1: I got married in April without my mom present, whoa 189 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: It was hands down the best day of my life, 190 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:34,599 Speaker 1: second only to the birth of my son. Jade and 191 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 1: I were surrounded by the people we cared about, most 192 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,319 Speaker 1: and who cared about us. In return, I had both 193 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 1: of my brothers as my best men. Nadia and Lydia 194 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: were bridesmaids too. It was better than anything I could 195 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 1: have imagined. Honestly, I'm still blown away by the fact 196 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: I now get to call Jade my wife. Oh it's 197 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:56,840 Speaker 1: been amazing. But I'm sure you're all wondering how my 198 00:10:56,960 --> 00:11:00,840 Speaker 1: mother handled this, and I can tell you plainly that 199 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 1: she did not handle it well. I believe that, I 200 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 1: believe that everything that we've learned that tracks truthfully when 201 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: we send out our invitations. Part of me hoped the 202 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: news just wouldn't get back to her. I hope it 203 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:15,680 Speaker 1: would go smoothly enough that I wouldn't actually have to 204 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:18,559 Speaker 1: talk to her about this decision. But of course that 205 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:21,679 Speaker 1: would be too easy. She showed up a few days later, 206 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: banging on my door, demanding I talked to her. I 207 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 1: went out. I didn't let her in, despite knowing that 208 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 1: neighbors could see us, and that was solely because I 209 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:34,560 Speaker 1: didn't want her inside my home where my son is. 210 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:39,560 Speaker 1: I didn't want her scaring him like that, and that's 211 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 1: undoubtedly what she would be doing. She demanded to know 212 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 1: what I was playing at how could I be so cruel? 213 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 1: How could I exclude her from such a special day. 214 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 1: I told her plainly that my wedding was a day 215 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:59,959 Speaker 1: for me oo to celebrate with my close loved one. 216 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 1: Oh oh, he's about to drop another bar. Yeah, I'm 217 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 1: gonna read it again. 218 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 2: Talk to me. 219 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 1: My wedding was a day for me to celebrate with 220 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 1: my close loved ones. And she wasn't someone I considered 221 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 1: close or a loved one. 222 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:29,040 Speaker 3: Dude, what oh man, dude, this is a family of poets. 223 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: He is going. 224 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 3: We need we need, we need them to be like 225 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:37,200 Speaker 3: a rap battle like career browy one. 226 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, I dude, all the like the family was like. 227 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 3: Boo wow, dude, I mean yeah again, Like it's just 228 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 3: like you can still communicate what you need to with that. 229 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:55,439 Speaker 1: It's a bar. I love bar. You have fun and 230 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:59,160 Speaker 1: it's but is it the kindest thing to do that's 231 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 1: going to lead to the strama in your life? Like 232 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: sometimes I think you know, like all right, what's the 233 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,200 Speaker 1: kindest thing to do and what leads to the least drama? 234 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 1: And this is like this gives you more pain and 235 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 1: it is not the kind thing to do, you know, yeah, 236 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:14,560 Speaker 1: so like it's a bar, But is it a bar. 237 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 2: Where your mom is gonna go crazy? 238 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 1: She hears, and I don't consider her a loved one anymore. 239 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 1: She had made her bed and she asked to lie 240 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 1: in it. Part of me worried that she turn up 241 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:29,840 Speaker 1: at my wedding. Came by the house a few more times, 242 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 1: but stopped when I threatened to call the cops. This 243 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 1: is honestly, this is sad. This is sad. I didn't 244 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 1: do it sooner because I guess I'm a softy at heart. 245 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:40,480 Speaker 1: I didn't want to see my mom in any trouble. 246 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:44,559 Speaker 1: But every time she showed up, she spewed some bs 247 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:46,719 Speaker 1: about ME being a terrible son for doing this to her. 248 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:50,320 Speaker 1: It drained me. There were social media posts, of course, 249 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 1: I had relatives reaching out to me to tell me 250 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 1: I should invite her, what kind of sun am I, 251 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 1: et cetera, But they stopped when I told them I'd 252 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:04,080 Speaker 1: take back there invites too. No one mentioned her at 253 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 1: the wedding, and he didn't try showing up. She did, however, 254 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: try to prevent Lexi from being a flower girl like 255 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 1: I promised, but Dad quickly nipped that in the bud, 256 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: which takes me to the next point, my parents are 257 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: officially over. Also called that dad sent her divorce papers. 258 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 1: Who okay, Like I understand, makes sense. She's gonna she's 259 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: gonna spiral. This is gonna be bad. She has no 260 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: support system, all of her kids cut her off she's got, 261 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 1: which will be bad for the four year old exactly 262 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: or now it's five. 263 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm true, but she already parentified one shot one another. 264 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: Dad sent her divorce papers sometime in February, and I 265 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 1: don't think he's looking back at all. This is something 266 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 1: that also shocks me because this time last year he 267 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 1: was much the same as she was. He was someone 268 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: who cared more about Aaron than any of us, someone 269 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 1: who brushed off our chiefs, someone who brushed off our 270 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: achievements if they somehow interfered with hers. And now he 271 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 1: was an advocate for us, which I think goes to 272 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: show like you can change. This is true, you know 273 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: you can actually, Like if Opie's mom had had the 274 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 1: same character arc as Opie's dad, this situation would have 275 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 1: been completely different, Like like it's okay to make mistakes, 276 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 1: it's not okay to keep making them, you know. 277 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 3: Although like I will say, for the kids, and it's 278 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 3: and it's great and it's a beautiful thing. And they've 279 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 3: all like it seems like they've all forgiven him and 280 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 3: it's built their relationship in such a beautiful way. But 281 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 3: also I could see a hard thing to hard. 282 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 1: Thing for you. 283 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 3: You're still living like they still have, like the pain 284 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 3: the past. So but i'm i'm I'm so glad that 285 00:15:56,880 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 3: it's like worked out so beautifully with the dad, at. 286 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 1: Least at least. But every time Mom posted something on 287 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 1: social media beltailing us, Daddy O responded with something uplifting us. 288 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 1: I never imagine having such a good relationship with my dad, 289 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: but here we were. We helped him move into his 290 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: own place back in March. He's a new man, honestly. 291 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 1: He's worked out a fifty to fifty custody agreement for Lexi. 292 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:24,200 Speaker 1: As much as he'd be happy to have full custody, 293 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 1: he wants to believe that she can change like he did. 294 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 1: He has said, however, that if he ever catches the 295 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 1: slightest hint of Alexi being mistreated like we were, he'd 296 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: be filing for full custody. In the case of my siblings, 297 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: life has been going good for them too. Leo got 298 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 1: a raise at work and has adopted a dog that 299 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 1: my son is obsessed with. Also, there is like a 300 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 1: third more to this story. Yeah, yeah, we're not done. 301 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 1: Two thirds doillon. Guys, We're oh baby, Are you guys 302 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 1: in it with me? Yeah? 303 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 2: Oh, I'm in it? 304 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 1: Locked in, you're locked in. In the case of my siblings, 305 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 1: life has been going good for them too. Leo got 306 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: to raise at work and it's adopted a dog and 307 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 1: my son is obsessed with it the point that I 308 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 1: think we may need to get a dog ourselves. Josh 309 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 1: and his partner are going strong. He fits right into 310 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: our family and I couldn't be happier for Josh. He's 311 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 1: found someone that he really cares about him and he 312 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 1: can tell he's in love. Maybe there will be wedding 313 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:21,360 Speaker 1: bells soon. Lexi, well, Lexi's five, so there's not really 314 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 1: much going on in her life. I think she's recently 315 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 1: made my dad join her tea party. Adorable quick edit 316 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:32,200 Speaker 1: to add Lexi's obviously aware that things have changed, she's 317 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: naturally confused about it. All things change so much in 318 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:37,479 Speaker 1: the space of a year, and I can't imagine what 319 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:40,120 Speaker 1: that's like for her living with her parents or mom 320 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 1: is angry all the time. We've let her know that 321 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:44,879 Speaker 1: we'll always be there for her and that we're a 322 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:47,400 Speaker 1: safe space if she needs to talk about her feelings 323 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 1: or if she has any questions to ask. We don't 324 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:54,639 Speaker 1: want this affecting her more than it already has. Josh 325 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:56,919 Speaker 1: is the only one who's made headway on that. He 326 00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 1: works in childcare and has experience in things like this. 327 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 1: Dad is thinking about setting up therapy for her. But 328 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:06,720 Speaker 1: I'm sure you're all wondering about Nadia and Aaron. Nadia 329 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:09,360 Speaker 1: is great. She's honestly thriving. I think being away from 330 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 1: our mom and Aaron and the pressures at home has 331 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 1: really helped her find herself as a person. She's made 332 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:17,880 Speaker 1: new friends, is excelling in classes, and she's just an 333 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,720 Speaker 1: overall happier person, which is all I care about. She's happy. 334 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:25,320 Speaker 1: I'm happy. She's been invited to move in with my 335 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:28,480 Speaker 1: dad now that he has his own place and enough 336 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 1: room for her and Lexi, but she hasn't decided on 337 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 1: answer yet. She's more than welcome to stay here if 338 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 1: she wants, but I know that she also wants to 339 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 1: be closer with her Dad all support her no matter what, 340 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:39,919 Speaker 1: and I've told her that she can try it with 341 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:42,400 Speaker 1: Dad if she wants to, and she can come back 342 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:47,119 Speaker 1: if it's too weird for her. Aaron, though, is another story. No, 343 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: our prediction must stay the same. We are no longer 344 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:54,920 Speaker 1: no contact with Aaron, but we are low contact. After 345 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 1: her apology at Lexi's party, Leo reached out to see 346 00:18:57,280 --> 00:18:59,480 Speaker 1: if it was genuine. All of us were pretty stuck 347 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 1: on what to do. To be honest, Aaron was never 348 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 1: someone to bow her head and apologize, but how could 349 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 1: we know if it was genuine and not a ploy 350 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 1: to get us to forgive her mom or something. Aaron 351 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,960 Speaker 1: asked to speak with us in person with Leo when 352 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 1: Leo reached out to her, and we agreed because we 353 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 1: were curious to see how it go. We also agreed 354 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:22,640 Speaker 1: that if she tried anything, we would be leaving immediately 355 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 1: and would block her again. The meeting happened in mid January, 356 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:29,479 Speaker 1: between Lexi and Leo's birthdays. We met at her place. 357 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 1: Aaron looked like a nervous wreck, like she hadn't slept 358 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:35,360 Speaker 1: all night, and honestly, it was really weird because she's 359 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:39,359 Speaker 1: normally so put together, like even when she was throwing tantrums, 360 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:43,520 Speaker 1: she looked better than this. We sat down. Gorgeous, evil 361 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 1: and gorgeous. We sat down and she started off by 362 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 1: apologizing to us again. She said that she was needlessly 363 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: cruel and unfair to us, especially Nadia, and even apologized 364 00:19:54,760 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: for trying to ruin her graduation. Okay, let she said, 365 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 1: when we all backed out of our wedding, she was 366 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:06,399 Speaker 1: confused in hurt because none of us had said no 367 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:09,119 Speaker 1: to her before. She thought we were close, and we 368 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:11,440 Speaker 1: just wanted to be as far away from her as possible. 369 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 1: We asked her questions and she answered everyone, why did 370 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 1: you think we were close? Because she'd been acting this 371 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 1: way since childhood, partially encouraged by her parents' treatments of 372 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:24,119 Speaker 1: her versus her, and assumed that since none of us 373 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:26,840 Speaker 1: said anything about it, we were fine with it. Did 374 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 1: you ever feel sorry, she said she didn't. Before this 375 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 1: whole fiasco, it was normal for her to be the 376 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 1: center of attention. Everything was always about her. She was 377 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:37,880 Speaker 1: trying to un learn that. Why now It came down 378 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 1: to her husband. He'd tried talking to her a few 379 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:42,120 Speaker 1: times about her treatment of us, but she never saw 380 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:44,399 Speaker 1: an issue with it since well we never made an 381 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 1: issue about it before. He didn't like that response, but 382 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 1: he loved her and she was a lot kinder outside 383 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:52,600 Speaker 1: of our family unit, so we hoped that if he 384 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:56,360 Speaker 1: kept talking to her about it, she'd eventually stopped. They 385 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:59,679 Speaker 1: fought when she announced their engagement on Lydia's anniversary, and 386 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:03,440 Speaker 1: they fought again when she booked their party on Naughtia's birthday. 387 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:06,919 Speaker 1: He couldn't understand how she could be so cruel to 388 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:10,040 Speaker 1: her family, and she told him that he didn't understand 389 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,400 Speaker 1: our family dynamic and that we were cool with it. 390 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:15,919 Speaker 1: The stuff with Naughty Itt so like basically like Aaron's like, 391 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:18,120 Speaker 1: you just don't understand my family. They'd love when I'm 392 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:18,879 Speaker 1: the center of attention. 393 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:20,439 Speaker 2: You don't get it. 394 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 1: He don't get it. That's just our family being like 395 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:23,480 Speaker 1: her cute, cuddly family. 396 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:24,480 Speaker 2: Good boy George got it. 397 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:29,199 Speaker 1: The stuff with Natty's graduation also, Yeah, yeah, w boy George. 398 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 1: Caitlin van Campen and God George. Halia Baynes says, yeah, honestly, 399 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 1: George is a w W. George, O cancel us out parableness, George, 400 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:44,440 Speaker 1: the real good one. Mission accomplished the stuff with naughty's 401 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:48,119 Speaker 1: graduation damn near ruined their relationship, and I don't know 402 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:50,440 Speaker 1: how she convinced him to stay with her, because George 403 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 1: admitted he was very close to walking out the door, 404 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:58,679 Speaker 1: so George was curious about leaving Ah. She said she 405 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:01,080 Speaker 1: was on our mom's side for a while because she 406 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:03,960 Speaker 1: really did think we were just acting out. We'd never 407 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:06,160 Speaker 1: been like this before, so why we were like this now. 408 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:08,159 Speaker 1: She didn't get why we were ignoring her, why we 409 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:10,560 Speaker 1: suddenly cut her off, and admittedly had a breakdown over it. 410 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:13,359 Speaker 1: George told her we'd likely been carrying that hurt and 411 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,360 Speaker 1: bitterness with us for years. She said that she knew 412 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:18,639 Speaker 1: she was a brat, but didn't realize how bad it 413 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:22,200 Speaker 1: was until George and our dad laid it out for her. 414 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:24,639 Speaker 1: That's why she told Mom to leave us be so 415 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:27,359 Speaker 1: that we could have peace from it all. And it 416 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 1: turns out Dad wasn't the only one bearing the brunt 417 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 1: of Mom's anger. She was constantly blasting Aaron's phone turning 418 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 1: up at her place, so Aaron was getting the brunt 419 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 1: of it too, dragging our names through the mud. It 420 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:44,639 Speaker 1: got worse when Dad moved out, and suddenly Aaron was 421 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 1: all she had in the world. Support systems were crumbling. 422 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:51,160 Speaker 2: Going come on. 423 00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 1: Mom called us awful names that erin and thankfully didn't repeat. 424 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:57,600 Speaker 1: Mom told Aaron that she was all she had now, 425 00:22:58,480 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 1: which is a lot of weight to put on. Anon 426 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:04,239 Speaker 1: Dude a Ton George vouch for how bad our mom was, 427 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 1: said he'd come home from work often to find Aaron 428 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:10,959 Speaker 1: staring at her ringing phone. She didn't want to answer, 429 00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 1: but knew if she didn't eventually then Mom would turn 430 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:17,119 Speaker 1: up at her house. I know Aaron was awful to 431 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 1: us ever since she was born, but it really hurt 432 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:22,960 Speaker 1: seeing her like this. I think she herself was a 433 00:23:23,040 --> 00:23:26,159 Speaker 1: victim of our mom's behavior. It's not the Golden child's 434 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:28,880 Speaker 1: it's not the Golden Child's fault, or that it's really 435 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:29,359 Speaker 1: the parents. 436 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, one hundred per one hundred percent. 437 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:35,639 Speaker 1: Albeit in a drastically different way. She said she wanted 438 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:37,800 Speaker 1: to reach out to us sooner, but knew we probably 439 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:39,920 Speaker 1: didn't want to speak to her. She just couldn't help 440 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 1: herself when she saw us at Lexi's party and needed 441 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:47,399 Speaker 1: to apologize. We parted ways, conflicted. On one hand, Aaron 442 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 1: had always been selfish, she'd been manipulative, and downright mean. 443 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 1: She always found a way to overshadow us at every turn, 444 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 1: at every achievement. Naddy's graduation was proof of that. On 445 00:23:56,800 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 1: the other hand, she looked tired, She looked horn and 446 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:04,119 Speaker 1: she looked guilty. And I didn't want to believe that 447 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 1: was an act put on for the sake of getting 448 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:10,880 Speaker 1: us to forgive her, and then our mother didn't want 449 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 1: to believe it. None of us were sure how to proceed. 450 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 1: But then Jane suggested that we invite her to the wedding, 451 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 1: or rather we invite her to the reception after everyone's eden. 452 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:22,439 Speaker 1: We had a few friends coming at the time too, 453 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:25,720 Speaker 1: who couldn't attend the wedding itself to the inescapable engagements. 454 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:28,160 Speaker 1: That way, if Aaron did try to bring our mom, 455 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:32,000 Speaker 1: security would catch it and we know for certain whether 456 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:33,960 Speaker 1: or not Aaron had turned a new leaf. 457 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:35,080 Speaker 2: That's smart, great plan. 458 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:40,399 Speaker 1: Aaron attended the reception, She did not bring our Mom, 459 00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 1: did not even mention her. She and George arrived and 460 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:48,520 Speaker 1: Aaron cried as she congratulated me. She told Jade she 461 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 1: looked beautiful and hugged my son. At some point she 462 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:54,919 Speaker 1: took naughty aside, and when they came back. They were 463 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:57,439 Speaker 1: both a little teary eyed. Nadia later told me that 464 00:24:57,480 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 1: Aaron wanted to apologize to her properly one and one 465 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:03,200 Speaker 1: and didn't know if she'd get another opportunity to do so. 466 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 1: George thanked me for giving Aaron a chance. He told 467 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 1: me that she really could be a warm, kind hearted person. 468 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:12,879 Speaker 1: I told him I hope to meet that version of 469 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:15,840 Speaker 1: her one day, and I meant it. If Erin is 470 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:19,119 Speaker 1: truly as warm and kind and wonderful as George believes 471 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:21,440 Speaker 1: her to be, then I want nothing more to meet 472 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:26,479 Speaker 1: that version of my sister. Now you may be wondering, Opi, 473 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 1: you forgot to mention Lydia when you were talking about 474 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:34,440 Speaker 1: your siblings the oldest. That was on purpose. Oh you see, 475 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 1: it's a good thing Dad moved out of her spare room. 476 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:39,520 Speaker 1: She's going to need that space in a few months. 477 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,720 Speaker 1: And she's not the only one. I knew Lydia was 478 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:45,439 Speaker 1: pregnant because she sat both me and Jade down to 479 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:48,400 Speaker 1: tell us she was pregnant and worried about her bridesmaid dress. 480 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:52,480 Speaker 1: Because Lydia was getting married, because Opie was getting married, 481 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:54,400 Speaker 1: or who's getting who's the last person. 482 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:57,159 Speaker 2: To go it was Opie because Lydya's a bridesmaid, and. 483 00:25:57,160 --> 00:26:00,240 Speaker 1: Op even offered to step down if it was a problem. 484 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:02,639 Speaker 1: We of course told her not to be ridiculous, and 485 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:05,119 Speaker 1: we covered the cost of any alterations needed. In the 486 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:07,080 Speaker 1: lead up to the wedding, Jade told me that she 487 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:10,320 Speaker 1: planned on having Lydia make an announcement during the speeches. 488 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:12,679 Speaker 1: I foolishly assumed that Lydia was going to announce her 489 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 1: pregnancy to her extended family, and while I was a 490 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:17,679 Speaker 1: little hesitant, I agreed since Jade wanted it like this, 491 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 1: and while at least she'd gotten permission unlike someone uh oh, 492 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 1: I see you, I see what's happening, And well, at 493 00:26:25,840 --> 00:26:30,200 Speaker 1: least she'd gotten permission unlike someone would have read it. 494 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:33,320 Speaker 1: Lydia made a speech about pregnancy and how she couldn't 495 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:35,360 Speaker 1: wait to be a mom and how she was grateful 496 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 1: to be sharing at least part of her pregnancy journey 497 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 1: with Jade. Reddit this was how I found out my 498 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:45,800 Speaker 1: wife was expecting our second child. 499 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:50,200 Speaker 3: Dude, that is such a fireway at the wedding. 500 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:57,359 Speaker 1: Woh wedding announcement chef's kiss again. I wish I could 501 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:01,359 Speaker 1: say I maintained my composure, but I didn't. I cried. 502 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 1: I was so overwhelmed with happiness that I couldn't help myself, 503 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:05,960 Speaker 1: and I'm sure my friends will forever make fun of 504 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:09,120 Speaker 1: me for it. It felt like all the crap we'd 505 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:11,119 Speaker 1: been through this past year was all worth it for 506 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 1: that moment to have family rally around me in an 507 00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:16,800 Speaker 1: event that I'm sure would somehow have been made about 508 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 1: Aaron and her wedding if my mom had been present. 509 00:27:20,640 --> 00:27:23,520 Speaker 1: I haven't spoken much about how this past year has 510 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:26,280 Speaker 1: made me feel. Truthfully, I have felt like crap most 511 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:28,439 Speaker 1: of it. I felt like curling up and disappearing. I 512 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 1: felt rotten and useless, simply because my mother told me 513 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:34,239 Speaker 1: I was. I felt sometimes like I couldn't show how 514 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:36,720 Speaker 1: I was feeling because Naughty was here, and I didn't 515 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:39,560 Speaker 1: want her to blame herself anymore than she did. I'm 516 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:41,440 Speaker 1: in therapy right now, and I'm not the only one, 517 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:44,960 Speaker 1: and I'm healing right now. I'm happy. I'm so unfathomably 518 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:47,560 Speaker 1: happy that I can barely understand it. I'm happier than 519 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:49,680 Speaker 1: I've ever been, and I know my siblings will say 520 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:52,600 Speaker 1: the same. Well, our mom will probably say that our 521 00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:56,119 Speaker 1: family has fallen apart. That's not true. Hers has. The 522 00:27:56,160 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 1: family that she made has fallen apart. But ours hour 523 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:04,879 Speaker 1: has grown stronger. It has grown so unbelievably strong. We 524 00:28:04,920 --> 00:28:07,600 Speaker 1: were united front before, but it's like but it's like 525 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:10,399 Speaker 1: now we've upgraded our defenses. We're coming out of this 526 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:14,119 Speaker 1: with stronger relationships with each other, a real relationship with 527 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:17,360 Speaker 1: our dad, and two new family members along the way. 528 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 1: This is what our mom is missing out on, and 529 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:22,840 Speaker 1: it's all her own fault. Maybe I'll update you again 530 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 1: in the future. I'm not sure if our mom knows 531 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:27,600 Speaker 1: it yet about Lydia and Jade's pregnancies, but the announcement 532 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:30,320 Speaker 1: is out there. We do have her blocked on social media, 533 00:28:30,359 --> 00:28:33,280 Speaker 1: so maybe no one's told her the good news. Aaron 534 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:35,600 Speaker 1: hasn't at least, So if anything happens on that front, 535 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 1: I'll let you know. But for now, I'm happy with 536 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:40,280 Speaker 1: where my life is. Thank you all for your support, 537 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 1: and I hope you all have an amazing day. Yes, 538 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:50,440 Speaker 1: but that is where that story ends. But what's your butt? John? Oh? 539 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:53,280 Speaker 1: But that's it about What if the mom comes out 540 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 1: of the woodwork, you never know? I mean, if these 541 00:28:56,160 --> 00:28:59,120 Speaker 1: pregnancy announcements are coming through. I think the mom is 542 00:28:59,160 --> 00:29:02,080 Speaker 1: going to want to a something or. 543 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 3: I mean, listen, she she had uh lydia and and 544 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:11,080 Speaker 3: LEXI like almost thirty years apart. Maybe Mom was still 545 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 3: still got. 546 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:17,480 Speaker 1: She just starts a new family. 547 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:22,040 Speaker 3: Listen, she she's probably very fertile. I mean she has 548 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:23,280 Speaker 3: to be at least somewhat. 549 00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 1: For yids crazy. 550 00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 3: The one thing I would say so beautiful ending love 551 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:31,960 Speaker 3: how the dad came together, all all the evil Aaron 552 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:35,520 Speaker 3: became good, all these great things. But to the you 553 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:38,000 Speaker 3: made this point a few times which I think is good, 554 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 3: which is there was some knife twisting at many moments, 555 00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:48,000 Speaker 3: and it was it was unnecessary. And also now looking 556 00:29:48,040 --> 00:29:51,560 Speaker 3: back at it too like it it felt like kicking 557 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:53,640 Speaker 3: the mom when she was down as well, you know, 558 00:29:54,160 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 3: like I think you can be like, yes, she doesn't 559 00:29:57,240 --> 00:30:01,479 Speaker 3: like the last episode we did. Op basically said it 560 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:04,920 Speaker 3: something along the lines of I love my mom and 561 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:06,280 Speaker 3: I would love her to be in my life, like 562 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 3: the happy moments we have had, but I love my 563 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:11,800 Speaker 3: family and I prioritize their safety and. 564 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:12,680 Speaker 2: Well being more. 565 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, and like kind. 566 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:17,760 Speaker 3: Of having that kind of mindset to not like twist 567 00:30:17,760 --> 00:30:20,160 Speaker 3: the knife, I feel like is the only big thing. 568 00:30:20,280 --> 00:30:23,120 Speaker 1: Maybe, Yeah, I think that's the angel move, Like you know, 569 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:27,960 Speaker 1: we understand or why why she's feeling the need to 570 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:29,600 Speaker 1: do this. But I think if we're trying to like 571 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 1: be the most, if you're trying to have the least 572 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:36,160 Speaker 1: drama possible, twisting the knife like that probably isn't gonna 573 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:36,440 Speaker 1: do that. 574 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:39,480 Speaker 3: And in this scenario, like there's not always scenarios where 575 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:43,360 Speaker 3: it's like, oh, you know, uh, be as kind as 576 00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:45,880 Speaker 3: possible and whatnot, or that's not the right way to 577 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:49,080 Speaker 3: say it, but I think in this scenario, the kindness 578 00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:54,320 Speaker 3: leads to the most likely possibility of her changing around 579 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:55,200 Speaker 3: like Dad did. 580 00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:58,720 Speaker 1: Exact ar did. Like I think when you kindly and 581 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:04,520 Speaker 1: calmly tell truth, your life ends up being very drama free. Yes, 582 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:08,560 Speaker 1: and I don't think some of it was kind, but 583 00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:11,560 Speaker 1: again understand and I think open to the best they 584 00:31:11,560 --> 00:31:13,560 Speaker 1: should or they did the best they can one. 585 00:31:13,480 --> 00:31:15,320 Speaker 3: Hundred percent, You're never going to be perfect. So I 586 00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:18,880 Speaker 3: think this was a like ultimately a beautiful end. 587 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:22,400 Speaker 1: But that's where that story ends and this episode ends. 588 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:24,200 Speaker 1: So if you love us, make sure to subscribe We 589 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:26,520 Speaker 1: Love you and see it tomorrow.