1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,200 Speaker 1: This is John. This is your og okay Storytime podcast hosts, 2 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:06,840 Speaker 1: and we have some rockin stories for you coming up. 3 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:09,639 Speaker 1: But before you rock out with your socks out, I 4 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:12,039 Speaker 1: got a quick tum in an ad break from a sponsors, 5 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: keeping the show rocking and rolling. 6 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:17,319 Speaker 2: I banned my mother in law because she's turning me 7 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 2: into my husband's enemy. 8 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 3: Oh no, not pitting them against each other. Hi. 9 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 2: I'm a thirty five year old woman and I've been 10 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 2: with my husband thirty two since college. Met in twenty nineteen, 11 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 2: and he quickly became my best friend. He was carrying, attentive, funny, supportive, 12 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 2: honestly just a great person overall. Of course, neither of 13 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 2: us is perfect, but he has so many qualities I 14 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 2: admired and still do. By the way, this comes from 15 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 2: userslash no mill brackets under no underscore mill. If you 16 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 2: want to assume in your own stories, good at the 17 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 2: r slash okay storytime stubreddit. 18 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 4: And this is directly from the r slash okay storytime slubreddit, 19 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 4: so we'll obviously read that. 20 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 5: Send them in. 21 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 2: We started as close friends and eventually became friends with benefit. 22 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 2: I wasn't ready for a relationship back then. 23 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 3: I was scared. 24 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 2: Interestingly, now, my mother in law was one of the 25 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 2: few people who knew about our situation, and she was 26 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 2: always welcoming. She would invite us to visit her often, 27 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:13,680 Speaker 2: even though she lived nearly two hours away. I would 28 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 2: usually drive since my husband didn't have a car at 29 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 2: the time. I loved spending time with her. She was sweet, helpful, 30 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 2: and we bonded like I never thought possible. She helped 31 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 2: me prepare for interviews, we had long girl talks, and 32 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 2: I honestly thought she was the best mother in law 33 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 2: I could have asked for. I've always loved my own mom, 34 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 2: but were not very close, and being the youngest of 35 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 2: three girls with two golden sisters, I often felt alone, 36 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 2: so having a maternal figure like her felt incredibly special. 37 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:41,680 Speaker 2: I even told my then best friend now husband how 38 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 2: thankful I was for her presence in my life. A 39 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 2: few weeks later, while we were at her house, he 40 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 2: took me out to dinner and officially asked me to 41 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 2: be his girlfriend. 42 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 3: Oh. 43 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 2: I was happy and excited to share the news with her, 44 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 2: but when we returned and told her, something changed in her. 45 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 5: Who no, who No. 46 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 2: At first I thought I was imagining it, but Over time, 47 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 2: her demeanor toward me became distant, cold, and passive aggressive. 48 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 2: We began visiting less frequently, not because we didn't want to, 49 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 2: but because we had school and were busy, so we 50 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 2: made the effort to go at least once a month, 51 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:11,079 Speaker 2: but each. 52 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 3: Visit became more uncomfortable. 53 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 2: One time, while chatting in the pool, I told her 54 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:18,119 Speaker 2: that my husband had always felt somewhat distant from her, 55 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 2: like an outsider, and had once shared that he believed 56 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 2: she only married his father because she got pregnant. She 57 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 2: calmly told me that his grandmother had told him that 58 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 2: and it wasn't true. I thought we were having a 59 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 2: sincere moment. 60 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 3: It was a moment. Sincerely, it was a moment. Yeah, 61 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 3: uh yeah. Shortly after, my. 62 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 2: Husband wanted to accompany me to visit my grandmother. When 63 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:43,119 Speaker 2: his mom found out, she got upset and accused him 64 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 2: of taking time off school for me, but. 65 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 5: Never for her. 66 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 2: Then came the holidays. We had agreed to spend Thanksgiving together, 67 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 2: then separate for Christmas Eve I would visit his family 68 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 2: on the twenty fifth and spend New Years together, But 69 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 2: as Thanksgiving approached, she came to our apartment crying, no 70 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 2: She said her brother was coming to visit it and 71 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 2: that family comes first, implying I wasn't family. That hurt 72 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 2: more than I can explain. That's understandable. 73 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 5: Yeah, that's hard. 74 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 2: To have been in this and feel like you understand 75 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 2: what a relationship is and then find out, Ah, it's 76 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:16,359 Speaker 2: not quite what. 77 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 4: I thought, especially since I mean this started out with 78 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 4: Ophi being like I thought she was a great maternal 79 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 4: figure and I felt so accepted into the family. 80 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, she told us she didn't want us to get 81 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:29,239 Speaker 2: engaged or married. Oh, at least not until she met 82 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 2: my entire family and waited another five years. She didn't 83 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 2: want to be a grandmother anytime soon either. 84 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 3: Wow. 85 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 2: She said we hadn't talked about family health issues, which 86 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 2: we had. She insulted me directly and indirectly, making it 87 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 2: seem like I wasn't even in the room. 88 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 3: That's crazy to. 89 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 2: Come to somebody else's house, yeah, and be like, by 90 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 2: the way, you're not getting married for five years. 91 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 5: Literally, It's like, okay, I get that. 92 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 6: Like parent has a certain idea or like what they 93 00:03:58,880 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 6: might want. 94 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 5: For a relationship for their kids. 95 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 2: Never up to them unless you are the one getting 96 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 2: on your knee yeah, with that fourteen carrot ring or whatever. 97 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 5: With the twenty four k golden Labuo boo, you're not. 98 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 2: You're not deciding what the timeline is. 99 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:19,279 Speaker 3: No, and that was so many requirements. 100 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 2: Yeah, and also yeah, you're doing this well, you're waiting 101 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 2: five years. 102 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:24,279 Speaker 5: Also, I don't want any. 103 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 2: Grandkids right now until we talk about potential the way, 104 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 2: until we pun it square it out. 105 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 5: Yeah, I need to meet your entire family. 106 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, true, Hi goodness. 107 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:34,160 Speaker 5: Oh yeah. 108 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 2: Eventually I broke and told my husband she won't stop 109 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 2: until she gets what she wants. 110 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 5: To just go with her for Thanksgiving. 111 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 2: And like flipping a switch, the tears were gone. She 112 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:46,559 Speaker 2: turned to him and asked anything else. I, still hoping 113 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:48,799 Speaker 2: for some healing, brought up the comment he once made 114 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 2: about her marrying his dad out of obligation. 115 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:53,479 Speaker 5: Oh boy, my husband. 116 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 2: Scared to confront her and eager to please, denied ever 117 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 2: saying it. 118 00:04:57,240 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 3: Later, she blew up. 119 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,280 Speaker 2: She claimed I insulted her by calling her easy and 120 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 2: judged her for getting pregnant before marriage, something I never said, 121 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 2: nor believe. I would never judge anyone for that, not her, 122 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 2: not my own siblings, not myself. It hurt that she 123 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 2: twisted my words and intentions. That night, I told my 124 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 2: husband I was done. I couldn't believe he stood by 125 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 2: while she insulted me. I called my mom crying. She 126 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 2: told me, you don't let anyone make you feel small. 127 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,039 Speaker 2: He needs to make a choice. I went outside, talked 128 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 2: to my mom, and once I felt better, and I 129 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,280 Speaker 2: told him I was leaving. I couldn't stay with someone 130 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 2: who wouldn't protect me. He broke down, crying and begged 131 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 2: me to stay. He said he'd cut his mom off 132 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 2: if he had to, that he didn't want to lose me. 133 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 2: I agreed to stay, but only if he started therapy. 134 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 2: We continued our relationship, but on his mother's birthday, she 135 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,160 Speaker 2: was rude again, making faces at me. That's go crazy 136 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 2: And that was the last time I saw her, over 137 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 2: two years ago. But anyways, since then, he proposed and 138 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 2: we got married. Oh so, like the faces happened two 139 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 2: years past, proposals happened. When he told her about the engagement, 140 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 2: as his therapist recommended, all right, therapist and well okay, 141 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:02,359 Speaker 2: I warned him she might act out. Sure enough, she 142 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 2: pretended to have a health emergency and was taken by 143 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 2: ambulance to. 144 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:11,159 Speaker 3: The hospital as we expected. She was completely fine. 145 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 5: Oh my gosh, that's what I would call then over Yeah, yeah, yeah, good. 146 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:18,719 Speaker 5: Oh man. 147 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 2: We didn't tell her about our legal marriage. Over these 148 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:24,839 Speaker 2: two years, I've learned so much about her behavior. His 149 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 2: stepfather stole from him, gave him gifts and took them back, 150 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:31,359 Speaker 2: and his mother regularly insulted him on the phone. He 151 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 2: forgave her. 152 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:32,919 Speaker 3: I couldn't. 153 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 2: She has a long history of emotional manipulation, and no 154 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 2: one ever hold her accountable. Everyone just apologizes to her. 155 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 2: Even early on, both my husband and his stepfather told 156 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 2: me I should apologize, thankfully, with my therapist's help, I refused. 157 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:48,600 Speaker 2: She also weaponized his brother with special needs by preventing 158 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,640 Speaker 2: him from seeing me. Eventually, I messaged her and said 159 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:53,679 Speaker 2: I didn't want her in our life until she sought 160 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 2: therapy and found her own healing, even spiritual. 161 00:06:57,600 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 1: Yeah. 162 00:06:57,880 --> 00:06:58,600 Speaker 3: No, that's fair. 163 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:01,840 Speaker 2: I'm with you on that one. 164 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:05,480 Speaker 4: On that one, yeah, because I mean, like, it's a 165 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 4: lot to deal with someone who's faking going to the hospital. 166 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 2: And also how expensive is an ambulance? 167 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 5: Yeah, right, crazy, That's what I'm saying. 168 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 2: There are better ways to Like, I'm not advocating for this. 169 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, oh wow. 170 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 2: I'm not advocating for the faking something to distract, but 171 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 2: I'm just saying they're easier and cheaper ways to do it. 172 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 4: Right. 173 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 5: You know, you can do it at least be smart 174 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 5: about it. 175 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 3: Go on. 176 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,239 Speaker 2: You don't need an ambulance or like do your little 177 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 2: like fainting at home, and then when people get there 178 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 2: and they're like, we should call an ambulance, you're like, actually, yeah, 179 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 2: like I'm fine. 180 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 3: Feeling better now, I'm feeling so much better. 181 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 2: A few weeks ago, she, her husband and her son 182 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 2: came to visit our city. 183 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 3: We moved five hours. 184 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 2: Away, and they weren't welcome in our home. They stayed 185 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 2: at a hotel. He had dinner with them and told 186 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:56,559 Speaker 2: me I was invited five minutes before. I didn't go fair, 187 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 2: don't don't. This weekend, it was his brother's birthday. Again, 188 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 2: I wasn't invited, nor did I want to be. But 189 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 2: when he came back, he was clearly emotionally manipulated. 190 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 3: He said. 191 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 2: He asked his mom to apologize if she wanted a 192 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 2: relationship with us, and her response was, she can come 193 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 2: tell me what I need to apologize for. 194 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 3: That was infuriating. 195 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 2: Understandable. That's not remorse, that's avoidance. She knows exactly what 196 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 2: she did. I shouldn't have to list every insult, every 197 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 2: moment she tried to accumulate or isolate me a sincere 198 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 2: apology doesn't come with conditions. What upset me even more 199 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 2: was how my husband presented it, like his mom really 200 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 2: wanted to fix things, and like I was the one refusing. 201 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:35,559 Speaker 2: He didn't say those exact words, but that's how it felt, 202 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 2: as if I was the barrier. We've been talking about 203 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 2: having children, and I had to be honest with him. 204 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 2: I told him I don't want his mother anywhere near me. 205 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:44,679 Speaker 2: I'm not even sure I want kids with him. Every 206 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 2: time she comes back into his life, he regresses all 207 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:49,559 Speaker 2: the progress he made in therapy gone in an instant, 208 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 2: and if we ever did have children, she would not 209 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 2: be allowed near them. 210 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 5: Whoof Yeah, wow, that's why they gave. 211 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 2: Us the kind of chill story right before this. 212 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:00,960 Speaker 3: That's why we were like the last one, we were like, actually, that. 213 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 5: Wasn't too bad, give us a little bit of a break. 214 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 3: That was great. 215 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, everybody kind of figured it out and out what 216 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 2: their feelings. 217 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 5: Healthy. Right, Let's go to the next one o them 218 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:10,320 Speaker 5: movie storm. 219 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 2: Yeah fair, I'm glad that she's being honest and standing up. 220 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, for herself. This is a rough situation. 221 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's not the ideal situation. I don't want to 222 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 2: feel this way, but I will not let someone like 223 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 2: her who refuses accountability, uses emotional blackmail, and manipulates everyone 224 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 2: around her anywhere near our future children. He says, he agrees, 225 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 2: but then days like this come and it's back to 226 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:33,199 Speaker 2: mommy dearest. If she truly wanted to make things right, 227 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 2: she had every chance, including when she came here, but 228 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:38,599 Speaker 2: she didn't. And now I'm the one who feels like 229 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 2: the bad guy for holding the line. But I won't bend, 230 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 2: not for her, not anymore. 231 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:43,840 Speaker 5: Dang man. 232 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 6: Yeah, that's hard because obviously he's in this like manipulative 233 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:51,959 Speaker 6: relationship from his parents, right, Like that's very hard to 234 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 6: break out of. And even though he is in therapy 235 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 6: and she's seeing him regress, it's like, I feel like 236 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:58,560 Speaker 6: you still have to be sympathetic. But at a certain point, 237 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 6: it's like if not the thing is really happening and 238 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 6: really staying there and staying in practice, it's like it's 239 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 6: at a certain point you kind of do have to 240 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,319 Speaker 6: detach yourself if you are getting the front of it. 241 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:13,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, so it I don't. There's a lot of stuff 242 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 2: going on, you know, ups and downs. There's some messy 243 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 2: bits to this, but at the end of the day, Yeah, 244 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 2: it sucks. 245 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 3: To have to deal with that. 246 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 2: And this one didn't say, am I the A hole? 247 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:26,200 Speaker 2: I would say, I would say, not the a hole? 248 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 2: I would say, this is a weird Yeah, you know, 249 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 2: you gotta holding the line is a good phrase I 250 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 2: think of just you have to keep that boundary there 251 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:40,079 Speaker 2: because otherwise, right, Okay, update from the comment, I'm evaluating 252 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 2: my future slay. We will start couple's therapy and I 253 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 2: will decide after that. 254 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 5: Okay, okay. 255 00:10:45,760 --> 00:10:47,719 Speaker 2: Comment one, you will spend the rest of your life 256 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 2: trying to fix and repair this family and never succeed. 257 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:52,080 Speaker 2: It's time to cut the strings and eliminate the hurt 258 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 2: and nonsense comment too. I'm wondering if he's still in 259 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 2: contact with her is because of his younger brother. Many 260 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 2: times siblings or family members will become their legal guardians 261 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 2: when parents pass or become too ill to care for them. 262 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:05,200 Speaker 2: I also would not trust her with any child, much 263 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 2: less a special needs child. People that behave like this 264 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 2: are seriously scary on what they won't do to get 265 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 2: their way. If your husband does go no contact, she will, 266 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 2: without a doubt, in my opinion. 267 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 3: Go full throttle on the crazy. 268 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 2: He needs to make a choice before you decide to 269 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 2: make it for him. I would definitely invest in security 270 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:22,959 Speaker 2: cameras if he. 271 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 5: Does pull his head out. Oh god, there's opie. 272 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:27,719 Speaker 2: Yes, my husband is still in contact with his mother, 273 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:29,559 Speaker 2: but only because of his younger brother, and part of 274 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:31,439 Speaker 2: him hopes things can get better. His brother is a 275 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 2: kind and respectful young man who just turned eighteen, and 276 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 2: he has nothing to do with the conflict between us 277 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 2: and their mother. Unfortunately, she still has a lot of 278 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:40,960 Speaker 2: control over him, and my husband doesn't want to abandon him, 279 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 2: which I completely understand. When we first went no contact, 280 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 2: she didn't respect that boundary. She kept sending manipulative messages, texts, videos, 281 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 2: and articles about why sons stop talking to their mothers, 282 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 2: all suggesting I. 283 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:54,560 Speaker 3: Was the reason. 284 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 5: Oh my gosh, wooh. 285 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 2: It was emotionally exhausting and clearly meant to guilt him 286 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 2: back into contact. 287 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 5: That sucks. 288 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 2: I'm sorry about that. Yeah, that's it's also biased journalism. 289 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 1: Right. 290 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 2: You know, I assume she wasn't sending other articles that 291 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 2: weren't saying yeah, it's because of your son's just. 292 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:16,680 Speaker 5: Part confirmation bias going on. 293 00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 3: Before a wedding celebration. 294 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 2: She even tried to send him a handwritten letter through 295 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 2: a friend, hoping it would reach him right. 296 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 3: Before this ceremony. 297 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:25,439 Speaker 5: Oh my gosh. 298 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,640 Speaker 2: Thankfully his friend refused and told her not to create drama. 299 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 5: Shout out to them. Yeah, that is the hero of 300 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:34,719 Speaker 5: this story, honestly, Wow, my goodness. 301 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 2: She ended up texting it instead, and of course it 302 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 2: was full of guilt and manipulation. Dude, not being at 303 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 2: the wedding, like looking at the altar. 304 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:46,440 Speaker 3: I just I think you're making a huge mistake. I 305 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:48,680 Speaker 3: know you probably won't see this until after the. 306 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:50,679 Speaker 2: Vows have already been exchanged. 307 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 4: But yeah, I know, you're literally in the middle of 308 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 4: a wedding and don't even have your phone on you 309 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:54,200 Speaker 4: right now. 310 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:56,080 Speaker 5: Or imagine he did and he's. 311 00:12:55,960 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 4: Just reading trying to like and it's like, oh, looking 312 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 4: on in la Yeah. 313 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:02,600 Speaker 3: Because of his brother. 314 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:05,199 Speaker 2: I'm not sure that going completely non contact is even 315 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 2: realistic right now. She seems to know that and uses 316 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 2: it to stay connected honestly, sometimes it feels like real peace. 317 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 2: It won't come until she's no longer around. I don't 318 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:15,599 Speaker 2: say that out of spite, just from exhaustion and experience. 319 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 2: And yes, we already have cameras and home security, not 320 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 2: because of her, but we just want to feel safe 321 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 2: in our own space. 322 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 5: Yeah, woof. 323 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 1: I refuse to take in my stepsister, even if it 324 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 1: would help her. 325 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 3: You don't need to. 326 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:32,719 Speaker 1: When I, now twenty nine, female was fourteen, it came 327 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:34,960 Speaker 1: out that my dad had been living a whole secret 328 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 1: life behind his wife and my mom's back one where 329 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 1: he had a one year old daughter who is now sixteen, 330 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 1: with his employee. What practice family what? Back then it 331 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 1: was a huge deal. 332 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 3: I've like it's a huge deal now. 333 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 1: My brother, now thirty one, refused to speak to our 334 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 1: dad for a whole year, and I couldn't look him 335 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: in the eye ever since. Now. I don't know if 336 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: our mom knew or if she just didn't care, but 337 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 1: I remember her being very desperate to keep her husband. 338 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 1: Perhaps it was because he was the breadwinner and made 339 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 1: quite a lot, who knows. But eventually, after many therapy 340 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:14,200 Speaker 1: sessions and counseling, they stayed together by the way. This 341 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: comes from user patient Win eighty eight thirty one. If 342 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 1: you want to submit your own stories, go to the 343 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: r slash Okay storytime Subradett. But that didn't mean his 344 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 1: other family was brick walled, as you'd think would be appropriate. 345 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 1: In fact, my dad stopped going out with the other woman, 346 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: but they remained friends, and my mom and her had 347 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 1: some sort of sister wives vibes going on. It was 348 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 1: just weird. On every holiday there'd be this woman who 349 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: knowingly and willingly almost destroyed another family. Yes, she was 350 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 1: aware our dad was married and didn't care. And this 351 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 1: baby who we me and my brother were meant to 352 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: treat like a sibling. We haven't felt like a family since. 353 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 1: My brother refused to participate in holidays like Christmas or 354 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 1: Easter for a few years. Then came around when Ali, 355 00:14:56,720 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 1: my stepsister's fake name, was four years old, and decided 356 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 1: he'd be a brother to her. It was a very 357 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 1: sudden switch, though he still doesn't speak to our father 358 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 1: or Ali's mom. Maybe I'm jaded, but I never saw 359 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 1: Ali's mom as anything but a home wrecker and a 360 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 1: terrible person, and Ali as a result of that. I 361 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 1: don't know if Jade, it's the right word for that. 362 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:20,360 Speaker 1: I think you're probably traumatized. I think you need to, 363 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 1: like really and. 364 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 3: The brother when he comes How old was he when 365 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 3: he came into the family. 366 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 1: Or I don't think we had the number. It's he's 367 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 1: now thirty one, so. 368 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 3: Okay to like try and be a brother to like 369 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 3: probably lighteens, maybe early twenties somewhere in there. 370 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 1: I know my dad is to blame as well, but 371 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 1: back then it was easier to be angry at them 372 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 1: than at my dad. 373 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 3: Well, I feel like your dad is the blame. 374 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 1: You're also fourteen year child, so it makes sense. Yeah, 375 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 1: I never saw Ali as his sister and made it 376 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 1: clear that resulted in some familial tension that continues to 377 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: this day. It would be really hard to list everything 378 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 1: that happened here, so I won't, and I'll get to 379 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 1: the main issue at hand. Ali recently decided to change 380 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: schools because of some issues I'm not interested in. For clarification, 381 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 1: my country's high schools can have specific specializations like art, confectionery, hairdressing, 382 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: and so on and so forth. These are just the 383 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 1: first ones I could think of, but I'm just not 384 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:22,080 Speaker 1: sure how common it is. Ali used to study in 385 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 1: grammar school, high school that has no specific field but 386 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:28,960 Speaker 1: is usually a stepping stone between high school and college. 387 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 1: But apparently grammar school was too demanding and she decided 388 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: to drop out and pursue art school. She's not an 389 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 1: extraordinary artist for her age, but good enough to get 390 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 1: accepted into a pretty good art school that happens to 391 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: be near me. Ali and her mom live close to 392 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 1: my parents, and my parents live a solid three hours 393 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,000 Speaker 1: away from me, so getting to and from school would 394 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:49,840 Speaker 1: be difficult for her, but not impossible. Two days ago, 395 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 1: we had a family dinner, yes, Ali and her mom 396 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:55,600 Speaker 1: were invited, much to my dismay, where the issue was 397 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 1: brought up. They talked around the topic, maybe expecting me 398 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 1: to pipe up and open my doors for her, but 399 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 1: I didn't, so they eventually asked flat out if I 400 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 1: could let Ali live with me for the school year. 401 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 3: That's a big ask. 402 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:09,680 Speaker 1: It feels like they should know that You're already like 403 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:10,720 Speaker 1: you don't like this. 404 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:13,239 Speaker 3: You've never wanted a relationship with Ali, which, like you know, 405 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 3: is your own thing. They're dealing with. Yeah, regardless of 406 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 3: whether or not out like, Ali's obviously not in. 407 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 1: Fault yeah, regardless of where that comes from, this is 408 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:23,880 Speaker 1: not going to be a situation that's helpful to anybody. 409 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:25,920 Speaker 1: You're like the current circumstances. I think it is. 410 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:27,800 Speaker 3: The sixteen year old is going to live with a 411 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:28,919 Speaker 3: person who hates her. 412 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: No, we shouldn't do that. Parents don't know how bad 413 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:36,439 Speaker 1: it is, you know. Yeah, maybe it's just been kind 414 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 1: end up and held inside the whole time. Fourteen year 415 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 1: olds are really good doing that. 416 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 3: And so maybe maybe Op just says no, I hate her. Yeah, 417 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 3: like she goes no, and they go, what, I hate her? 418 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:52,320 Speaker 1: So she'd be there from Monday to Friday and be 419 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:55,400 Speaker 1: at home for any holidays and such. I also work 420 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 1: in art and am an illustrator, so they think it 421 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:00,880 Speaker 1: would be beneficial for Ali to spend time around real artists, 422 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 1: which is hilarious because they previously called my profession useless. 423 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 1: Here are my reasons for declining. There is an option 424 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:10,960 Speaker 1: of dorms just outside of campus. The living conditions are good, 425 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: not five star hotel, but good. Nonetheless, I don't like Ali, 426 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:18,639 Speaker 1: and have made that clear. We have absolutely no relationship. 427 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:21,479 Speaker 1: Aside from her being blood related. There's nothing about her 428 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 1: that would convince me to take her in. My brother 429 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 1: lives closer to the art school, like an hour away. 430 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 1: It's not right around the corner, but doable. Plus he 431 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:32,919 Speaker 1: actually likes Ali. When I needed help and came to 432 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:35,360 Speaker 1: Ali's mom as a hail Mary, she laughed me out 433 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:38,000 Speaker 1: the door and said that we're not family. So for 434 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:40,359 Speaker 1: her to insist we are, in fact a family now 435 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:43,960 Speaker 1: is both irritating and funny. I have a pretty modest apartment. 436 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:46,199 Speaker 1: Yes I have two rooms, but I'm renting out the 437 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 1: other one for my best friend. They didn't ask me nicely, 438 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 1: they demanded, and when I showed hesitation, they immediately descended 439 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 1: upon me like a pack of vultures. Apparently Ali doesn't 440 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: want to live with a stranger in a dorm, something 441 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 1: about anxiety, which, while I can sympathize, I also lived 442 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 1: in dorms with two strangers that didn't even like me. 443 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:04,399 Speaker 1: She's my sister despite it all, and God wanted us 444 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:07,880 Speaker 1: to be a family now because I'm atheist. My brother's 445 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 1: girlfriend is currently pregnant with a baby soon do, and 446 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:12,600 Speaker 1: he doesn't want to bring Ali into all of that. 447 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: Plus his girlfriend is nervous around strangers, which is the 448 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:18,280 Speaker 1: last thing she needs. I should displace my roommate in 449 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:20,680 Speaker 1: favor of family, and it should be a no brainer 450 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 1: to let my sister live with me. Again, She's not 451 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:25,200 Speaker 1: my sister. 452 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:27,639 Speaker 3: Oh Pete has not seen her, has her sister. 453 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:30,359 Speaker 1: I don't know her, and I never put in the 454 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:32,719 Speaker 1: effort to get to know her, nor do I want to. 455 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 1: I don't want to know. If I'm the a hole 456 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: for that, I guess I am, because it's not her fault. 457 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 1: She came to the world like this. Anyway. I wanted 458 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 1: to think about it for a bit and then turn 459 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 1: them down, to at least pretend to seriously consider it. 460 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:48,159 Speaker 1: But with how the evening devolved from calm and peaceful 461 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:50,520 Speaker 1: to yelling and demanding in a matter of seconds, I 462 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: said no immediately and remained firm on my stance. Everything 463 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 1: calmed down when Ali ran out of the house back 464 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 1: to her house, I assume. Then I was asked to leave, 465 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,959 Speaker 1: which I was already doing, and was told we'll discuss 466 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:04,720 Speaker 1: the matter when I'm ready to act like an adult, 467 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 1: in which case I better sign up for kindergarten before 468 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,639 Speaker 1: they're all full. I made this all very clear, and 469 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:13,440 Speaker 1: when Ali's mom messaged me to discuss the topic, I 470 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 1: left her on red and when my dad called me, 471 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:17,879 Speaker 1: I didn't pick up, which is fair because you've already 472 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:19,919 Speaker 1: made it very clear you're not going to do it. Yeah, 473 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 1: I won't put up with them yelling and demanding, as 474 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:25,680 Speaker 1: if that would change my mind. Am I the a hole? 475 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:30,680 Speaker 1: Not about yeah, not about that, only about the thing 476 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:32,399 Speaker 1: that you admitted you were the a hole about Now 477 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:34,120 Speaker 1: you've already given the situation. 478 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 3: I think you recognize that, Like, you have a lot 479 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:39,879 Speaker 3: of animosity and feelings that should be directed at your 480 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:44,200 Speaker 3: dad that you've redirected at this girl, which makes sense. 481 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:46,160 Speaker 3: I think a lot of people do that, of course, 482 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:50,919 Speaker 3: but they were also forty Obviously you were traumatized. 483 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: It's not Allie's fault, yeah. 484 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:55,560 Speaker 3: Which is something I think like therapy can help, you know, 485 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 3: working through those feelings. But at the end of the day, 486 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 3: your question is am I the for not letting her 487 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 3: move into my house? And you are not the a hole? 488 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:04,919 Speaker 1: Not at all, You're not. 489 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:06,200 Speaker 3: Zero percent. 490 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:08,240 Speaker 1: It does kind of, it does, kind of, it's you know, 491 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: it just sucks. So am I the a hole? 492 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 2: Like? 493 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:14,920 Speaker 1: No, update, The thing I feared the most happened. Currently, 494 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 1: Ali is in my room after appearing out of nowhere 495 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:20,359 Speaker 1: in front of my apartment with my friend letting her 496 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 1: in after she started having a mental breakdown in the hall. 497 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:26,920 Speaker 1: You are now living a Hallmark movie. Oh I think 498 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 1: it's now you have to lean into like I'm gonna 499 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,679 Speaker 1: write a script out of this and sell it for 500 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 1: a jillion dollars and it's gonna win an Oscar. 501 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 3: Oh man. They can't just leave a sixteen year old, 502 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:40,399 Speaker 3: she's a minor. 503 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:43,520 Speaker 1: I really really didn't think this would happen. I mean 504 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 1: I thought about it, but more so in the humors 505 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:48,480 Speaker 1: what if kind of way. I think my father and 506 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:51,080 Speaker 1: Ali's mom divorced themselves from reality if they thought I 507 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:57,400 Speaker 1: would let this slide. I'll update later, and there's comments here. 508 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 1: Comment number one not the a Disregarding everything else for 509 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:04,640 Speaker 1: a second. Ali's only sixteen. She's going to be three 510 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 1: hours away from home and will potentially want to experiment 511 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:09,879 Speaker 1: with that freedom. Because teenager, but also because teenager, you 512 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:13,400 Speaker 1: will automatically be expected to act as the default parent substitute, 513 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 1: ensuring she eats properly and coxs up with her studies, 514 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 1: monitoring who her friends are waiting up at night when 515 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:19,520 Speaker 1: she's out doing who knows what. 516 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:22,480 Speaker 3: That's what I said. I was right. 517 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:25,680 Speaker 1: Meanwhile, because you are not her parent, she will laugh 518 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 1: in your face if you try to assert any authority 519 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:29,879 Speaker 1: over her, which why would you, and you'll get the 520 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 1: blame if she messes up. No, it's far too big 521 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 1: of a responsibility, even if you wouldn't have to make 522 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:38,800 Speaker 1: big changes to your own life. Who accommodate the request? 523 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 1: Op replies Once Ali left, Dad and his ex side 524 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 1: chick told me they've already told her she'll have to 525 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 1: act super nice and respectful for me to agree to 526 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:51,800 Speaker 1: take her in, So I guess me saying no was 527 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:54,879 Speaker 1: a bit of a blow. She was apparently even saving 528 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:56,959 Speaker 1: up money so she can help with the bills. Although 529 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:59,199 Speaker 1: I must say my dad likes to fluff up his 530 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:01,960 Speaker 1: statements so they sound better, so maybe he was lying. 531 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:04,760 Speaker 1: I don't know. Still pretty fed up of them to 532 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:07,480 Speaker 1: act like I'll agree to this to taking care of 533 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 1: this kid. Comment two would you consider going load to 534 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:12,359 Speaker 1: no contact, even just for a few months until the 535 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:14,639 Speaker 1: school year starts. I wouldn't be surprised if they just 536 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:17,200 Speaker 1: showed up and dumped Ali at your front door. I'd 537 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 1: get a door camera and change the locks if they 538 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:23,240 Speaker 1: have any sets of keys, not the a hole. Opie says, 539 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 1: they don't have the keys luckily, and I'll have to 540 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 1: ask my landlord about door cameras. Thank you for the suggestion. 541 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:32,400 Speaker 1: I didn't even think about them. Breaking in Comment three 542 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:34,359 Speaker 1: says I would have said no from the get go. 543 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:37,880 Speaker 1: And these family dinners with both partners give me the creeps. 544 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:40,680 Speaker 1: Opie says, Oh my god, you have no idea. Ali 545 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:43,159 Speaker 1: and Ali's mom aren't invited over every time, but when 546 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:46,160 Speaker 1: they are, we meaning me and my brother, get either 547 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:48,840 Speaker 1: no warning or a warning five minutes before we get there. 548 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 1: Maybe they're forgetful, but I also wouldn't put it above 549 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:54,719 Speaker 1: them to do this intentionally. They know I hate Ali's 550 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:58,600 Speaker 1: mom and feel very ambivalent about Ali herself, so I 551 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:01,919 Speaker 1: wouldn't attend if I knew forehand. My parents' house has 552 00:24:01,960 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 1: two extra bedrooms, and Ali's mom sometimes sleep there. It's 553 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 1: so effing weird. They don't sleep there often, if my 554 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:11,480 Speaker 1: parents are to be believed, And it's so shocking my 555 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 1: mom went from a proud, headstrong woman to being a 556 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:16,840 Speaker 1: borderline side chicken plain sight under her own roof. 557 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:20,320 Speaker 3: Ooh, I don't even that's ouch. 558 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:23,680 Speaker 1: It's it's kind of cathartic to let all this out. 559 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 1: Only my friend who I live with, sees my point. 560 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:29,120 Speaker 1: Others excuse it or outright call me the a hole, 561 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: not to mention how fine my brother seems with everything. 562 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:34,159 Speaker 1: One Sunday, I walked in and saw Ali's mom in 563 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 1: a towel and brushing her teeth, and I just left. Yeah, 564 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:39,680 Speaker 1: I think you need help working through this, honestly. 565 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 3: And also, they clearly don't have any boundaries. The problem 566 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:46,119 Speaker 3: is that none of this is Ali's fault, but none 567 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 3: of the adults, the other adults in your life, have 568 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:52,920 Speaker 3: learned anything from this whole scenario. Yeah, they still all 569 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 3: suck And like, Ali's a child, it's not her fault. 570 00:24:56,560 --> 00:24:59,400 Speaker 3: You were the had to deal with this at fourteen, 571 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:04,240 Speaker 3: your fault, but you're still dealing with that, like anger 572 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 3: and frustration from you know, your dad, and your dad's 573 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:12,120 Speaker 3: a fair partner and your mom. Uh, and it's all 574 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:12,840 Speaker 3: going on Alley. 575 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:16,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, and like others, it's like it sounds like a 576 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:18,160 Speaker 1: little bit on your brother too, And like why isn't 577 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:21,159 Speaker 1: my brother more upset? And it's like I don't know, Yeah, 578 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:24,359 Speaker 1: maybe he doesn't want to be you know, Yeah, Sam, 579 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:26,479 Speaker 1: here og host where you get back to these stories. 580 00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:29,399 Speaker 3: But here's three minutes fads from our sponsors. First, I 581 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:32,800 Speaker 3: skipped my brother's wedding because I wasn't invited to the 582 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 3: engagement party. 583 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:36,280 Speaker 1: Well that's interesting. 584 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:39,679 Speaker 3: I twenty eight male, have a twin brother. Growing up, 585 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 3: we were inseparable, and until recently I thought we were 586 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:45,359 Speaker 3: still very close. I was always more of a shy 587 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:48,080 Speaker 3: nerd and he was an extrovert that played sports throughout 588 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 3: our childhood and high school. But we spent almost all 589 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:53,879 Speaker 3: of our time together by choice. By the way, this 590 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:56,879 Speaker 3: comes from the Juggernaut Slow four two one three, and 591 00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:58,520 Speaker 3: if you want to submit your own stories, go to 592 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:02,080 Speaker 3: the r slash Okay story times up. So we went 593 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:05,399 Speaker 3: our separate ways when college came. He stayed local in 594 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:08,920 Speaker 3: Arizona and I went to college in Portland. When I graduated, 595 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:11,439 Speaker 3: I stayed there because I fell in love with the city. 596 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:15,160 Speaker 3: My friends are here, my professional networks from internships were here, 597 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:19,920 Speaker 3: et cetera. But I always flew back home for holidays, events, birthdays, 598 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:22,760 Speaker 3: et cetera. My brother announced on Instagram that he and 599 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:27,639 Speaker 3: his girlfriend of three years got engaged. I was incredibly happy. 600 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 3: For him and texted him congrats. He mentioned they were 601 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 3: planning to have an engagement party in six to eight weeks, 602 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:35,639 Speaker 3: and I told them to let me know so I 603 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:38,680 Speaker 3: can book a flight to come celebrate. I was never 604 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:41,200 Speaker 3: told a date. If I brought it up with him 605 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:44,399 Speaker 3: or anyone in my family, they'd changed the subject or 606 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:47,680 Speaker 3: say it's still being planned and confirmed. After a few weeks, 607 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:50,399 Speaker 3: I texted my brother to ask about the date, because 608 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:52,159 Speaker 3: it must be getting close and I don't want to 609 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:55,639 Speaker 3: pay for a last minute flight. No response. I asked 610 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:57,760 Speaker 3: my mom for details, and she said it's not really 611 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:01,000 Speaker 3: an engagement party, just a small dinner with ban There's 612 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 3: no need to come down for it. Oh he is family, 613 00:27:04,119 --> 00:27:07,960 Speaker 3: that's that's that's her brother. I eventually found out that 614 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:11,800 Speaker 3: it was in fact a big party. They rented out 615 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:15,880 Speaker 3: an entire restaurant for four hours and there were about 616 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:18,320 Speaker 3: eighty guests day. 617 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:23,040 Speaker 1: That's not time. I also Riley had to pee. 618 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 3: Oh Tinkleman, every old family, friends, cousins, everyone. 619 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:31,240 Speaker 1: So to be fair, this is now makes a lot 620 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 1: more sense why you would skip the wedding because you 621 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:34,920 Speaker 1: didn't go to the engagement party because they lied to 622 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:35,399 Speaker 1: you about it. 623 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 3: They lied, they lied. Yeah, ah boy, everyone was told 624 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:43,919 Speaker 3: I couldn't make it. My aunt, who was like a 625 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:46,240 Speaker 3: second mother to me, texted me that she was very 626 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 3: disappointed I couldn't make time to join, and I replied 627 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:53,240 Speaker 3: that I would have happily come, but I was not invited. 628 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:54,200 Speaker 5: Yeah. 629 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:58,679 Speaker 3: Words spread quickly about my snub, and my parents and 630 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 3: brother tried to say it was just a misunderstanding. Oh, 631 00:28:02,359 --> 00:28:04,360 Speaker 3: because you because you asked about it. You said, hey, 632 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:07,760 Speaker 3: is there a party happening? And they said no, no, no, no, no, no, no, 633 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:08,800 Speaker 3: it's it's nothing. 634 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:11,280 Speaker 1: Don't come, do not come. Yeah. 635 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:14,840 Speaker 3: That was almost over a year ago. Since then, I've 636 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:17,639 Speaker 3: tried to get to the bottom of why I wasn't invited. 637 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:20,399 Speaker 3: Over the course of months, it went from it was 638 00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:23,400 Speaker 3: just meant to be a small gathering to I don't 639 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:26,440 Speaker 3: know what happened. There must have been a miscommunication, to 640 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 3: it's just a party, it's no big deal. I asked 641 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:32,040 Speaker 3: my brother if he was mad at I thought maybe 642 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:34,639 Speaker 3: his fiance didn't like me. Even if she or he 643 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 3: didn't want me there. Why were my parents okay with this? 644 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:41,480 Speaker 3: This really wasn't like them. Christmas and Easter was as 645 00:28:41,560 --> 00:28:45,120 Speaker 3: awkward as heck, because no one but me wanted to 646 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:48,520 Speaker 3: address the elephant in the room, and any conversation about 647 00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:50,680 Speaker 3: anything was like small talk with strangers. 648 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:54,280 Speaker 1: Come on, man, like really like you literally go out 649 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:55,880 Speaker 1: of your way to be like, don't even come down. 650 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:57,959 Speaker 1: She's a small thing. You lied because you were like, 651 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:00,040 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't want to tell you that, but 652 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 1: it's a big thing that you're the only one basically 653 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:03,760 Speaker 1: being excluded from. So I'm gonna lie to you and 654 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 1: say that it's not anything. 655 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:07,680 Speaker 3: So I hope he's like, I just want to talk 656 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:09,920 Speaker 3: about it. I literally just want to talk about it. 657 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 3: If you were mad at me, just tell me. 658 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:12,959 Speaker 1: I want to get to the bottom of this. 659 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:16,800 Speaker 3: Why when I visited in May for my sister's birthday, 660 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:19,720 Speaker 3: I left early after my sister said, you moved so 661 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:22,080 Speaker 3: far away, it's like you're not really family anymore. 662 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:23,320 Speaker 5: Huh. 663 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 1: That's crazy. 664 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 2: Huh. 665 00:29:24,880 --> 00:29:28,400 Speaker 1: I didn't know there was a physical distance attached to 666 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:30,719 Speaker 1: literal family ties. 667 00:29:31,360 --> 00:29:34,560 Speaker 3: You make everything feels so weird. Now. Nine months ago 668 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:36,800 Speaker 3: I got the Save the Data announcement, and six months 669 00:29:36,840 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 3: ago I got the invitation to the wedding. I wasn't 670 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:42,400 Speaker 3: asked to be in the wedding party, which is fine 671 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:45,600 Speaker 3: and wasn't surprising at the point. My sister and younger 672 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:47,360 Speaker 3: brother were asked to be in the wedding or in 673 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:50,400 Speaker 3: the wedding party, so another snub. I also didn't get 674 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:52,479 Speaker 3: a plus one for my girlfriend I've been seeing for 675 00:29:52,520 --> 00:29:55,760 Speaker 3: almost a year and a half. My sister, however, got 676 00:29:55,760 --> 00:30:00,040 Speaker 3: a plus one for her friends with benefits well, so 677 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:03,880 Speaker 3: so I decided I wasn't welcome and I was probably 678 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:07,080 Speaker 3: only invited for optics and to play happy family. I 679 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:09,880 Speaker 3: did an RSVP no, since I knew that would cause 680 00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:12,920 Speaker 3: a crap show, I just didn't go. The wedding was 681 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:16,080 Speaker 3: this past weekend. No one contacted me about missing the 682 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:17,960 Speaker 3: rehearsal dinner, so I guess even if I did go, 683 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:20,920 Speaker 3: I wasn't invited to that either or expected to be there. 684 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 3: I started getting calls and texts about an hour before 685 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:27,320 Speaker 3: the ceremony, asking where I was, if my flight was delayed, 686 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:30,440 Speaker 3: how far along I will be, et cetera, and I 687 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:33,360 Speaker 3: ignored them. They stopped for a while during the ceremony, 688 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:36,160 Speaker 3: but started up again right after. I finally picked up 689 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 3: my mom's call, and she screamed, where the heck are you? 690 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:43,440 Speaker 3: In reply, I said, in Portland, where you all preferred 691 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:45,920 Speaker 3: me to be. You said, this is your brother's wedding out. 692 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:49,480 Speaker 3: Get you, I'm barrathat, I answered, just a party. It's 693 00:30:49,560 --> 00:30:50,880 Speaker 3: no big deal, right. 694 00:30:51,280 --> 00:30:53,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean you soak it up. 695 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:56,720 Speaker 3: It was get up, probably the first time in my life. 696 00:30:56,760 --> 00:31:00,360 Speaker 3: My mother was speechless. A few seconds of sight Islands. 697 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:03,000 Speaker 3: I said, tell everyone, I said, hi, and I hung up. 698 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:05,720 Speaker 3: Now I'm getting calls and texts from everyone saying I 699 00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:08,640 Speaker 3: was being petty and ruined the day. So am I 700 00:31:08,760 --> 00:31:11,280 Speaker 3: the ale here? I feel like I'm just matching their 701 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:14,880 Speaker 3: energy and dropping the rope in census not the Ale, 702 00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:17,640 Speaker 3: so much so that I had to dig for the 703 00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 3: your the Ale comments, which mostly consisted of the fact 704 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:23,000 Speaker 3: that it's poor formed not RSVP, or that OPI must 705 00:31:23,040 --> 00:31:27,280 Speaker 3: have excluded some vital information to make themselves look innocent. Uh. 706 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:29,480 Speaker 3: And we've got some more comments by OP. But do 707 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:30,360 Speaker 3: you have any thoughts? 708 00:31:30,560 --> 00:31:34,560 Speaker 1: Yeah? I mean the engagement party being like lied about 709 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:37,040 Speaker 1: is fun. Like I just want to know whose ideas? 710 00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 1: Whose point is this? 711 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:38,280 Speaker 3: Yeah? 712 00:31:38,520 --> 00:31:41,960 Speaker 1: Is it like your brother's Beyonce who doesn't like you? 713 00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 1: Is it your brother? Like? Why? Like, why can't anyone 714 00:31:44,960 --> 00:31:47,040 Speaker 1: just like tell you what was up? Is there? 715 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:49,880 Speaker 3: Something seems like they really don't care about you being 716 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:52,640 Speaker 3: on any of these things. They just don't like when 717 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:53,440 Speaker 3: people call. 718 00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:55,000 Speaker 1: Them out for you not being It's like, how far 719 00:31:55,040 --> 00:31:57,920 Speaker 1: away is Portland from where they are. It's a flight 720 00:31:57,960 --> 00:32:02,200 Speaker 1: away for the engagement dinner. It's like I can see being. 721 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:05,120 Speaker 3: Like invited and then to say it's going to be 722 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:05,800 Speaker 3: a small thing. 723 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:09,320 Speaker 1: True, but it's like that can also come from like 724 00:32:09,840 --> 00:32:10,960 Speaker 1: we don't want to make you feel like you have 725 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,160 Speaker 1: to buy a plane ticket to get to go to dinner, 726 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:14,800 Speaker 1: and also we don't want to make you feel like 727 00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:16,920 Speaker 1: you're missing out. So I'm gonna tell you it's small 728 00:32:16,920 --> 00:32:20,600 Speaker 1: because there's literally no communication going on here. There is 729 00:32:20,640 --> 00:32:23,480 Speaker 1: no way to know what the intent was. And until 730 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:26,280 Speaker 1: I knew that intent, I probably wouldn't have gone out 731 00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:28,080 Speaker 1: of my way to like because you know, I know 732 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:29,720 Speaker 1: you're like, I didn't want a RVP no because it 733 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:31,920 Speaker 1: be a crap show, but you knew you weren't gonna 734 00:32:31,920 --> 00:32:33,440 Speaker 1: show up, and you knew it would be a crap 735 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:37,920 Speaker 1: show regardless, So I think I would have dug way harder. 736 00:32:38,040 --> 00:32:39,760 Speaker 1: I would not have let them get away with no, 737 00:32:39,840 --> 00:32:41,360 Speaker 1: what are you talking about? I'd be like, just let 738 00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:44,200 Speaker 1: be what's going on? And if they told me like, yeah, 739 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:46,280 Speaker 1: we just didn't want you to feel like you had 740 00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:48,800 Speaker 1: to be there because it's like we didn't want to 741 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:52,680 Speaker 1: feel like we were forcing you, then you know, then 742 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:56,400 Speaker 1: that's that. I don't know. It's hard. I why would 743 00:32:56,400 --> 00:32:58,160 Speaker 1: they be so malicious? That's what I would That's what 744 00:32:58,200 --> 00:32:58,680 Speaker 1: I need to know. 745 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:00,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, and that's I think what is wondering. 746 00:33:02,440 --> 00:33:02,640 Speaker 1: This? 747 00:33:03,040 --> 00:33:05,640 Speaker 3: Sorry some of the comments by ope. I really do 748 00:33:05,720 --> 00:33:07,520 Speaker 3: feel like they've been icing me out for at least 749 00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 3: the past year, probably started long before that, but I 750 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:14,040 Speaker 3: just didn't realize it. Honestly, I was gonna suggest family therapy, 751 00:33:14,080 --> 00:33:16,080 Speaker 3: but I'm not sure that'll even work or if I 752 00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:19,160 Speaker 3: want anything out of that. Thinking about the last few years, 753 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:22,200 Speaker 3: it feels like any contact was always initiated by me. 754 00:33:22,720 --> 00:33:24,880 Speaker 3: The flights aren't very long, two and a half hours, 755 00:33:24,920 --> 00:33:28,080 Speaker 3: and between holidays and birthdays and other celebrations, I'm back 756 00:33:28,120 --> 00:33:30,680 Speaker 3: in Phoenix almost every month. So it's Portland to Phoenix. 757 00:33:30,760 --> 00:33:32,160 Speaker 1: OK, Yes, that's not that far. 758 00:33:32,480 --> 00:33:35,200 Speaker 3: That's not far enough to be wet, that's not far 759 00:33:35,320 --> 00:33:37,239 Speaker 3: enough to be like, Oh, I didn't want to bother you. 760 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:39,520 Speaker 3: It's not like I moved to another country and they 761 00:33:39,520 --> 00:33:42,800 Speaker 3: haven't seen me in the years. If anyone was just like, hey, 762 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:45,040 Speaker 3: it feels like we've lost touch. So just to heads up, 763 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:48,120 Speaker 3: you may not be as involved as others would have been. Fine, 764 00:33:48,640 --> 00:33:50,680 Speaker 3: you were only reinvited to the wedding so you could 765 00:33:50,760 --> 00:33:54,080 Speaker 3: sit there like a prop while everyone clink glasses and 766 00:33:54,120 --> 00:33:58,400 Speaker 3: said look at our perfect family, says one user, and 767 00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:00,840 Speaker 3: OPI says one of my cousins who on my side, 768 00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:03,240 Speaker 3: actually told me that I wasn't even placed at the 769 00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:07,200 Speaker 3: family table because there wasn't any room to fit me 770 00:34:07,280 --> 00:34:09,239 Speaker 3: in there. So even if I went, I would have 771 00:34:09,239 --> 00:34:13,000 Speaker 3: been some random guest. My extended family on both sides 772 00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:15,160 Speaker 3: are no more than a thirty minute drive away from 773 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:17,959 Speaker 3: each other. I was expected to come back home after 774 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:20,400 Speaker 3: I graduated, and the guilt trips when I told everyone 775 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:23,759 Speaker 3: I was staying where I established myself almost made me 776 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:26,920 Speaker 3: change my mind and moved back. I always thought we 777 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:30,279 Speaker 3: stayed close. You'd visit me about every year for a 778 00:34:30,280 --> 00:34:32,840 Speaker 3: week since I graduated. We may not have chatted or 779 00:34:32,840 --> 00:34:36,000 Speaker 3: texted every day, but we kept each other abreast of 780 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:38,760 Speaker 3: what's going on in our lives. We may not text 781 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:40,640 Speaker 3: for two to three weeks, but when we did there'd 782 00:34:40,640 --> 00:34:43,320 Speaker 3: be an hour of texting back and forth and inside jokes. 783 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:46,080 Speaker 3: I traveled back home about ten times a year, so 784 00:34:46,160 --> 00:34:47,799 Speaker 3: I met his now wife, and I thought we got 785 00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:50,160 Speaker 3: along too. No change in politics, as far as I 786 00:34:50,200 --> 00:34:53,600 Speaker 3: can tell, no magazation or anything like that. My dad 787 00:34:53,640 --> 00:34:56,240 Speaker 3: is a lifelong Republican, my mama Democrat, and my siblings 788 00:34:56,280 --> 00:34:59,320 Speaker 3: and I are all still pretty liberal. No real change there, 789 00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:03,040 Speaker 3: and no shit I've noted from any post on social media. 790 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:06,640 Speaker 3: My brother has visited about five times. My sister lived 791 00:35:06,640 --> 00:35:09,600 Speaker 3: with me one summer for an internship. Yere my cousin, 792 00:35:09,640 --> 00:35:11,879 Speaker 3: who is totally on my side, live with me and 793 00:35:11,920 --> 00:35:14,160 Speaker 3: two of my friends in a four bedroom, of course, 794 00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:17,000 Speaker 3: for two years after she transferred to the college I 795 00:35:17,040 --> 00:35:20,320 Speaker 3: went to and finished her degree here. My parents visited 796 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:23,480 Speaker 3: twice during college, and my little brother has no interest. 797 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:27,240 Speaker 3: Went to a party school, but seized get degrees. From 798 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:29,120 Speaker 3: what I know, he likes his job and makes a 799 00:35:29,120 --> 00:35:32,480 Speaker 3: decent wage. I make a surprisingly good wage which allows 800 00:35:32,520 --> 00:35:35,680 Speaker 3: me to visit home regularly, or allowed me to visit 801 00:35:35,719 --> 00:35:38,360 Speaker 3: home often. But I doubt I'll be traveling there anytime 802 00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:42,000 Speaker 3: in an air in the near future. I definitely didn't 803 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:45,040 Speaker 3: bully him. He would have whooped my butt. No change 804 00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:47,440 Speaker 3: in politics from what I could see. Literally everyone in 805 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:50,880 Speaker 3: my family, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins live a thirty 806 00:35:50,920 --> 00:35:54,560 Speaker 3: minute drive from each other. I'm the only one that's 807 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:58,040 Speaker 3: moved away, but I visit almost on a monthly basis 808 00:35:58,080 --> 00:36:00,799 Speaker 3: to keep connected. I probably make the most of all 809 00:36:00,840 --> 00:36:04,160 Speaker 3: my siblings. So I've gifted money in the past, mostly 810 00:36:04,200 --> 00:36:06,240 Speaker 3: because I know it's a waste to loan to family. 811 00:36:06,520 --> 00:36:08,600 Speaker 3: I feel like I give one hundred and ten percent 812 00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:10,759 Speaker 3: to receive seventy percent back. 813 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:13,560 Speaker 1: You're in an unwinnable situation. I'm starting to see it now. 814 00:36:13,719 --> 00:36:13,919 Speaker 3: Yep. 815 00:36:14,120 --> 00:36:16,920 Speaker 1: It's like you go to Portland and you come visit 816 00:36:17,080 --> 00:36:19,600 Speaker 1: and you bring your big Portland money, and they're like, oh, 817 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:22,000 Speaker 1: big Portland man thinks she's so much better than us 818 00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:22,719 Speaker 1: with Portland money. 819 00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:24,240 Speaker 3: He wouldn't stay in Arizona. 820 00:36:24,280 --> 00:36:26,279 Speaker 1: If you didn't do that and you just stayed in 821 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:29,000 Speaker 1: portlandly they'd be like, oh, big Portland boys too to 822 00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:32,320 Speaker 1: get to go see his family with his Portland Portland vibe. 823 00:36:32,360 --> 00:36:36,960 Speaker 3: Doesn't share his Portland money, just stay in Portland, Richie 824 00:36:37,040 --> 00:36:40,280 Speaker 3: rich My last visit was in May for my sister's birthday. 825 00:36:40,520 --> 00:36:42,840 Speaker 3: I will not be visiting until after a few weeks 826 00:36:42,880 --> 00:36:45,719 Speaker 3: after my cousin, whom I'm still close to, gives birth 827 00:36:45,719 --> 00:36:48,640 Speaker 3: in January, and even then it'll probably just be to 828 00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:52,880 Speaker 3: see her only about Opie's partner. Honestly, my family loves her, 829 00:36:53,040 --> 00:36:55,080 Speaker 3: or at least they say they do. He came with 830 00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:57,439 Speaker 3: me for Christmas, and my mother pulled me aside and said, 831 00:36:57,480 --> 00:36:59,920 Speaker 3: I finally found someone who can put up with me 832 00:37:00,080 --> 00:37:01,800 Speaker 3: and she can stop worrying about my future. 833 00:37:01,840 --> 00:37:04,520 Speaker 1: Now. Oh, okay, that's a weird way to put that, 834 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:06,840 Speaker 1: I guess, but it could be cute if you're being cheeky. 835 00:37:07,239 --> 00:37:10,319 Speaker 3: My girlfriend was cool with there being no plus one 836 00:37:10,440 --> 00:37:12,600 Speaker 3: and said it's getting more common to only give plus 837 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:15,640 Speaker 3: ones to engaged or married couples since the bride and 838 00:37:15,680 --> 00:37:17,920 Speaker 3: groom don't want some rando they never see again and 839 00:37:17,920 --> 00:37:21,160 Speaker 3: their photos if the relationship doesn't work out, like the 840 00:37:21,239 --> 00:37:25,600 Speaker 3: friends with benefit. Yeah, engagement and marriages sometimes don't work 841 00:37:25,600 --> 00:37:27,640 Speaker 3: out either. But then she found out my sister got 842 00:37:27,640 --> 00:37:29,640 Speaker 3: a plus one for her f boy and there is 843 00:37:29,680 --> 00:37:32,920 Speaker 3: an update, folks, I have no idea I mean, the 844 00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:35,120 Speaker 3: only thing I can think of is that he moved 845 00:37:35,120 --> 00:37:36,920 Speaker 3: away and they hate him for that, moved. 846 00:37:36,640 --> 00:37:38,560 Speaker 1: Away, makes a lot of money, hates him for it. 847 00:37:38,680 --> 00:37:41,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, but there is an update one week later. Thank 848 00:37:41,719 --> 00:37:44,400 Speaker 3: you to everyone who responded to my last post. I 849 00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:47,000 Speaker 3: can't believe how many replies it got, and I'm trying 850 00:37:47,040 --> 00:37:50,040 Speaker 3: to keep up, but couldn't. I also thought it'd be 851 00:37:50,120 --> 00:37:52,160 Speaker 3: fifty to fifty, not the Ale and you're the Ale, 852 00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:54,000 Speaker 3: because I know what I did was a bit petty 853 00:37:54,520 --> 00:37:57,120 Speaker 3: to the people who said you're the Ale. I understand 854 00:37:57,200 --> 00:38:00,719 Speaker 3: your reasons. Yes, it was cowardly to not are to 855 00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:03,920 Speaker 3: avoid drama, but looking back, I was in a headspace 856 00:38:03,960 --> 00:38:06,480 Speaker 3: where I just caved the guilt if I RSVP'd that 857 00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:09,239 Speaker 3: I wasn't planning to attend. Also, a little part of 858 00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:12,680 Speaker 3: me was hoping they'd realize I didn't RSVP and they 859 00:38:12,800 --> 00:38:15,160 Speaker 3: tell me they want me to come. But every day 860 00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:18,319 Speaker 3: that passed between the RSVP date and the wedding, I 861 00:38:18,360 --> 00:38:20,600 Speaker 3: got angrier and more hurt, and I wanted to make 862 00:38:20,600 --> 00:38:22,160 Speaker 3: it clear in a big way that if they don't 863 00:38:22,160 --> 00:38:25,000 Speaker 3: want me around, I don't have to be around. And 864 00:38:25,080 --> 00:38:28,080 Speaker 3: I get that's an a whole move. I had a 865 00:38:28,160 --> 00:38:30,719 Speaker 3: long phone call with my aunt and cousin last night 866 00:38:30,760 --> 00:38:34,120 Speaker 3: about the wedding drama. They have given me some more info, 867 00:38:34,280 --> 00:38:36,880 Speaker 3: and our suspicions are a bit of conjecture based on 868 00:38:36,920 --> 00:38:39,640 Speaker 3: what we know and what we've heard. But here it goes. 869 00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:42,600 Speaker 3: We really do think my mother felt I rejected them 870 00:38:42,680 --> 00:38:46,279 Speaker 3: when I didn't move back after graduating. This is despite 871 00:38:46,440 --> 00:38:50,400 Speaker 3: always coming home for my brother and sisters, graduation, all birthdays, 872 00:38:50,640 --> 00:38:55,760 Speaker 3: mine and immediate families, holidays, special events, etc. I practically 873 00:38:55,840 --> 00:38:59,080 Speaker 3: visit on a monthly basis. But despite this, we think 874 00:38:59,080 --> 00:39:01,720 Speaker 3: that she has some weird vendetta against me for splitting 875 00:39:01,760 --> 00:39:05,040 Speaker 3: up her family and being an example to my siblings 876 00:39:05,040 --> 00:39:06,560 Speaker 3: that they don't have to stay local. 877 00:39:06,640 --> 00:39:09,040 Speaker 1: They don't though you don't. 878 00:39:09,360 --> 00:39:13,520 Speaker 3: Even worse, somehow, visiting so often made my mother resentful, 879 00:39:13,640 --> 00:39:17,120 Speaker 3: because my aunt mentioned that my mother once told her 880 00:39:17,160 --> 00:39:19,480 Speaker 3: a few years ago that I was launting my wealth 881 00:39:19,520 --> 00:39:21,520 Speaker 3: by showing I could visit so often. 882 00:39:21,600 --> 00:39:24,879 Speaker 1: Yes, see Dad, she said, yeah. 883 00:39:24,920 --> 00:39:28,680 Speaker 3: Thanks to my senior year internship, I went immediately into 884 00:39:28,760 --> 00:39:31,719 Speaker 3: a field where progression can be quick, and thanks to 885 00:39:31,760 --> 00:39:35,200 Speaker 3: going back for a very specialized master's degree, I am 886 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:38,080 Speaker 3: in a very niche space within that field and was 887 00:39:38,120 --> 00:39:40,920 Speaker 3: able to move up faster. I'm not bragging. It was 888 00:39:41,000 --> 00:39:45,400 Speaker 3: just luck, connections and a great mentor. Early on, people 889 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:48,520 Speaker 3: suggested my brother might be jealous he does earn less, 890 00:39:48,560 --> 00:39:50,560 Speaker 3: but as far as I know, he loves his job. 891 00:39:50,960 --> 00:39:54,840 Speaker 3: It just doesn't have the same career progression. Honestly, his 892 00:39:54,960 --> 00:39:57,040 Speaker 3: job is much more exciting than mine, and I'm sure 893 00:39:57,040 --> 00:40:00,080 Speaker 3: it fulfills him a lot. My job isn't terrible. Well, 894 00:40:00,120 --> 00:40:02,480 Speaker 3: it's just not one anyone wants to hear work stories 895 00:40:02,480 --> 00:40:03,479 Speaker 3: about at a dinner party. 896 00:40:03,560 --> 00:40:03,880 Speaker 6: Lol. 897 00:40:04,320 --> 00:40:07,600 Speaker 3: I was also flaunting my money by gifting family money 898 00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:11,160 Speaker 3: when they needed it. My grandfather often said, never loan 899 00:40:11,239 --> 00:40:13,560 Speaker 3: family money. Give it freely if you want to, but 900 00:40:13,640 --> 00:40:16,799 Speaker 3: you'll destroy relationships when you start asking for repayment. I 901 00:40:16,840 --> 00:40:19,719 Speaker 3: think that's actually very smart. That's a very smart thing 902 00:40:19,760 --> 00:40:20,120 Speaker 3: to say. 903 00:40:20,280 --> 00:40:24,239 Speaker 1: Money will definitely money is a way that money will 904 00:40:24,239 --> 00:40:25,359 Speaker 1: blow anything up. Dude. 905 00:40:25,520 --> 00:40:28,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think loans are very tricky, tricky tricky. 906 00:40:28,560 --> 00:40:29,279 Speaker 1: Yeah. 907 00:40:29,440 --> 00:40:31,920 Speaker 3: Not a week of Judge Uty reruns goes by without 908 00:40:31,920 --> 00:40:35,000 Speaker 3: proving that true. So when I could, I gifted my 909 00:40:35,040 --> 00:40:38,080 Speaker 3: family money when they needed it, money for car repairs, 910 00:40:38,160 --> 00:40:40,799 Speaker 3: money to help with my parents' mortgage, when my dad 911 00:40:40,880 --> 00:40:42,960 Speaker 3: was out of work, during the VID money, when my 912 00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:46,600 Speaker 3: brother ran out halfway through his kitchen renovations, and until 913 00:40:46,680 --> 00:40:50,080 Speaker 3: last night, my parents internet and Disney Plus bills. But 914 00:40:50,120 --> 00:40:53,719 Speaker 3: I've now canceled the monthly auto payments. Again, this was 915 00:40:53,760 --> 00:40:57,839 Speaker 3: me flunting my success. But they never stopped asking either. 916 00:40:58,160 --> 00:41:00,040 Speaker 1: Yeah. That's the crazy part is it's like. 917 00:41:00,440 --> 00:41:02,600 Speaker 3: Okay, so yeah, this is this is why they're saying. 918 00:41:03,120 --> 00:41:06,160 Speaker 1: So it was literally exactly, You're in this unwinnable position 919 00:41:06,200 --> 00:41:08,480 Speaker 1: where it's no matter what you do, you're either flawning 920 00:41:08,520 --> 00:41:11,319 Speaker 1: your wealth or you feel like you're too good to 921 00:41:11,480 --> 00:41:14,719 Speaker 1: even help them. So this is not this is a 922 00:41:14,760 --> 00:41:16,320 Speaker 1: them problem, not a you problem. 923 00:41:16,400 --> 00:41:19,520 Speaker 3: Nope. My aunt and cousin also said they've heard lots 924 00:41:19,560 --> 00:41:23,280 Speaker 3: of passive aggressive comments about me over the years, first 925 00:41:23,320 --> 00:41:25,560 Speaker 3: from my mother during the first few years after I 926 00:41:25,640 --> 00:41:28,800 Speaker 3: decided to stay in Portland, and then eventually from my siblings. 927 00:41:29,200 --> 00:41:31,800 Speaker 3: We're pretty sure my mother slowly poisoned them against me, 928 00:41:31,840 --> 00:41:34,440 Speaker 3: if for not moving back home and showing what happens 929 00:41:34,520 --> 00:41:37,880 Speaker 3: if they ever tried to move away. Someone said this 930 00:41:37,960 --> 00:41:40,520 Speaker 3: about my mother meeting my girlfriend in my previous post. 931 00:41:41,080 --> 00:41:43,760 Speaker 3: Be honest, given the context of everything else that's happened. 932 00:41:44,160 --> 00:41:46,839 Speaker 3: What your mother said here about finally finding someone who 933 00:41:46,880 --> 00:41:49,640 Speaker 3: can put up with you sounds less like a tongue 934 00:41:49,640 --> 00:41:52,640 Speaker 3: in cheek joke and more like a not so subtle barb. 935 00:41:52,840 --> 00:41:53,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's what I was thinking. 936 00:41:53,960 --> 00:41:54,320 Speaker 2: It's like this. 937 00:41:54,880 --> 00:41:56,360 Speaker 1: It's a weird way to put that. 938 00:41:56,760 --> 00:41:59,520 Speaker 3: Yep, I see it now. I laughed it off as 939 00:41:59,640 --> 00:42:03,360 Speaker 3: just my but I now also see that these passive 940 00:42:03,360 --> 00:42:07,560 Speaker 3: aggressive comments to me to my siblings over years was 941 00:42:07,640 --> 00:42:10,880 Speaker 3: subtle manipulation to turn them against me and for me 942 00:42:10,960 --> 00:42:13,640 Speaker 3: to learn to accept it. A lot of people suggested 943 00:42:13,640 --> 00:42:15,640 Speaker 3: this treatment was to get me to move back home 944 00:42:15,680 --> 00:42:18,360 Speaker 3: and to punish me for leaving. But I'm not gonna 945 00:42:18,360 --> 00:42:21,040 Speaker 3: come home to embrace treatment like this and hope it 946 00:42:21,080 --> 00:42:24,120 Speaker 3: goes away now that they got their way, especially when 947 00:42:24,120 --> 00:42:26,640 Speaker 3: it's been too ingrained in them by now. It also 948 00:42:26,640 --> 00:42:29,920 Speaker 3: explains by for the past few years, almost every conversation 949 00:42:30,040 --> 00:42:33,320 Speaker 3: is initiated by me. They simply don't like me anymore 950 00:42:33,360 --> 00:42:36,080 Speaker 3: and don't need me until they need or want something. 951 00:42:36,239 --> 00:42:39,320 Speaker 3: My cousin also learned from another cousin that my brother 952 00:42:39,440 --> 00:42:42,480 Speaker 3: shot himself in the foot when he mentioned the engagement party. 953 00:42:42,880 --> 00:42:45,560 Speaker 3: I wasn't supposed to know at all. The plan was 954 00:42:45,600 --> 00:42:47,799 Speaker 3: to tell everyone I couldn't make it and hope i'd 955 00:42:47,840 --> 00:42:52,839 Speaker 3: never find out. My brother told that cousin that I 956 00:42:52,880 --> 00:42:55,120 Speaker 3: wasn't supposed to find out about it, but after he 957 00:42:55,200 --> 00:42:58,120 Speaker 3: let it slip, I wouldn't shut up about asking to come. 958 00:42:58,360 --> 00:43:00,200 Speaker 3: Based on how they've been talking about me for a 959 00:43:00,239 --> 00:43:02,799 Speaker 3: couple of years, lots of extended family thinks I'm some 960 00:43:02,880 --> 00:43:06,719 Speaker 3: annoying loser who makes my too often visits miserable for 961 00:43:06,840 --> 00:43:10,320 Speaker 3: my family, and I can't get the hint to f off, 962 00:43:10,760 --> 00:43:14,000 Speaker 3: so I'm finally effing off. I'm sorry. Anybody in your 963 00:43:14,080 --> 00:43:16,920 Speaker 3: family who's hearing this of like, oh, he's so annoying 964 00:43:16,960 --> 00:43:21,359 Speaker 3: loser who comes He's crazy? You are family. I don't 965 00:43:21,400 --> 00:43:24,520 Speaker 3: care if you're you were annoying your family. You can't 966 00:43:24,520 --> 00:43:29,000 Speaker 3: get the hint to f off your family unless they 967 00:43:29,040 --> 00:43:33,520 Speaker 3: have definitive proof that you're stealing money or awful person 968 00:43:34,280 --> 00:43:37,319 Speaker 3: your If I heard that, I'd be like, you want 969 00:43:37,360 --> 00:43:39,000 Speaker 3: your brother to f off? 970 00:43:39,480 --> 00:43:41,680 Speaker 1: Like he won't take the hint. It's like, well, because 971 00:43:41,719 --> 00:43:44,479 Speaker 1: you're too scared to tell me to f off because 972 00:43:44,520 --> 00:43:45,680 Speaker 1: you're taking my money. 973 00:43:45,760 --> 00:43:47,640 Speaker 3: This is not a guy who's like, will you go 974 00:43:47,680 --> 00:43:48,279 Speaker 3: away with me? 975 00:43:48,640 --> 00:43:49,480 Speaker 1: Will you go out with me? 976 00:43:49,719 --> 00:43:52,520 Speaker 3: No, this is your brother. My aunt and mother never 977 00:43:52,600 --> 00:43:56,160 Speaker 3: really got along. My aunt is my mother's brother's wife. Okay, 978 00:43:56,520 --> 00:43:58,600 Speaker 3: but my aunt said she knew all of this had 979 00:43:58,600 --> 00:44:02,480 Speaker 3: my mom's name all over it, and that years of digs, 980 00:44:02,760 --> 00:44:06,640 Speaker 3: passive aggressive comments, and full on aggressive comments have all 981 00:44:06,680 --> 00:44:10,080 Speaker 3: come to this. She said, they're not the same people. 982 00:44:10,600 --> 00:44:12,359 Speaker 3: I told them that. I don't think there's any coming 983 00:44:12,400 --> 00:44:15,160 Speaker 3: back from this. My aunt and cousin both mentioned that 984 00:44:15,200 --> 00:44:17,440 Speaker 3: they never heard my dad say anything bad. So my 985 00:44:17,440 --> 00:44:19,239 Speaker 3: aunt is going to have my uncle talk to my 986 00:44:19,320 --> 00:44:21,799 Speaker 3: dad man to man to see if he can find 987 00:44:21,840 --> 00:44:23,040 Speaker 3: out what the heck is going on. 988 00:44:25,160 --> 00:44:30,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, lose their number, lose your mom's number. Probably, I 989 00:44:30,760 --> 00:44:31,080 Speaker 1: don't know. 990 00:44:31,160 --> 00:44:32,800 Speaker 3: That's just don't give any more money. 991 00:44:33,160 --> 00:44:37,319 Speaker 1: Check. Yeah, I said it started there. It started from 992 00:44:37,320 --> 00:44:40,280 Speaker 1: one of your parents, and then it seeped into everything else. 993 00:44:40,480 --> 00:44:42,640 Speaker 1: I think figure out never told you that the engagement 994 00:44:42,680 --> 00:44:44,800 Speaker 1: party was happening. Don't lose their number. 995 00:44:44,960 --> 00:44:47,000 Speaker 3: No, the brothers it slip brother. 996 00:44:46,960 --> 00:44:49,400 Speaker 1: Right, So it's like even your brother, I think he 997 00:44:49,480 --> 00:44:52,279 Speaker 1: was the twin right, But it's like I feel like 998 00:44:52,400 --> 00:44:55,520 Speaker 1: if you step back, yeah, and you just pull back, 999 00:44:56,080 --> 00:45:00,000 Speaker 1: and then the mom probably goes crazy about it because 1000 00:45:00,200 --> 00:45:03,000 Speaker 1: now she can't I don't know, there's there's nothing left 1001 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:07,359 Speaker 1: for her to manipulate, so she's just gonna go ballistic. Probably, Yeah, 1002 00:45:07,360 --> 00:45:11,000 Speaker 1: And I feel like your siblings might be like, maybe 1003 00:45:11,040 --> 00:45:14,000 Speaker 1: we were wrong to believe everything she said about our brother, 1004 00:45:14,520 --> 00:45:17,200 Speaker 1: even though we do. You know, we're human. You can 1005 00:45:17,239 --> 00:45:20,360 Speaker 1: feel jealous. You can feel insecure about like somebody like 1006 00:45:20,400 --> 00:45:23,839 Speaker 1: a brother or a close friend being more successful than you. 1007 00:45:25,040 --> 00:45:27,080 Speaker 1: But like, especially if you have like another thing like 1008 00:45:27,160 --> 00:45:29,360 Speaker 1: pushing you behind you to like be like yeah, and 1009 00:45:29,400 --> 00:45:31,600 Speaker 1: it's worse than you think, and it's worse than you think. 1010 00:45:31,760 --> 00:45:33,879 Speaker 1: Like you know, I think you just. 1011 00:45:33,800 --> 00:45:35,880 Speaker 3: Need to figure out who reaches out to you. 1012 00:45:36,160 --> 00:45:40,239 Speaker 1: Yeah, definitely do a season of no contact and yeah, 1013 00:45:40,320 --> 00:45:43,040 Speaker 1: no financial aid to your whole fancy who. 1014 00:45:42,920 --> 00:45:45,680 Speaker 3: Comes over and says like, hey, what happened exactly? You 1015 00:45:45,680 --> 00:45:48,680 Speaker 3: know why? You see? Who comes over and says, hey, 1016 00:45:48,719 --> 00:45:50,960 Speaker 3: what happened? Are you okay? And who says, hey, we 1017 00:45:51,000 --> 00:45:51,560 Speaker 3: want money? 1018 00:45:52,000 --> 00:45:56,080 Speaker 1: Right? And yeah, yeah, but uh. 1019 00:45:55,600 --> 00:45:57,959 Speaker 3: There's a little bit more. I thanks to my aunt 1020 00:45:58,000 --> 00:46:00,440 Speaker 3: and cousin and reminded them they are pretty much the 1021 00:46:00,480 --> 00:46:02,799 Speaker 3: only family I have left, and I don't plan on 1022 00:46:02,880 --> 00:46:05,680 Speaker 3: losing touch with them. My aunt even mentioned that they 1023 00:46:05,719 --> 00:46:08,080 Speaker 3: haven't gone camping in years and asked if there are 1024 00:46:08,120 --> 00:46:10,960 Speaker 3: any nice places around Portland. It's too far to drive 1025 00:46:11,040 --> 00:46:13,400 Speaker 3: to go camping, but it means they may visit sometime. 1026 00:46:13,880 --> 00:46:16,080 Speaker 3: They also said they're going to try to correct info 1027 00:46:16,120 --> 00:46:18,839 Speaker 3: about me with extended family members, but I told them 1028 00:46:18,840 --> 00:46:21,640 Speaker 3: not to bother. They've already chosen to believe it. But 1029 00:46:21,760 --> 00:46:25,480 Speaker 3: for now, my immediate family are cut off. I blocked 1030 00:46:25,520 --> 00:46:28,560 Speaker 3: them on my phone and social media. No more free 1031 00:46:28,600 --> 00:46:31,360 Speaker 3: handouts when they need money. No more wasting money to 1032 00:46:31,400 --> 00:46:34,719 Speaker 3: go to Phoenix f Thing, Arizona ten times a year 1033 00:46:34,960 --> 00:46:37,640 Speaker 3: just to be roasted by the sun and family members. 1034 00:46:37,760 --> 00:46:42,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's yes, Phoenix's Hot, Phoenix Hot. 1035 00:46:42,760 --> 00:46:45,719 Speaker 3: No more the old one, tu in Bag. Thank you 1036 00:46:45,760 --> 00:46:48,360 Speaker 3: all for your support and helping me realize my family 1037 00:46:48,400 --> 00:46:49,720 Speaker 3: really is crappy. 1038 00:46:50,040 --> 00:46:50,560 Speaker 1: Comment one. 1039 00:46:50,680 --> 00:46:52,840 Speaker 3: This makes me sadder than a lot of the more dramatic, 1040 00:46:52,880 --> 00:46:56,560 Speaker 3: angst inducing posts I find on the sub. It really does, reply, 1041 00:46:56,920 --> 00:46:59,000 Speaker 3: especially because you feel in the first post that Opie 1042 00:46:59,040 --> 00:47:01,440 Speaker 3: thought he was close to his family, but then they 1043 00:47:01,520 --> 00:47:04,480 Speaker 3: pulled this crap. Comma two. You know Opie's going to 1044 00:47:04,520 --> 00:47:07,360 Speaker 3: get all those money requests in a few months, asking 1045 00:47:07,400 --> 00:47:10,200 Speaker 3: for more handouts dowd he would update, But man, what 1046 00:47:10,360 --> 00:47:12,680 Speaker 3: I love to know the crap storm of who with me? 1047 00:47:12,920 --> 00:47:16,080 Speaker 3: I need money? When that comes through? I don't get 1048 00:47:16,120 --> 00:47:18,719 Speaker 3: mom though. Shouldn't she be proud that her kid did 1049 00:47:18,800 --> 00:47:22,520 Speaker 3: so well professionally and financially And the fact that none 1050 00:47:22,560 --> 00:47:24,920 Speaker 3: of his siblings can see through the BS says a 1051 00:47:25,040 --> 00:47:29,240 Speaker 3: lot too commed. Three. Although the uncle will presumably speak 1052 00:47:29,239 --> 00:47:32,400 Speaker 3: to the opie's dad, it's hard to see much movement 1053 00:47:32,440 --> 00:47:34,920 Speaker 3: from that. You have failed as a father, you have 1054 00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:37,160 Speaker 3: failed as a human being, and your wife is an 1055 00:47:37,200 --> 00:47:41,759 Speaker 3: absolute disgrace. Isn't an easy message to stick the landing on. 1056 00:47:42,280 --> 00:47:44,439 Speaker 3: And even if it does land, what is the dad 1057 00:47:44,480 --> 00:47:50,040 Speaker 3: gonna do? Gravel, divorce, deprogram as other kids? It's broken 1058 00:47:50,200 --> 00:47:53,000 Speaker 3: and the dad will at best despise himself for his 1059 00:47:53,120 --> 00:47:56,360 Speaker 3: chronic failings. Common four says, I may be wrong, but 1060 00:47:56,360 --> 00:47:59,200 Speaker 3: I'm picking up some ex Mormon coded language and family 1061 00:47:59,239 --> 00:48:05,000 Speaker 3: dynamics here. That's a really good point, could be. Yeah, 1062 00:48:05,040 --> 00:48:06,880 Speaker 3: is there Well, I just think even if it's not 1063 00:48:06,880 --> 00:48:09,400 Speaker 3: ex Mormon, is there a religious element of like leaving 1064 00:48:09,480 --> 00:48:09,920 Speaker 3: the faith? 1065 00:48:10,280 --> 00:48:12,759 Speaker 1: You know? Yeah, just Another reason was, like, mister Big 1066 00:48:12,840 --> 00:48:15,920 Speaker 1: Chad thinks he's so much better than the Latter day Saints. 1067 00:48:16,360 --> 00:48:19,400 Speaker 3: Arizona has a decently high concentration of the faith. NFOP 1068 00:48:19,560 --> 00:48:21,879 Speaker 3: moved away to a liberal city and left the church. 1069 00:48:22,000 --> 00:48:24,520 Speaker 3: The rest of the family belonged to in this case, 1070 00:48:24,560 --> 00:48:28,600 Speaker 3: potentially including all extended family too, because Mormonism that would 1071 00:48:28,640 --> 00:48:31,480 Speaker 3: really make being iced out from his family make more sense. 1072 00:48:31,800 --> 00:48:35,479 Speaker 3: Mormons believe in prosperity Gospel, and when someone is able 1073 00:48:35,480 --> 00:48:38,879 Speaker 3: to be happy and successful after abandoning the faith, they 1074 00:48:38,880 --> 00:48:41,879 Speaker 3: have to tear that person down to legitimize their own 1075 00:48:41,920 --> 00:48:45,799 Speaker 3: life choices. I have unfortunately experienced the same thing and 1076 00:48:45,880 --> 00:48:49,000 Speaker 3: know many many other former members of COLTS have had 1077 00:48:49,200 --> 00:48:50,359 Speaker 3: similar experiences. 1078 00:48:50,640 --> 00:48:52,800 Speaker 1: Hey is John Ogihost. We're gonna get back to the stories, 1079 00:48:52,840 --> 00:48:54,840 Speaker 1: but a quick free minute break of ads from our sponsors. 1080 00:48:55,360 --> 00:48:58,960 Speaker 3: My wife cheated with her ex. Now I might lose 1081 00:48:59,040 --> 00:49:01,040 Speaker 3: my kids, life and kids. 1082 00:49:01,080 --> 00:49:02,720 Speaker 1: The worst double duo ever. 1083 00:49:02,960 --> 00:49:06,719 Speaker 3: I mail fifty two, lost my first wife ten years ago. 1084 00:49:06,920 --> 00:49:09,080 Speaker 3: At the time, I had two daughters, now twenty one 1085 00:49:09,120 --> 00:49:11,960 Speaker 3: and twenty four. Life went on. After about three years 1086 00:49:12,000 --> 00:49:15,799 Speaker 3: I met my current wife, female thirty eight, met innocently enough. 1087 00:49:15,920 --> 00:49:19,399 Speaker 3: Basically kept bumping into her at various places around town, 1088 00:49:19,560 --> 00:49:22,879 Speaker 3: never really talked, sometimes made eye contact. We would point 1089 00:49:22,920 --> 00:49:26,200 Speaker 3: at each other a distance and just smile. Then one day, 1090 00:49:26,600 --> 00:49:29,040 Speaker 3: getting my car worked on, she walked into the waiting 1091 00:49:29,080 --> 00:49:32,040 Speaker 3: room while hers was worked on also, so we finally 1092 00:49:32,080 --> 00:49:34,440 Speaker 3: had a long conversation. We went across the street to 1093 00:49:34,480 --> 00:49:37,239 Speaker 3: get real coffee as the service centers was bad. We 1094 00:49:37,280 --> 00:49:40,200 Speaker 3: talked about an hour, then I was paged mine was done. 1095 00:49:40,280 --> 00:49:42,200 Speaker 3: I asked if she would like to do lunch one 1096 00:49:42,239 --> 00:49:44,880 Speaker 3: day to continue talking. We exchanged numbers and set a 1097 00:49:44,960 --> 00:49:46,560 Speaker 3: day to meet up. By the way, this comes from 1098 00:49:46,680 --> 00:49:48,919 Speaker 3: what about the kids and if you want to spit 1099 00:49:48,960 --> 00:49:51,120 Speaker 3: your own stories, go to the r slash Okay, storytime, 1100 00:49:51,120 --> 00:49:53,960 Speaker 3: separate it. We dated two years, then married. She has 1101 00:49:54,000 --> 00:49:57,280 Speaker 3: two boys, now ten and fourteen. They moved into my house. 1102 00:49:57,400 --> 00:50:00,359 Speaker 3: She's been living with her parents for three years. Girls 1103 00:50:00,440 --> 00:50:03,160 Speaker 3: lover not as a stepmom, but as a big sister. 1104 00:50:03,320 --> 00:50:06,000 Speaker 3: Although having another adult in the house with two teenage 1105 00:50:06,040 --> 00:50:09,040 Speaker 3: girls was a blessing, life is grand. I love those 1106 00:50:09,080 --> 00:50:11,080 Speaker 3: boys as if they were my own. I want to 1107 00:50:11,080 --> 00:50:13,080 Speaker 3: adopt them when they can make a decision on their own. 1108 00:50:13,160 --> 00:50:16,000 Speaker 3: The little one calls me Dad the oldest. It was awkward. 1109 00:50:16,160 --> 00:50:18,120 Speaker 3: I told him to call me what he felt comfortable with, 1110 00:50:18,360 --> 00:50:20,839 Speaker 3: so my first name. The girls called her by her name. 1111 00:50:20,960 --> 00:50:23,200 Speaker 3: Wife is a stay at home mom, we decided until 1112 00:50:23,239 --> 00:50:24,160 Speaker 3: the kids were adjusted. 1113 00:50:24,239 --> 00:50:24,439 Speaker 1: Now. 1114 00:50:24,480 --> 00:50:27,000 Speaker 3: She doesn't want to work, but does volunteer at school, 1115 00:50:27,080 --> 00:50:29,680 Speaker 3: lunch and other thing. Daughter one goes off to college, 1116 00:50:29,760 --> 00:50:33,120 Speaker 3: now graduated. The younger daughter graduated this past morning. We 1117 00:50:33,160 --> 00:50:35,239 Speaker 3: were moving the rest of her things this weekend. I 1118 00:50:35,360 --> 00:50:37,600 Speaker 3: was told her ex abandon them about the time baby 1119 00:50:37,680 --> 00:50:40,720 Speaker 3: number two came along and has been no contact since. 1120 00:50:40,880 --> 00:50:43,640 Speaker 3: Her mom is very nice, but holds me at arm's length. 1121 00:50:43,760 --> 00:50:46,640 Speaker 3: He is an alpha dog. I don't think he wanted 1122 00:50:46,680 --> 00:50:50,799 Speaker 3: anyone else taking care of his daughter, only child, and grandkids. 1123 00:50:51,000 --> 00:50:53,880 Speaker 3: He would beerate me because I was too old, not 1124 00:50:54,080 --> 00:50:56,560 Speaker 3: much younger than them. This would be any time I 1125 00:50:56,640 --> 00:50:59,200 Speaker 3: was around them. I'm non confrontational, so I told wife 1126 00:50:59,200 --> 00:51:01,320 Speaker 3: I would just stay away from them. I did encourage 1127 00:51:01,320 --> 00:51:03,560 Speaker 3: her to continue the relationship, as they only live a 1128 00:51:03,600 --> 00:51:07,800 Speaker 3: couple blocks away. February this year, her ex reappears wants 1129 00:51:07,840 --> 00:51:10,440 Speaker 3: to be in their lives. He's sketchy at best. I 1130 00:51:10,520 --> 00:51:14,080 Speaker 3: cannot refuse this. He starts coming around often. I set 1131 00:51:14,080 --> 00:51:16,440 Speaker 3: a boundary that he comes on weekends so as not 1132 00:51:16,560 --> 00:51:19,520 Speaker 3: to interfere with school and so we can control his 1133 00:51:19,640 --> 00:51:22,919 Speaker 3: visitation somewhat. He comes most weekends, but really spends little 1134 00:51:22,920 --> 00:51:24,880 Speaker 3: time alone with the kids as we try to give 1135 00:51:24,960 --> 00:51:27,520 Speaker 3: him space. I asked wife if he had made any 1136 00:51:27,640 --> 00:51:30,560 Speaker 3: child support payments while he was gone. I suggested to 1137 00:51:30,600 --> 00:51:32,520 Speaker 3: her to talk to him about getting caught up on 1138 00:51:32,560 --> 00:51:35,200 Speaker 3: whatever he owes and to ask about signing over rights 1139 00:51:35,400 --> 00:51:37,839 Speaker 3: so I could adopt. She said she would talk to him. 1140 00:51:37,920 --> 00:51:41,160 Speaker 3: First part of March, our spicy sleep life starts to dive. 1141 00:51:41,360 --> 00:51:43,080 Speaker 3: You know where this is going, right? 1142 00:51:43,320 --> 00:51:43,840 Speaker 1: No? 1143 00:51:43,840 --> 00:51:47,640 Speaker 3: No, no, but I'm oblivious. I mention it to wife. 1144 00:51:47,680 --> 00:51:50,799 Speaker 3: She has the usual excuses. I noticed little things around 1145 00:51:50,840 --> 00:51:53,520 Speaker 3: the house are different. My favorite snacks are gone, missing, 1146 00:51:53,520 --> 00:51:56,279 Speaker 3: a few adult sodas. Not a big drinker, just one 1147 00:51:56,320 --> 00:51:58,560 Speaker 3: every now and then. But the big one was I 1148 00:51:58,600 --> 00:52:01,480 Speaker 3: could smell what I thought it was devil's lettuce. I 1149 00:52:01,560 --> 00:52:05,480 Speaker 3: asked why if she was smoking, as we don't. She hasn't. 1150 00:52:05,760 --> 00:52:08,239 Speaker 3: I thought that now. Fourteen year old was suggested we 1151 00:52:08,320 --> 00:52:10,360 Speaker 3: talk with him, and she says she would handle it. 1152 00:52:10,400 --> 00:52:13,239 Speaker 3: About two weeks ago, the fourteen year old asks me 1153 00:52:13,400 --> 00:52:15,880 Speaker 3: if I love mom? I said yes, thinking he has 1154 00:52:15,880 --> 00:52:18,440 Speaker 3: a girlfriend. Time for a talk, right, He says that 1155 00:52:18,520 --> 00:52:20,879 Speaker 3: we always sat together and we were touching each other 1156 00:52:21,000 --> 00:52:23,279 Speaker 3: some way or other. This made him feel good. He 1157 00:52:23,480 --> 00:52:27,400 Speaker 3: asks if mom loved his dad. I responded that sure 1158 00:52:27,400 --> 00:52:30,239 Speaker 3: on some level. She does. Why ask him? He replies 1159 00:52:30,320 --> 00:52:33,880 Speaker 3: that they are always looking at each other, talking and touching, 1160 00:52:34,000 --> 00:52:37,680 Speaker 3: and he is over all the time. I asked what 1161 00:52:37,840 --> 00:52:40,200 Speaker 3: he meant by all the time. Almost every day when 1162 00:52:40,200 --> 00:52:43,040 Speaker 3: they got home from school, he's there, then leaves, yes, 1163 00:52:43,200 --> 00:52:48,440 Speaker 3: fourteen year old's ratting out the freaking scummy parents. He's like, 1164 00:52:48,480 --> 00:52:50,920 Speaker 3: you know what, I like my stepdad. This isn't okay. 1165 00:52:51,000 --> 00:52:52,600 Speaker 3: I'm gonna be like, what's love? 1166 00:52:52,800 --> 00:52:54,440 Speaker 5: I'm just a fourteen year old. 1167 00:52:54,920 --> 00:52:57,759 Speaker 3: He's come an overall like fourteen year old absolutely knows 1168 00:52:57,760 --> 00:52:59,839 Speaker 3: what's going on, and I feel like he's playing kind 1169 00:52:59,840 --> 00:53:02,759 Speaker 3: of to be like I didn't know it was a secret. 1170 00:53:03,040 --> 00:53:06,040 Speaker 3: That weekend, I'm in the living room he is over 1171 00:53:06,200 --> 00:53:09,000 Speaker 3: for visitation. He comes in and sits down across from 1172 00:53:09,000 --> 00:53:10,759 Speaker 3: me with an adult soda. I look up for my 1173 00:53:10,800 --> 00:53:13,360 Speaker 3: reading and tell him to help himself to an adult soda. 1174 00:53:13,440 --> 00:53:16,400 Speaker 3: He says nothing. I ask why he isn't with the kids. 1175 00:53:16,560 --> 00:53:19,479 Speaker 3: I could hear laughing coming from the family. He said 1176 00:53:19,520 --> 00:53:21,239 Speaker 3: he might go in a little bit. I tell him 1177 00:53:21,280 --> 00:53:23,239 Speaker 3: I will not drink in front of the kids. I 1178 00:53:23,280 --> 00:53:25,640 Speaker 3: wait until after there in bet he says nothing. He 1179 00:53:25,680 --> 00:53:27,960 Speaker 3: then states, you know I'm only here for her. What 1180 00:53:28,080 --> 00:53:30,640 Speaker 3: does that mean? You're talking about my wife? He says, 1181 00:53:30,719 --> 00:53:34,680 Speaker 3: technically not divorced. He never signed papers, so she's his wife. 1182 00:53:34,840 --> 00:53:37,040 Speaker 3: I know a judge signed off on the divorce because 1183 00:53:37,080 --> 00:53:39,280 Speaker 3: he could not be found. That's why it took longer 1184 00:53:39,320 --> 00:53:41,960 Speaker 3: to divorce. I finally asked about the child support since 1185 00:53:42,000 --> 00:53:43,759 Speaker 3: I never heard back. Just looked at me and said 1186 00:53:43,880 --> 00:53:47,880 Speaker 3: he was caught up paid her fifteen thousand dollars in cash. WTF. 1187 00:53:48,000 --> 00:53:50,080 Speaker 3: I asked then, if she talked to him about giving 1188 00:53:50,160 --> 00:53:52,600 Speaker 3: up rights. Never asks. He asked what it would be 1189 00:53:52,719 --> 00:53:55,520 Speaker 3: worth to me. I said, you gotta be kidding. You 1190 00:53:55,560 --> 00:53:58,440 Speaker 3: would sell your kids. Before you could answer, I told 1191 00:53:58,480 --> 00:54:00,440 Speaker 3: him to leave. The next day. This past Sunday, the 1192 00:54:00,520 --> 00:54:02,680 Speaker 3: kids bread Gramma and Grandpa with wife. I bought and 1193 00:54:02,800 --> 00:54:05,160 Speaker 3: installed a camera. I put it on top of the TV. 1194 00:54:05,440 --> 00:54:07,720 Speaker 3: Very small. It has a view of the front door 1195 00:54:07,800 --> 00:54:10,600 Speaker 3: and living room. Motion activated so I'm at work. I 1196 00:54:10,640 --> 00:54:13,000 Speaker 3: get a notice figure it's the wife cleaning up. I 1197 00:54:13,080 --> 00:54:16,279 Speaker 3: look anyways, he comes back, She lets him in. They 1198 00:54:16,400 --> 00:54:20,279 Speaker 3: kiss long. He starts grabbing at her, She playfully pushes away. 1199 00:54:20,360 --> 00:54:22,759 Speaker 3: They're laughing, no sound. He sits on the couch. She 1200 00:54:22,800 --> 00:54:26,920 Speaker 3: brings him an adult soda and snacks. Ten am, she disappears. 1201 00:54:27,080 --> 00:54:30,040 Speaker 3: She's back a few minutes later, clothes changed. She's going 1202 00:54:30,040 --> 00:54:34,000 Speaker 3: to school for lunch. They're talking, more grabbing, more pushing away, laughing. 1203 00:54:34,080 --> 00:54:36,399 Speaker 3: A few minutes later, she's up, getting ready to leave. 1204 00:54:36,480 --> 00:54:39,359 Speaker 3: He gets up, grabs her again, making some gestures, then 1205 00:54:39,400 --> 00:54:42,320 Speaker 3: poses like he's praying. Hands together. They sit down again, 1206 00:54:42,600 --> 00:54:45,920 Speaker 3: then she gives him spicy time. He finishes up, goes 1207 00:54:45,920 --> 00:54:49,160 Speaker 3: out of range, comes back, says something, then leaves. He 1208 00:54:49,239 --> 00:54:52,680 Speaker 3: then watches TV, then takes a nap. Screen eventually goes black. 1209 00:54:52,800 --> 00:54:56,200 Speaker 1: Dude, Oh my gosh, he's not even h This is 1210 00:54:56,239 --> 00:54:57,839 Speaker 1: the worst thing ever. 1211 00:54:58,719 --> 00:55:01,440 Speaker 3: A little after one pm, i'm another alert. She's home. 1212 00:55:01,560 --> 00:55:03,600 Speaker 3: They talk, they both leave the room. I know they're 1213 00:55:03,600 --> 00:55:05,759 Speaker 3: headed to the bedroom. I race home and find them. 1214 00:55:05,920 --> 00:55:08,279 Speaker 3: They never heard me coming. There is the hysterics you 1215 00:55:08,280 --> 00:55:11,439 Speaker 3: would expect. He slithers out. I tell her she asked 1216 00:55:11,480 --> 00:55:13,720 Speaker 3: to go. She pleads it was a one time mistake. 1217 00:55:13,800 --> 00:55:16,680 Speaker 3: He had just got there. She was lonely because we 1218 00:55:16,680 --> 00:55:19,799 Speaker 3: weren't having spicy sleep, et cetera. I called BS. I 1219 00:55:19,880 --> 00:55:23,120 Speaker 3: asked how often he came over, just the weekends, this 1220 00:55:23,239 --> 00:55:25,960 Speaker 3: was an anomaly. I showed the video of him napping. 1221 00:55:26,080 --> 00:55:28,920 Speaker 3: She said he was tired and asked. Then I showed 1222 00:55:28,960 --> 00:55:32,160 Speaker 3: her the other spicy stuff. She had nothing to say. 1223 00:55:32,280 --> 00:55:34,400 Speaker 3: I told her to pack her bags. She's out. I 1224 00:55:34,520 --> 00:55:36,759 Speaker 3: left and called her dad to take them in. We 1225 00:55:36,760 --> 00:55:39,880 Speaker 3: were having issues. He of course takes alpha position, telling 1226 00:55:39,920 --> 00:55:42,440 Speaker 3: me how I would screw this up, YadA YadA. I 1227 00:55:42,440 --> 00:55:45,920 Speaker 3: couldn't get a word in. Finally I stopped him, asked again. 1228 00:55:46,040 --> 00:55:48,640 Speaker 3: He said yes, then started on me again. I had enough. 1229 00:55:48,840 --> 00:55:51,320 Speaker 3: I said I would send him something. I sent the 1230 00:55:51,440 --> 00:55:55,920 Speaker 3: video edited down to the spicy stuff. I told them 1231 00:55:55,920 --> 00:55:57,840 Speaker 3: to view and call me back if I was wrong. 1232 00:55:58,120 --> 00:56:01,000 Speaker 3: Never heard back. I talked a lawyer Auray. He helped 1233 00:56:01,000 --> 00:56:03,759 Speaker 3: with estate plan after first wife preferred me to a 1234 00:56:03,800 --> 00:56:07,440 Speaker 3: partner who does family law. We'll meet tuesday, divorce will happen, 1235 00:56:07,520 --> 00:56:09,320 Speaker 3: he felt, but did not know for sure that I 1236 00:56:09,320 --> 00:56:11,360 Speaker 3: would be on the hook for support for kids, no 1237 00:56:11,480 --> 00:56:13,880 Speaker 3: alimony since she broke our prenup. I made it up 1238 00:56:13,880 --> 00:56:16,640 Speaker 3: before marriage, in addition to a state plan to protect 1239 00:56:16,719 --> 00:56:19,120 Speaker 3: my girls. I don't care about the support, glad to 1240 00:56:19,160 --> 00:56:22,480 Speaker 3: do it. It's the boys. So my question or advice needed. 1241 00:56:22,600 --> 00:56:25,000 Speaker 3: Has anyone else been through divorce and was able to 1242 00:56:25,040 --> 00:56:27,680 Speaker 3: see their ex's kids, even if they're not yours? How 1243 00:56:27,680 --> 00:56:30,360 Speaker 3: did that go? The fourteen year old is partially vulnerable 1244 00:56:30,400 --> 00:56:32,880 Speaker 3: as he will be in high school next year formative years. 1245 00:56:32,960 --> 00:56:34,960 Speaker 3: I don't want to see him go down the tube 1246 00:56:35,000 --> 00:56:37,520 Speaker 3: and turn out like dad. Thanks to you all in advance, 1247 00:56:37,719 --> 00:56:40,800 Speaker 3: and there is an update. Butt home Sunday put daughter's 1248 00:56:40,840 --> 00:56:43,840 Speaker 3: stuff from apartment in garage. I get a call early 1249 00:56:43,920 --> 00:56:47,000 Speaker 3: evening from fourteen year old dad. What's going on? No 1250 00:56:47,040 --> 00:56:50,800 Speaker 3: one's talking to us. Mom and grandma are crying, Grandpa's yelling. 1251 00:56:51,000 --> 00:56:53,200 Speaker 3: Is this because of what I told you? I assured 1252 00:56:53,239 --> 00:56:55,000 Speaker 3: him that his mom made a bad mistake, that he 1253 00:56:55,040 --> 00:56:57,319 Speaker 3: had nothing to do with this mess. He asked if 1254 00:56:57,360 --> 00:56:59,360 Speaker 3: I was packing up their stuff because he saw the 1255 00:56:59,480 --> 00:57:01,840 Speaker 3: U haul in the driveway. I explain what happened and 1256 00:57:01,880 --> 00:57:04,520 Speaker 3: that all their stuff would remain there. Monday and Wednesday 1257 00:57:04,680 --> 00:57:07,640 Speaker 3: were sports night. Family sits in bleachers while I stand 1258 00:57:07,640 --> 00:57:10,520 Speaker 3: behind home plate backstop, my usual spot. Since I don't 1259 00:57:10,560 --> 00:57:12,160 Speaker 3: see eye to eye with father in law. On the 1260 00:57:12,160 --> 00:57:14,600 Speaker 3: way across the field, the oldest stops, swarm up and 1261 00:57:14,800 --> 00:57:17,520 Speaker 3: runs over to me. We hug and talk a few minutes, 1262 00:57:17,560 --> 00:57:19,560 Speaker 3: then I send him back. As I get to my spot, 1263 00:57:19,600 --> 00:57:21,480 Speaker 3: I have a ten year old crash into me at 1264 00:57:21,480 --> 00:57:24,479 Speaker 3: full speed. I bend down, hug and kiss him all over. 1265 00:57:24,600 --> 00:57:27,160 Speaker 3: As he is squirming away, my father in law asks 1266 00:57:27,240 --> 00:57:29,200 Speaker 3: if we could talk. We step away from your shot. 1267 00:57:29,280 --> 00:57:31,640 Speaker 3: He apologizes for the way he has treated me in 1268 00:57:31,680 --> 00:57:34,520 Speaker 3: the past and that he was wrong well a little late, 1269 00:57:34,640 --> 00:57:36,520 Speaker 3: but I accepted and said I knew that it was 1270 00:57:36,560 --> 00:57:38,600 Speaker 3: a hard thing for him to do. He invited me 1271 00:57:38,640 --> 00:57:40,560 Speaker 3: to sit with them. I declined. He asked if I 1272 00:57:40,600 --> 00:57:43,240 Speaker 3: wanted to talk to wife. I said Thursday would be better, 1273 00:57:43,320 --> 00:57:46,640 Speaker 3: So we set time and place. Tuesday comes meet with lawyer. 1274 00:57:46,840 --> 00:57:49,040 Speaker 3: I told him the whole story. He knew from his partner, 1275 00:57:49,120 --> 00:57:51,520 Speaker 3: but wanted to hear from me. He asked what I 1276 00:57:51,560 --> 00:57:53,560 Speaker 3: wanted to do. I wanted to stay with the boys, 1277 00:57:53,760 --> 00:57:57,440 Speaker 3: then stay married. The boys were most important. He stated 1278 00:57:57,560 --> 00:58:00,000 Speaker 3: in his experience that the marriage would be a Sharah 1279 00:58:00,280 --> 00:58:02,800 Speaker 3: not good for the boys. We could work out a 1280 00:58:02,880 --> 00:58:06,080 Speaker 3: visitation if wife is willing. As far as support, he said, 1281 00:58:06,120 --> 00:58:07,960 Speaker 3: I could do what I wanted for the boys, not 1282 00:58:08,040 --> 00:58:10,720 Speaker 3: to give her anything for me to control. The prenut 1283 00:58:10,800 --> 00:58:14,320 Speaker 3: was solid. She violated conditions no support. He cautioned, though, 1284 00:58:14,360 --> 00:58:17,720 Speaker 3: that judges around the country have in some instances ordered 1285 00:58:17,800 --> 00:58:20,240 Speaker 3: child support in my case due to being in their 1286 00:58:20,280 --> 00:58:22,320 Speaker 3: lives so long. He did not think our judges had 1287 00:58:22,360 --> 00:58:24,120 Speaker 3: ruled that way in the past, but you never know. 1288 00:58:24,320 --> 00:58:27,560 Speaker 3: He was sure her attorney would seek support. He suggested 1289 00:58:27,560 --> 00:58:30,160 Speaker 3: that we try to agree on everything we could before court, 1290 00:58:30,240 --> 00:58:33,120 Speaker 3: then the judge would look favorably on us. Yeah, I think, 1291 00:58:33,200 --> 00:58:35,520 Speaker 3: see if you can be in their lives before you try, 1292 00:58:35,560 --> 00:58:38,280 Speaker 3: and like you know, before you stay married. Before leaving. 1293 00:58:38,320 --> 00:58:41,000 Speaker 3: He told me that every Monday morning, the partners meet 1294 00:58:41,080 --> 00:58:44,640 Speaker 3: to discuss new and ongoing cases. My previous attorney started 1295 00:58:44,640 --> 00:58:49,240 Speaker 3: out describing everything. Each partner has a specialty estate planning, 1296 00:58:49,320 --> 00:58:52,520 Speaker 3: elder law, criminal liability, family. Later in the PM, the 1297 00:58:52,520 --> 00:58:55,280 Speaker 3: criminal lawyer meets up with my attorney. After the meaning 1298 00:58:55,360 --> 00:58:59,200 Speaker 3: he calls a contact in the prosecutor's office. The fifteen 1299 00:58:59,240 --> 00:59:02,840 Speaker 3: thousand dollars did not seem right. How do folks in 1300 00:59:02,880 --> 00:59:07,280 Speaker 3: the middle class have fifteen thousand dollars in cash laying around? 1301 00:59:07,480 --> 00:59:10,680 Speaker 3: Turns out X did not abandon them. He was in jail. 1302 00:59:10,760 --> 00:59:13,800 Speaker 3: He was released three years ago when fed's were releasing 1303 00:59:13,840 --> 00:59:16,800 Speaker 3: non violent criminals to ease overcrowding, et cetera. He was 1304 00:59:16,840 --> 00:59:19,160 Speaker 3: sure the police would be interested if he was back 1305 00:59:19,440 --> 00:59:22,280 Speaker 3: and practicing his profession again, but he did not have 1306 00:59:22,360 --> 00:59:25,120 Speaker 3: any other info but the jail time. Thursday, I meet 1307 00:59:25,160 --> 00:59:27,240 Speaker 3: with wife and father in law. I asked if they 1308 00:59:27,280 --> 00:59:30,080 Speaker 3: minded if I recorded, so there would be no misinterpretation. 1309 00:59:30,240 --> 00:59:33,760 Speaker 3: Later they agreed. Before we started, wife wanted to talk privately. 1310 00:59:33,880 --> 00:59:37,000 Speaker 3: Father in law moved to another room. Wife started to apologize. 1311 00:59:37,040 --> 00:59:39,360 Speaker 3: I cut her off. I said, before you say anything, 1312 00:59:39,560 --> 00:59:41,560 Speaker 3: know that I know a lot more than you think. 1313 00:59:41,640 --> 00:59:44,560 Speaker 3: I asked how long the spicy sleep had been going on. 1314 00:59:44,720 --> 00:59:46,720 Speaker 3: She said the one time. I told her the video 1315 00:59:46,760 --> 00:59:49,080 Speaker 3: shows that's not true. I played a clip of her 1316 00:59:49,200 --> 00:59:51,760 Speaker 3: dusting the TV. She never saw the camera. I know 1317 00:59:51,840 --> 00:59:53,560 Speaker 3: it was only a few days, but she was going 1318 00:59:53,600 --> 00:59:55,600 Speaker 3: to lie, so I was due. She thought it was 1319 00:59:55,680 --> 00:59:57,840 Speaker 3: part of the video games. Not big, but it is 1320 00:59:57,960 --> 01:00:01,160 Speaker 3: obvious on top of the TV. She admitted since March. 1321 01:00:01,200 --> 01:00:04,160 Speaker 3: Almost right away, I told her no more. Lie. I 1322 01:00:04,200 --> 01:00:06,320 Speaker 3: told her of the family secret, that he was in jail, 1323 01:00:06,440 --> 01:00:09,200 Speaker 3: not running away. She admitted to this also. I asked 1324 01:00:09,240 --> 01:00:11,880 Speaker 3: how long in contact since February. I asked if she 1325 01:00:11,920 --> 01:00:14,400 Speaker 3: met up any time before him appearing. She said no. 1326 01:00:14,560 --> 01:00:17,560 Speaker 3: I then told her he had been out for three years. 1327 01:00:17,840 --> 01:00:20,080 Speaker 3: We got father in law back in turn on recorder. 1328 01:00:20,280 --> 01:00:21,720 Speaker 3: I asked if she had a lawyer. 1329 01:00:21,800 --> 01:00:21,880 Speaker 1: No. 1330 01:00:22,120 --> 01:00:24,760 Speaker 3: Told her to get one because the divorce will happen. 1331 01:00:24,920 --> 01:00:28,320 Speaker 3: They both asked if something along reconciliation could take place. 1332 01:00:28,440 --> 01:00:30,840 Speaker 3: I said no. I said I wanted the boys. She 1333 01:00:30,880 --> 01:00:33,320 Speaker 3: could live with X. I told her, when speaking privately, 1334 01:00:33,400 --> 01:00:36,440 Speaker 3: that X tried to sell me the boys. I repeated 1335 01:00:36,560 --> 01:00:38,640 Speaker 3: for father in law. We settled on the boys could 1336 01:00:38,640 --> 01:00:41,280 Speaker 3: see me any time within reason. She would not keep 1337 01:00:41,320 --> 01:00:44,000 Speaker 3: them from me. I said I would provide at my choosing. 1338 01:00:44,200 --> 01:00:46,040 Speaker 3: She would get no support. I did not want her 1339 01:00:46,120 --> 01:00:48,240 Speaker 3: getting the boys to ask me for things. They would 1340 01:00:48,240 --> 01:00:50,800 Speaker 3: be honest if I asked, there you have it. One 1341 01:00:50,920 --> 01:00:53,560 Speaker 3: last thing. Redditors, The wife and I are avid readers 1342 01:00:53,600 --> 01:00:55,800 Speaker 3: of this site. We have our favorite subs. We would 1343 01:00:55,840 --> 01:00:57,680 Speaker 3: read and share it was a thing we did together. 1344 01:00:57,840 --> 01:00:59,800 Speaker 3: She has read my post as she figured it out, 1345 01:00:59,800 --> 01:01:02,360 Speaker 3: and she read every reply you made. She stated, you 1346 01:01:02,480 --> 01:01:06,880 Speaker 3: savaged her. I mean, come on, girl, come on, you 1347 01:01:06,960 --> 01:01:09,560 Speaker 3: said many things I only wish I could have because 1348 01:01:09,600 --> 01:01:11,960 Speaker 3: I did feel it. For that, I thank you. How 1349 01:01:11,960 --> 01:01:13,560 Speaker 3: do you, I don't know, Like, how do you go 1350 01:01:13,600 --> 01:01:15,440 Speaker 3: on read it and read all these stories and then 1351 01:01:15,480 --> 01:01:18,160 Speaker 3: you're like, well, I'm gonna I'm gonna do something that 1352 01:01:18,200 --> 01:01:18,880 Speaker 3: I've read about