1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:05,440 Speaker 1: This is John, this is the m Okay Storytime podcast hosts, 2 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: and we have some good stories coming up for you. 3 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 1: That's right. But before that, we have a little morsel 4 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: of a two minute ad break from the sponsors keeping 5 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: the show delicious. 6 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 2: Hmm. 7 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 3: My stepfather insulted me and my husband behind our backs, 8 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 3: so we retaliated with kindness. Try to translate it as 9 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 3: best I could, but the word pig does not mean 10 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 3: a literal pig in the context it was used. I 11 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 3: think what my stepdad meant was the bourgeoisie or capitalist 12 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 3: pig and used it as a double on tandra in 13 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 3: reference to body fat. My stepdad has been with my 14 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 3: mother for about five years now. I was an adult 15 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 3: before they met. We are not that close, but I 16 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:49,560 Speaker 3: have a cordial relationship, or so I thought. By the 17 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 3: way this comes from, just want cuddles and if you 18 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 3: want to submit your own stories, go to the r 19 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 3: slash Okay Storytime separate it. 20 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: I'm Sophia, I'm Dakota, and I'm Keon. 21 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 3: Hey, we're here to give good advice, poy, but we 22 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 3: don't have all the answers. We only know what we'd do, 23 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:04,759 Speaker 3: So let us know what you would do. In the comments, 24 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 3: ann Op says, my husband and I were invited to 25 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 3: a small impromptu dinner party. My husband was sick, so 26 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 3: I initially made her apologies, but afterwards he encouraged me 27 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 3: to go, even though what I truly wanted was to 28 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 3: play nurse for him. These dinner parties happened with regularity, 29 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 3: and my husband is far more important anyway. However, he 30 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 3: encouraged me and said it would be good for me 31 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 3: to go, so I did. I arrived a little late 32 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 3: and didn't immediately announce my presence. I stood in the 33 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 3: entryway arranging myself and overheard the talk from the dinner table. 34 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 3: I heard my husband's name mentioned. This was rude, but 35 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:43,320 Speaker 3: I was curious what was going to be said while 36 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 3: they thought I wasn't listening, so I took my time 37 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 3: next to the door. The question about our absence was 38 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 3: casually directed to my mother, and my stepdad cut in 39 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 3: with the line and the title. He said, exactly, yes, 40 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 3: where is the pig and his dumb little We'll see 41 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 3: you next Tuesday. There was some chuckles, and my mother answered, 42 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 3: your sudden law is sick in a mildly chastising tone. 43 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 3: She then turned the topic to something else. I decided 44 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:14,679 Speaker 3: to leave. I nearly cried in the back of the car, 45 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 3: but stayed composed until I got home. My mother's reaction 46 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 3: was the most hurtful. I would have expected a far 47 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 3: harsher reaction than she gave. This suggest to me that 48 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 3: this happens with some regularity. My mother doesn't defend me 49 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 3: when I'm called a dumb little See you next Tuesday. 50 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 3: She doesn't defend me. She doesn't defend my husband when 51 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 3: he's called a pig. She acts as if someone made 52 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 3: an inappropriate noise at the dinner table. Should I tell 53 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 3: my husband? I'm a little afraid of his subsequent actions 54 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 3: if I do. He has helped specific family members that 55 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 3: were not at the dinner party and could take that 56 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 3: all away on a whim. I need to tell him, 57 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 3: but I don't want him to punish people that weren't 58 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 3: at the party. My husband will be very angry at them, 59 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:58,080 Speaker 3: but I still need to tell them. Then there is 60 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 3: my relationship with my family. I've been trying to think 61 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 3: how this could mean something else. I've been trying to 62 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 3: twist it into a term of endearment. 63 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 2: And I can't. 64 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 3: This was cruel. I feel used by those I loved most, 65 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:12,360 Speaker 3: They hid their feelings while we were around and top 66 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 3: relevant comments. But before we get into those, do you 67 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 3: have any top and relevant comments of your own? 68 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 1: Nothing? Really beyond what I've already said. You should burst 69 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 1: in through the door and said, hey, hey, you have 70 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 1: some choice words for me. I hear I heard my 71 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: ears were ringing? What about a turning? Anything like that? 72 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 4: Tuesday was involved A line. 73 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 2: Next? 74 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: Who are we talking about? Huh? Yeah? Who we're talking about? 75 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:41,279 Speaker 2: We gossiping? 76 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 3: Deleted says Tell your husband he has the right to know. 77 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 3: If family members are dependent on him and talking behind 78 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 3: his back, he should know about it. Do you think 79 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 3: so little of your husband that he would punish people 80 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 3: in need because they are related to someone who bad 81 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 3: moouthed him once? What about when you have children and 82 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 3: they go visit their grandmother? Will your children learn to 83 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 3: call you a dumb sea word behind your back? There's 84 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 3: no good reason for that type of name calling, especially 85 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 3: when the person isn't around. You don't need two faced 86 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 3: jerks like father in law in your life. Tell your husband, 87 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 3: and then you and your husband can confront your mother, 88 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 3: demand an apology and minimal and minimize contact with mom 89 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 3: and father in law for a while. Opie says, I 90 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 3: think the world of my husband, but he is a 91 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:27,160 Speaker 3: very fierce man when it comes to people who don't 92 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 3: respect him and me. I know I need to tell him. 93 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 3: Jin Baytai says, my man is exactly the same, protective 94 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 3: and unforgiving of people he feels have disrespected me himself too, 95 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 3: but it's a whole other level when I'm involved. All 96 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 3: I can say is you need to let him vent 97 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:47,040 Speaker 3: and be angry, and then ask him to have a 98 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 3: game plan with you. His loyalty should help you come 99 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:53,240 Speaker 3: up with a compromise that you both can live with. 100 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 3: Clam Delicus says, my initial reaction was you should have 101 00:04:57,480 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 3: walked in and said, the dumb little sea word is 102 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 3: right here, picked up a drink from the table and 103 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 3: thrown it in his face. Seriously, op you have to 104 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 3: tell your husband. Tell him exactly what you told us. 105 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 3: He deserves to know. Let him be part of the 106 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:15,160 Speaker 3: decision on how to proceed and burning cake for fun 107 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 3: says ah Yes, the classic soap oup branding a fantastic choice. 108 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 3: June Gloom says he has helped specific family members that 109 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 3: were not at the dinner party and could take that 110 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:29,360 Speaker 3: all away on a whim. I think this is where 111 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:32,280 Speaker 3: the pig thing is coming from. For some people, your 112 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 3: success and help just makes them feel inferior, and they're 113 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,600 Speaker 3: resentful of you as being the cause of those feelings, 114 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 3: so they cut you down when you aren't around. Instead 115 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 3: of taking responsibility for their own life choices or being 116 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 3: secure in themselves and happy for you, they'd rather drag 117 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 3: you down in some crab bucket mentality. They don't have 118 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 3: your best interest at heart. They only want to drag 119 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 3: you down to feel better about themselves. It may be 120 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 3: the healthiest thing for your relationships, not to help. If 121 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 3: they aren't the kind of people who can deal with it, 122 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 3: they're not happy, and you're just losing respect from people 123 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 3: you previously had a better relationship with. And there is 124 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 3: an update. 125 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 2: Any other thoughts. 126 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 1: I'm just thinking about the crab bucket reference now because 127 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: I hadn't heard that. 128 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 3: It's like before about crabs and a bucket and they're going 129 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 3: to drag it you. 130 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: And then when the crab tries to get out the 131 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: rest of the crabs. 132 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 4: Saying, he says it a lot here with me is right? 133 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 2: Riley says, that all the time. 134 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:26,279 Speaker 4: Yeah, he says it all the time. 135 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 3: Like crabing a bucket. He's always saying it. 136 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:34,719 Speaker 1: I've never heard Riley say that. He says it all anyway. Yeah, 137 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:38,280 Speaker 1: And to make a compilation, I think you know your 138 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 1: husband should know what was said about you. The people 139 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: just said that stuff about you should know that you 140 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 1: heard it and be like, hey, so y'all are weird 141 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 1: and I'm not going to be hanging out with you guys. 142 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 3: If you think that about me, then why would I 143 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 3: hang Why would I be around you? 144 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: Updates. 145 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 3: I told my husband about this earlier this morning. I 146 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 3: did it carefully, making sure to tell him that I 147 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 3: didn't know exactly who was there other than a few names, 148 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:07,159 Speaker 3: and ensuring that he knew a few specific people were 149 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 3: definitely not there. My husband is a very deliberative person. 150 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 3: He sat and listened to everything I had to say 151 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:16,720 Speaker 3: without showing any emotion. It's hard to talk to him 152 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 3: sometimes about difficult things because of this, but I got 153 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 3: through it. He asked me a few questions, making sure 154 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 3: that I was completely sure on every detail. Then he 155 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 3: told me to fetch his phone and I did. He 156 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 3: made several calls, called various people, and over the next 157 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 3: thirty minutes, three of my family members lost their jobs, 158 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 3: two lost their apartments or will be losing them as 159 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 3: soon as the law allows. He only punished people who 160 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 3: were guaranteed to be at the dinner party or directly 161 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 3: related to those who were. He did not punish my 162 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 3: big sister, who I was worried about the most, or 163 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 3: people who couldn't have been involved. Afterwards, he told me 164 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 3: that he would not tell me to cut contact with 165 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 3: my family, but that he will not be seeing them 166 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 3: until he received a written apology from everyone who was 167 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 3: at the party. He said, I can handle my family 168 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 3: as I like. I mean, I think he handled them. 169 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 3: I thanked him and told him that I would not 170 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 3: be seeing them either until that happened. Whilst I was 171 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 3: helping my husband dress for work, my mother call. My 172 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 3: mother called, but my husband waved it off and told 173 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 3: me to keep her waiting because she'll call again. He said, 174 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 3: I don't know her promptness, and that keeping her waiting 175 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 3: shows her I have the power. She called many times 176 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,560 Speaker 3: in succession afterwards, but I only answered after my husband 177 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 3: was dressed and I had seen him to the car. 178 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 3: She told me in a frantic voice that person A 179 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 3: had lost a job and wondered what happened or if 180 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,640 Speaker 3: there was anything my husband could do. I'm glad my 181 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 3: husband had me wait because I had to formulate a response. 182 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 3: Because I had a formulated response, I told her that 183 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:52,560 Speaker 3: my husband had person A B and C fired. I 184 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:55,400 Speaker 3: didn't tell her why. She went silent for a bit 185 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 3: and finally asked why in an odd tone. I just 186 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 3: told her that I heard what my stepdad said at 187 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 3: the party. I told her that my husband and I 188 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 3: expect written apologies from everyone at the dinner party. 189 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 1: Dude, that you did you You've made people lose their 190 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: jobs before you even were like, hey, we heard what happened. 191 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 3: Why did you say that? 192 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 2: Who said? 193 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 3: You guys are crazy? 194 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:19,760 Speaker 1: Genuinely? You guys are crazy. I'd have a problem with 195 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 1: my partner if they did. 196 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 3: This genuinely, I'd be like reaction if one of my 197 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:28,559 Speaker 3: family members said something against me, and you know, I'd 198 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 3: be like, that's really awful. I'm gonna go talk to 199 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 3: them and be like, why would you say that? Why 200 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:34,079 Speaker 3: would you say that about me and my partner when 201 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 3: we're not there? 202 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 1: Those are words You're like, what you're doing is genuinely, 203 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:41,679 Speaker 1: genuinely affecting the fabric of people's lives. 204 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:44,559 Speaker 3: Also, I'm sorry you want this is you don't want 205 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:45,439 Speaker 3: a real apology. 206 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 1: You want them to grovel. You want them to be 207 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:49,439 Speaker 1: like punished. 208 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 2: You want to beg for mercy. 209 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,679 Speaker 1: This guy's a vigilante practically like. 210 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:56,560 Speaker 4: A TV show or a film where you're like, oh yeah, 211 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 4: I want them to feel bad, but like not ruin 212 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:01,679 Speaker 4: their life life kind of thing, or like get an apology. 213 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 4: You you ruined these people's lives, and I feel like 214 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:04,839 Speaker 4: you can't undo. 215 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 3: You can't they say sorry that what they get their 216 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:09,679 Speaker 3: apartment back. 217 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: I want to clarify because we have Ace makes it 218 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 1: on on Twitch comment. Got to disagree with Dakota on 219 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 1: it being okay since the people being talked about weren't there. 220 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 1: It's not that it's okay, it's that the level of 221 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 1: reaction from other people there is usually isn't gonna necessarily 222 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:27,679 Speaker 1: gonna be like okay, well that was unacceptable. When I'm 223 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: leading this instant, it was like. 224 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:32,520 Speaker 3: Sometimes I feel like when someone says something like if 225 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 3: I was talking to you know, like let's say Dakota 226 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 3: wasn't there and I said something out of pocket about Dakota, 227 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 3: he's stinky Keon, Like, I feel like you, you know, 228 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 3: you might be like, hey, you know, that's not very nice, 229 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:49,440 Speaker 3: but you wouldn't necessarily have the same reaction as like. 230 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: Like there, it's uncomfortable. 231 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 3: So to call someone out. 232 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, Dakota, Dakota, make fun of you. I'm gonna go 233 00:10:55,559 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 4: scorch dr Yeah his bloodline. Yeah done. 234 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, especially if you like. 235 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 1: Not like a group bashing session. It was one person 236 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: made a guy yeah said it, and her mom was 237 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:10,719 Speaker 1: just like, oh, don't do that. 238 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, which neither that's not okay. But to like then 239 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 3: say that everyone at that party is complicit is kind 240 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:20,240 Speaker 3: of crazy. 241 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: I mean, three people shouldn't be losing their jobs. Its 242 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 1: that's great. How do you have the power to do that? 243 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:26,480 Speaker 2: Yeah? 244 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:27,199 Speaker 1: Makes it wild? 245 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 4: Yeah, Ace makes it does say if someone's trashing me 246 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 4: in conversation and my people are not saying anything, they're 247 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 4: not my people, which is fair for sure. 248 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, but I think, like we don't we don't know 249 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 3: how close all these people at the party were, you know, 250 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 3: their family, but are they Like I just think there's 251 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:44,960 Speaker 3: a different level of reaction that you'll have when the 252 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 3: person's not like I see what you're saying. 253 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's which is. 254 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 3: You know, like, obviously you would still want your friends 255 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 3: to defend you, but I'm saying they shouldn't lose their job. 256 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:54,959 Speaker 3: They probably didn't necessarily agree. 257 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:56,560 Speaker 1: I feel like I think it's the point. It's a 258 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 1: great way to go about it. 259 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 4: It's just take hey, you all you guys suck calling 260 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 4: them out and be like and then you're not a 261 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 4: friend or you're not Opie's friend. Yeah, and the person 262 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 4: who said it, guess what, you suck and you should apologize. 263 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 4: That's it. And if they were like, no, I'm not 264 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 4: gonna apologize, then you're like, you know what, it's like, 265 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 4: I did. 266 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 2: You a favor. I can take that favoriteway. 267 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 4: It's the it's the I don't get mad, I get even, 268 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:20,199 Speaker 4: but not even. 269 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:21,079 Speaker 2: This is not even. 270 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 3: This is like you you kicked me in the shins, 271 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 3: so I burned down your house. A long silence followed, 272 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:30,320 Speaker 3: so long that I nearly hung up, but my mother 273 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:33,559 Speaker 3: did it first. This was a confusing reaction. I think 274 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 3: she was too ashamed to speak, but it could also 275 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 3: be that she doesn't care. I'll wait. The need to 276 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 3: reach out to us with an apology is on them 277 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:43,840 Speaker 3: if they're interested in continuing our family ties. I am 278 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 3: at peace about this and top relevant comments. Evil Buddha says, 279 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:50,200 Speaker 3: if you live in China, I can understand the response. 280 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 3: People in relatively high positions can make the lives of 281 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:58,080 Speaker 3: family miserable if they show disrespect. Opie says, you're right, 282 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 3: I know it's not the same way in Western countries. 283 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 3: Evil Buddhas says, I agree, it's not the same in 284 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 3: Western countries, and folks here have to understand that the 285 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 3: culture in China is way different. Stuff like this happens 286 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 3: in China. Question did your husband help your family members 287 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 3: in getting jobs in housing? Makes me wonder how he 288 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:17,199 Speaker 3: was able to get them all fired and a victa 289 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:21,079 Speaker 3: just like that. Op says, yes, he did help them 290 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 3: get the jobs and housing, good jobs and preferred housing, 291 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 3: which can be very hard to get. And Op says, 292 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 3: my husband was kind at all times. It may be 293 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 3: that they resented him for his help. He asked me 294 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 3: what I thought should happened. I told him I was 295 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 3: very upset. He makes the decisions after consulting me, but 296 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 3: this was disrespectful to him just as much as me. 297 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,559 Speaker 3: Thank you for your explanation. I understand why this might 298 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:48,559 Speaker 3: be shocking. In that case, when I said helped in 299 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 3: my first post, I meant jobs and preferred housing. Delete 300 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:54,080 Speaker 3: it says, what the heck? 301 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,679 Speaker 2: Why would your husband get people fired? 302 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:00,200 Speaker 3: As far as I read in your last post, they 303 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:02,400 Speaker 3: didn't even have anything to do with what your stepdad 304 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:02,840 Speaker 3: called you. 305 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 1: They were just there. 306 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 3: This seems like a huge overreaction on his parts, where 307 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:12,599 Speaker 3: you guys could have just gone and confronted your stepdad, 308 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 3: not f up people's living situations and their jobs. That's crazy, 309 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 3: Opie says. I think it might be cultural. Often when 310 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 3: someone does something poorly, it's part of our culture to 311 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:27,360 Speaker 3: judge the family as well. Also, they laughed. 312 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 1: I don't know, dude, I've given an uncomfortable laugh more 313 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 1: than once. 314 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 2: Also, they laughed. 315 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: Someone says something, you go, aha, yeah, this is actually 316 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 1: and then like twenty minutes later, you leave, they leave 317 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 1: the room, and you're like, okay, so that was the 318 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 1: weirdest thing. 319 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, you're right, you're right that, yeah, because you 320 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 3: don't know how to talk like sometimes you're in a 321 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:48,600 Speaker 3: like I'm not saying that they shouldn't have stood up 322 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 3: for Ope and her husband, But there are some times 323 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 3: where you just feel so uncomfortable that you don't know 324 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 3: how to address it. Abe Atarano says, I am genuinely curious, 325 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 3: and I'm sorry if I come across as naive in 326 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 3: this question. But what would the proper etiquette in China 327 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 3: be in this situation? For example, what if it was 328 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:09,040 Speaker 3: you and your husband at your aunt's house in dinner table, 329 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 3: your aunt's husband makes this rude comment about the person 330 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 3: who gave your husband his job, who is your cousin's husband, 331 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 3: her daughter's spouse and not present. Should you say anything? 332 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 3: Would you speak up out of loyalty for your employer, 333 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 3: or would you not say anything out of politeness for 334 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 3: the host who is also your family? What is correct 335 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 3: in this situation in China? Opie says, of course I 336 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 3: will answer, and no, you do not come across as naive. 337 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 3: I think first understand that there are no individuals in China. 338 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 3: I'm not a single person. I belong to my husband, 339 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 3: I belong to my family. Those units are more important 340 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 3: than me alone. I think there is no correct response 341 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 3: for this. Would there be a correct response for this 342 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 3: in a Western country? I think it was incredibly rude 343 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:54,600 Speaker 3: and that crosses cultural barriers. The shock in this thread 344 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:58,600 Speaker 3: is that my husband punished everyone. Yes, here we return 345 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 3: to the fact that no one is in an individual 346 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 3: in China. You see my stepdad as an independent individual 347 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 3: who made this decision. My husband and I see him 348 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 3: as a part of a larger group, in this case, 349 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 3: his family unit and those others at the dinner party. 350 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 3: They all allowed this disrespect to stand by not acting. 351 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 3: I think the correct response would have been for everyone 352 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 3: at the dinner party to banish my stepdad. 353 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: Well doesn't he live there? Yes? 354 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 3: I think it wasn't he the one that was throwing 355 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 3: the party? 356 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 1: Oh? Man, well I really quick. We got twenty more 357 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: Whoo babies that bababies on a stream thanks to Purple Trader. 358 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 3: And we're gonna hit that that wheel spin after. 359 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 1: This story donated twenty gifted memberships. 360 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 3: They should have collectively showed him that what he did 361 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 3: was wrong. Social harmony is very important. I hope that 362 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 3: this makes sense. Fired On says, I'm from Taiwan living 363 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 3: in America, and I completely understand your husband's response. 364 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 2: Trust is difficult to come. 365 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 3: By in China, and if your husband is in a 366 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 3: position of financial power, then he is in a position 367 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:03,520 Speaker 3: a lot of people are willing to suck up to 368 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 3: just to get something out of him. He is one 369 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,719 Speaker 3: hundred percent correct to cut his financial and personal connection 370 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 3: with people he cannot trust. 371 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 2: Most others in the. 372 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:14,639 Speaker 3: Sub will not understand the cultural implications of this, but 373 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 3: trust is everything in a workplace situation in Chinese culture 374 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 3: because of the possibility of backstabbing and betrayal. You do 375 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 3: your thing, op and don't let all these naysayers in 376 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:27,719 Speaker 3: the post sway you. And there is a second update. 377 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 3: I guess I just, yeah, I just can't understand this 378 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 3: because it I have such a different cultural upbringing. I 379 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 3: don't know, it's uh, yes, I guess I can't give 380 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 3: a proper you know, he had to have known what 381 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 3: he was messing with. 382 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:45,040 Speaker 1: I guess then by saying that, I. 383 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 3: Feel like, if there is that cultural background, then yeah, 384 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 3: I think you're at the door. 385 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 1: Probably Yeah, I have done that. Well. I would be 386 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:55,080 Speaker 1: living in fear every day of my life for. 387 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:57,440 Speaker 3: All of my family member Like, I'm like, don't say 388 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:01,679 Speaker 3: anything about anyone, guys. But there's a second update. My 389 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:04,679 Speaker 3: husband has received several written apologies from those who were 390 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 3: at the party, but not from my stepdad or my mother. 391 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:09,959 Speaker 3: I think it is correct to say now that they 392 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 3: are not going to apologize. I talked to my mother 393 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 3: again a few days after my second comment for a 394 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 3: brief moment. She prostrated herself in front of me verbally, 395 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 3: but she will not give us a written apology. She's 396 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,439 Speaker 3: supporting her husband over her daughter. I hung up on 397 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 3: her as her apology was hollow in many ways, despite 398 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 3: how deeply she spoke. Those who have apologized have said 399 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:32,959 Speaker 3: that these insults were not uncommon, but no one other 400 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 3: than my stepdad engaged in them. My husband believes them 401 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:40,440 Speaker 3: and blames my stepdad. My stepdad later lost his job 402 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:42,719 Speaker 3: as a result of his words. My husband could not 403 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:46,720 Speaker 3: punish him immediately because of his position. I'm feeling okay. 404 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 3: It hurt me after the second conversation with my mother, 405 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 3: where I realized she would not apologize. I am trying 406 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 3: to make peace with it, but it has been hard. 407 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 3: My husband has done things to cheer me up. He 408 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:00,119 Speaker 3: bought me a puppy. I need to feel this for 409 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:02,159 Speaker 3: a period of time, if that makes sense. I just 410 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 3: again like I want to go back because says her 411 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:09,119 Speaker 3: mom didn't apologize, but she literally said, she prostrated herself 412 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 3: in front of us verbally, So she did apologize, she 413 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 3: just didn't apologize in the way that you want it. 414 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:18,440 Speaker 3: But there's a little bit left to this. Again, I 415 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:22,280 Speaker 3: don't I don't think that I have the cultural, you know, 416 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:25,880 Speaker 3: knowledge to accurately make a judgment on this. I think 417 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:28,679 Speaker 3: it is very different to how I would react and 418 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 3: act in this situation. 419 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 1: Wild to me that there was no investigation on the 420 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:36,400 Speaker 1: front end. Instead, it was just like I'm gonna. 421 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:36,800 Speaker 2: It was immediate. 422 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:39,359 Speaker 1: You'd take three jobs in two apartments away. 423 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:44,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, and not even from the person that did it either, right, 424 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 3: Like he didn't even immediately lose his job. 425 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 1: This is scary. You're married to a scary guy. 426 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:54,160 Speaker 3: I also, if anyone has like more cultural knowledge about this, 427 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 3: because I know some of you in the comments were 428 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:58,679 Speaker 3: already kind of speaking up about it, let us know 429 00:19:58,720 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 3: what you think about this. 430 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:01,720 Speaker 4: Yeah, a lot of people again, a lot of people 431 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:04,879 Speaker 4: were like uh. People were saying, like in Chinese dramas 432 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 4: or k dramas, that this happens more frequently than we 433 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:12,439 Speaker 4: think it's again, it's not we're not used to it. 434 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 4: But for them, this is probably like you know that's 435 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 4: the norm. I guarantee you in the Philippines if this happened, 436 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 4: especially with like a barangay captain or like a cop 437 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 4: captain or something like that, yeah, it'd be the same thing. Yeah, 438 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:30,399 Speaker 4: it'd be like, all right, well you did that to 439 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 4: my wife, so you're on bad terms with us, and 440 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:36,560 Speaker 4: now jobbn't pretty much. 441 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:39,919 Speaker 3: Dang, there's a little bit left to this story. OHP says, 442 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 3: I agree. The letter is a formality, but an important one. 443 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:46,159 Speaker 3: I think my mother's words were hollow, though I'm not 444 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:49,360 Speaker 3: sure I have the words to describe this. She apologized 445 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:52,080 Speaker 3: but defended and dismissed at the same time. That's why 446 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 3: I hung up. Last leader says, your mom sounds like 447 00:20:55,359 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 3: you in a lot of way. Both of you stand 448 00:20:57,200 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 3: behind your husbands no matter what and let them make 449 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:02,399 Speaker 3: all all the decisions. This is between your husband and 450 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:05,399 Speaker 3: your stepdad. Your mom won't be able to apologize until 451 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:07,920 Speaker 3: your stepdad allows her to. This is one of those 452 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:10,359 Speaker 3: times that being old fashioned and doing what your husband 453 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 3: tells you to do is pretty stupid. I mean, both 454 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:15,400 Speaker 3: you and your mom, both of you are letting men 455 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:18,439 Speaker 3: ruin your mother daughter relationship. These updates sat at me, 456 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 3: to see all the unwise decisions and ego continuing on 457 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:25,440 Speaker 3: both sides. I hope someday this will change. Oh, he says, 458 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 3: my husband did not force me to cut ties with 459 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:30,920 Speaker 3: my family. I chose not to forgive my mother because 460 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 3: her apology was hollow, her words were empty. Sil Mariel says, 461 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 3: I think it's refreshing to see someone posting to this 462 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,639 Speaker 3: creddit with such a clear idea of their boundaries and 463 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:43,680 Speaker 3: acting on them when they are valulated certainly acted upon. 464 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 3: We always encourage people to find their boundaries and learn 465 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 3: to back them up when they face crises in relationships, 466 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 3: and here is an example of a couple who have 467 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 3: very clearly defined boundaries and are doing something about it 468 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 3: when they got disrespected. The husband was clearly taking care 469 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:02,800 Speaker 3: a lot of people in this family and would feel 470 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 3: deeply hurt and disrespected to learn that these same people 471 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:09,120 Speaker 3: were witnessed to the offensive things said about him behind 472 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:12,480 Speaker 3: his back and not stopping it or standing up for him. 473 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:16,879 Speaker 3: I one hundred percent agree with his decisive actions, and 474 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:19,399 Speaker 3: while I feel sorry for Opie's mother who is trapped 475 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:22,680 Speaker 3: between daughter and husband, I think Op's husband was still 476 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:24,920 Speaker 3: within his moral rights to act as he saw fit 477 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 3: in this case, Opie. I wonder if you would act 478 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:30,359 Speaker 3: differently than your mother did, though, Would you go against 479 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:32,679 Speaker 3: your husband if he ever behaved badly towards someone in 480 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:35,200 Speaker 3: the family, or would you have his back even when 481 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 3: he was wrong. Your mother has apologized to you in 482 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:41,160 Speaker 3: the only way that she can without making open conflict 483 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:44,160 Speaker 3: with her husband. Can you understand her at all? Maybe 484 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 3: you can forgive her eventually, Smaxaw says, your mother has 485 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 3: all apologized to you in the only way she can 486 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:53,879 Speaker 3: without making open conflict with her husband. Oh wait, that's continuing. 487 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 3: Oh I think you make a great point responding to 488 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 3: that commentary, not just there, but the whole post. But 489 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:03,879 Speaker 3: that party's framed incorrectly. She isn't making open conflict with 490 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:07,160 Speaker 3: her husband. The husband is making open conflict with her 491 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:10,200 Speaker 3: by not standing up to him. She is being an enabler. 492 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:13,680 Speaker 3: She is giving him tacit permission to continue. Is it 493 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:15,879 Speaker 3: unfair she's in the middle of this along with the 494 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 3: people who got fired. Yes, in life, when unfair things 495 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:22,960 Speaker 3: happen to you, though through no fault of your own character, 496 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 3: shows when you do the right thing. Absolutely no one 497 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:28,680 Speaker 3: did the right thing, and she still refuses to throw 498 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 3: his mess back in his face. Op's stepdad is the 499 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 3: one causing trouble. He's an ingrid piece of crap after 500 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:39,640 Speaker 3: all the problems he's caused and impossible scenarios he's created, 501 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:42,440 Speaker 3: to not back down and give her an out. FIM, 502 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:45,119 Speaker 3: there is at least three to four other people like 503 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 3: the mom who also need to save face. He isn't 504 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:51,439 Speaker 3: allowing them an out. She isn't choosing conflict. She's choosing 505 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:55,400 Speaker 3: to lose the conflict rather than fight for herself. Op's 506 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 3: stepdad is a piece of crap to the highest order. 507 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 3: Asian and Chinese society is harmony and making decisions that 508 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 3: benefit the group so that everyone wins. He is sacrificing 509 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:09,600 Speaker 3: the group for his own twisted sense of egotistical cute honor. 510 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 3: And that is the end of that story. 511 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 1: My mother took me off her insurance because I said 512 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:16,359 Speaker 1: my dad was nicer. 513 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:18,840 Speaker 3: Well you should have said your mom was nicer. 514 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:21,680 Speaker 1: There's a trigger warning for emotional abuse. I twenty three 515 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:24,160 Speaker 1: female and my mom forty nine female. I've never really 516 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:27,880 Speaker 1: gotten along growing up. She treated me differently from my siblings. 517 00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 1: I'm the second oldest of four, and she was always 518 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 1: stricter and harsher with me. By the way, this comes 519 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:35,480 Speaker 1: from user moist West forty two twelve, And if you 520 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:37,240 Speaker 1: want to submit your own stories, go to the art 521 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 1: slash Okay storytime subburt it. 522 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:41,960 Speaker 4: I'm Dakota, I'm Sophia, and I'm Keon. 523 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 1: And we're here to give you good advice googly, But 524 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:45,280 Speaker 1: we don't have all the answers. We only know what 525 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:47,199 Speaker 1: we would do, So if you'd do something different, let 526 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:51,160 Speaker 1: us know in the comments. As Op says, I, if 527 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:54,480 Speaker 1: I brought home anything less than an A, I'd get grounded. 528 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 1: Even one B on an assignment meant trouble. My siblings 529 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:00,679 Speaker 1: never had that rule. On top of that, she always 530 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 1: commented on my weight, calling me the fat kid, even 531 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:06,399 Speaker 1: though I was thin. She never said this to my siblings, 532 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:09,720 Speaker 1: just me. As I got older, I realized she liked 533 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 1: getting a reaction out of me. At first, I defended myself, 534 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:16,240 Speaker 1: but when I stopped, she escalated and even got physical. 535 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:19,600 Speaker 1: On my eighteenth birthday, while I was still in high school, 536 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:22,879 Speaker 1: she kicked me out. By then, I was already staying 537 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:24,720 Speaker 1: with a friend most of the time just to get 538 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:27,879 Speaker 1: away from her Now as an adult, I hardly speak 539 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:32,439 Speaker 1: to her again. At family events, we might exchange a 540 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 1: few words, but that's it. Recently, I was at my 541 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 1: sister's place and she had my mom on speakerphone. I 542 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:40,159 Speaker 1: was in the background talking to my brother and he 543 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:44,119 Speaker 1: asked who I thought was nicer, Mom or Dad? Without thinking, 544 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:47,760 Speaker 1: I said dad. My dad wasn't great either. He wasn't 545 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:51,280 Speaker 1: around much and could be harsh, but compared to my mom, 546 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:54,639 Speaker 1: he is nicer. I also talked to him more, though 547 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:58,400 Speaker 1: not a ton. My mom overheard, asked what I said 548 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 1: and I repeated it. She snapped and said she'd never 549 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:05,359 Speaker 1: speak to me again. I said, you're saying that like 550 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:09,000 Speaker 1: it's a bad thing. Honestly, it sounds like heaven. She 551 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:11,200 Speaker 1: didn't hang up on me, but ended the call with 552 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 1: my sister, who was the one talking to her. Later, 553 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:16,640 Speaker 1: my sister texted me that my mom took me off 554 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:19,640 Speaker 1: her insurance. I never asked her to be on it anyway. 555 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:22,119 Speaker 1: She added me without telling me because it lowered her 556 00:26:22,119 --> 00:26:24,920 Speaker 1: own rate. One day, she just said, hey, I put 557 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:27,639 Speaker 1: you on my plan. I didn't argue, but now I 558 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:29,960 Speaker 1: see it was just another way for her to control me. 559 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:33,119 Speaker 1: She's done stuff like this before, Like when I was younger, 560 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 1: she put my phone on her plan and shut it 561 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:39,080 Speaker 1: off whenever she got mad. This time was the same. 562 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:42,479 Speaker 1: After removing me, she told my sister she thinks her 563 00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:44,639 Speaker 1: dad is the better parent. Let him put her on 564 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:48,000 Speaker 1: his insurance. I never said better parent. I just said 565 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:51,480 Speaker 1: dad was nicer. She also told my sister she hoped 566 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:54,399 Speaker 1: my car got impounded and that she could turn it 567 00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:57,640 Speaker 1: off through on Star. My car is fully paid off, 568 00:26:57,680 --> 00:27:00,679 Speaker 1: so I doubt that's even possible, But the fact she 569 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:04,440 Speaker 1: said it was ridiculous. I don't need her insurance anyway. 570 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:07,120 Speaker 1: Before she added me, I was paying for my own, 571 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:11,560 Speaker 1: and after she removed me, I just went back to mine. Meanwhile, 572 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:14,840 Speaker 1: my sister said I was too harsh and should apologize 573 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:17,960 Speaker 1: because mom has done so much for you. I asked 574 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:19,960 Speaker 1: what she meant, and she said, she put a roof 575 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:22,320 Speaker 1: over your head and gave you food and clothes. That's 576 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:24,680 Speaker 1: literally the bare minimum of parenting. 577 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:26,679 Speaker 3: Two things. 578 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:30,160 Speaker 1: Oh, she took care of the life she brought into 579 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:30,639 Speaker 1: the world. 580 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 3: Should you neglect her child? 581 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:33,199 Speaker 4: Oh? 582 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:36,080 Speaker 3: Okay, Yeah, she's a terrific parent. 583 00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:39,240 Speaker 1: My mom has gone to my grandparents and aunts saying 584 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:43,119 Speaker 1: I was disrespectful and need to apologize. From my perspective, 585 00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:46,199 Speaker 1: I just answered my brother's question honestly, So Redda Am 586 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 1: I the a hole? 587 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:48,879 Speaker 3: No? 588 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 1: No, but I mean like you weren't even talking to that. 589 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:53,200 Speaker 2: You weren't even talking to her. 590 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 3: You're not the ahole. However, in this situation, if you 591 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 3: didn't literally bow down to your mom, she was gonna, 592 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:05,840 Speaker 3: you know, get rid of anything anyway. So you know, 593 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:08,119 Speaker 3: I think you just have to take this opportunity to 594 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:12,560 Speaker 3: cut her off, you know, not necessarily like if you 595 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 3: want to go no contact, but like definitely lower contact 596 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:18,439 Speaker 3: and just be more financially independent from her. 597 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, which sounds like it is not an issue. Yeah, well, 598 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:23,840 Speaker 1: let's get in these comments come at one. Is your 599 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:27,080 Speaker 1: mom a registered owner on the car? If so, she 600 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:30,040 Speaker 1: may be able to cause problems with it. If she isn't, 601 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:32,800 Speaker 1: and even if you don't use on Star, contact them 602 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:34,919 Speaker 1: and let them know to ask them if they have 603 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:38,720 Speaker 1: the ability to notate on your car's file that your 604 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:41,160 Speaker 1: mom is not allowed to have any information or use 605 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:46,280 Speaker 1: any of the features. Ask about passwording the file. OHP says, unfortunately, 606 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:49,800 Speaker 1: she is. I initially got the car from my grandparents, 607 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:51,600 Speaker 1: and I guess when you gift a car, or at 608 00:28:51,720 --> 00:28:55,440 Speaker 1: least in my state, it cannot be transferred from grandparents 609 00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 1: to grandchildren. It has to be transferred from parent to child. 610 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 1: So the original plan for my grandparents to sign it 611 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:03,520 Speaker 1: over to my mom, who would then sign it over 612 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:06,320 Speaker 1: to me. However, she never did that, probably to have 613 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:09,320 Speaker 1: something to hold over my head. But yeah, unfortunately she 614 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:12,440 Speaker 1: is registered as the owner. I'm planning on looking into 615 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:15,000 Speaker 1: getting a new car next week just to be completely 616 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 1: rid of her. I'll definitely contact on Star. Comment to says, 617 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:22,520 Speaker 1: your mother is mistreating you. Why have contact at all? 618 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 1: What does she add to your life? It's common for 619 00:29:25,360 --> 00:29:29,040 Speaker 1: narcissists to have scapegoats and golden children. Look at the 620 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:32,720 Speaker 1: subredit raised by narcissists. I got similar abuses, being called fat, 621 00:29:32,760 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 1: as a skinny kid, etc. And physical and emotional abuse. 622 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:39,440 Speaker 1: My parents haven't known where I lived for twelve years 623 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:42,720 Speaker 1: now and have had zero contact from me. I've not 624 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:46,920 Speaker 1: long stopped having nightmares about them finding me. Hope. He replies, 625 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 1: we don't really have any contact. Her number is blocked, 626 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:52,440 Speaker 1: which is why she had to use my sister as 627 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:54,920 Speaker 1: the messenger. I don't speak to her, talk to her, 628 00:29:55,040 --> 00:29:57,720 Speaker 1: or hang out with her. The only time I see 629 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 1: her is at family gatherings, and even then I hardly 630 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:02,680 Speaker 1: go to those, especially if I know she's going to 631 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:06,400 Speaker 1: be there. Comment three says objectively, your mom is an 632 00:30:06,440 --> 00:30:09,560 Speaker 1: a hole, but your sister is approaching a whole status 633 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 1: with her comment. You didn't ask to be born. It's 634 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:15,400 Speaker 1: your parents' job to feed, clothe, and how's you. You 635 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:18,320 Speaker 1: may want to remind your sister that your mom booted 636 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:22,240 Speaker 1: you out at eighteen, and so her suggestion that a 637 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:25,160 Speaker 1: roof over your head merits an apology is wide off 638 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:28,800 Speaker 1: the mark. You're not the a whole, your family not 639 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:32,640 Speaker 1: so sure. Fourth comment not the ale. All you did 640 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:36,120 Speaker 1: was state your honest opinion about your mom, who is 641 00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:39,160 Speaker 1: an a hole. Don't take their opinion for anything. You 642 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 1: don't need the approval of a family in the pocket 643 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 1: of an abuser. And there is an update two days later. 644 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:49,480 Speaker 1: I bet your mom like repoed the car or something. 645 00:30:49,560 --> 00:30:51,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, I did something. 646 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:58,160 Speaker 1: Over under that she reports it stolen. Seventy chance she 647 00:30:58,160 --> 00:30:58,720 Speaker 1: says it's. 648 00:30:58,560 --> 00:31:01,480 Speaker 3: Stolen, wouldn't be on some sort of insurance. 649 00:31:02,360 --> 00:31:05,160 Speaker 4: Mom turns into a car who knows she's a Transformer. 650 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:06,920 Speaker 4: Now he's from Cybertron. 651 00:31:07,040 --> 00:31:08,240 Speaker 1: She has the all spark. 652 00:31:08,320 --> 00:31:11,160 Speaker 4: But is she an autobot or a Decepticon. 653 00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:15,800 Speaker 1: She's a Decepticon two days later. Growing up with my 654 00:31:15,960 --> 00:31:19,400 Speaker 1: mom has always been difficult. She is self absorbed, controlling, 655 00:31:19,880 --> 00:31:23,760 Speaker 1: and manipulative. Her whole family has mostly tolerated it, which 656 00:31:23,760 --> 00:31:25,920 Speaker 1: made me feel like I was constantly in the wrong, 657 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:30,040 Speaker 1: always backed into a corner. This situation helped me realize 658 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:32,840 Speaker 1: I needed to step out of that mindset. I needed 659 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:37,080 Speaker 1: to see my experiences from my own perspective and recognize 660 00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:41,240 Speaker 1: that my feelings and reactions are valid. For instance, talking 661 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:45,960 Speaker 1: to my grandmother about the situation confirmed what I already knew. 662 00:31:46,520 --> 00:31:49,960 Speaker 1: My mom has always treated everyone poorly, not just me. 663 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:53,120 Speaker 3: Oh well that's nice, it's comforting. Yeah, you know that 664 00:31:53,360 --> 00:31:54,840 Speaker 3: you're not the target. 665 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:57,400 Speaker 4: You're not alone, No, just everybody, everyone else. 666 00:31:57,920 --> 00:32:02,720 Speaker 1: Everyone is everyone. Family members tolerate her behavior to avoid conflict, 667 00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:06,320 Speaker 1: even my younger siblings. I've always been outspoken about her 668 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 1: treatment of us, which has made me seem difficult, but 669 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:13,320 Speaker 1: in reality, I've just been honest about her behavior. Yeah, 670 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:16,480 Speaker 1: I think you're on the right track. Yeah, I think you. 671 00:32:16,520 --> 00:32:19,240 Speaker 3: Just have to kind of limit contact with your mom 672 00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:22,240 Speaker 3: and limit any kind of connection that you have with her, 673 00:32:22,280 --> 00:32:23,800 Speaker 3: because she's going to use that against you. 674 00:32:24,160 --> 00:32:26,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, she's going to leverage any level of power she 675 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:33,400 Speaker 1: has over you, legally, fiscally, emotionally. So yeah, it's time, 676 00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:37,160 Speaker 1: all that jazz, time to just like close that door 677 00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:38,240 Speaker 1: and don't look back. 678 00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:39,080 Speaker 3: Agreed. 679 00:32:39,280 --> 00:32:42,400 Speaker 1: As a result of this recent incident, I've decided to 680 00:32:42,440 --> 00:32:45,920 Speaker 1: go low contact with my brother. He's been influenced by 681 00:32:45,920 --> 00:32:48,520 Speaker 1: my mom and started calling and texting me with insults 682 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:51,520 Speaker 1: about things I supposedly did wrong, things that only make 683 00:32:51,640 --> 00:32:55,120 Speaker 1: sense from her perspective. I'll probably also go low contact 684 00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:58,960 Speaker 1: with my sister, because I've realized she shares information about 685 00:32:58,960 --> 00:33:01,320 Speaker 1: my life with my mom, even after I've asked her 686 00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:04,760 Speaker 1: not to. I want to protect my boundaries and maintain 687 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:09,520 Speaker 1: some privacy regarding my mom. I'll be moving to no contact. 688 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:13,320 Speaker 1: I was already pretty much no contact, but also I'll 689 00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:16,360 Speaker 1: be including avoiding a family functions where she's present and 690 00:33:16,440 --> 00:33:19,440 Speaker 1: limit any other interactions so that I can protect my 691 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:22,560 Speaker 1: mental health and break the cycle of manipulation I've experienced 692 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:26,000 Speaker 1: my whole life. There are some more comments here. Comment 693 00:33:26,080 --> 00:33:28,640 Speaker 1: one says you're not wrong As for your sister, get 694 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:31,479 Speaker 1: her on an info diet. She can't share what she 695 00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:33,920 Speaker 1: doesn't know. That does not mean you have to stop 696 00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:37,120 Speaker 1: talking to her. Op says, Yeah, I've put my sister 697 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:39,480 Speaker 1: on an info diet for now, I won't be talking 698 00:33:39,520 --> 00:33:42,920 Speaker 1: to her because, like most toxic, self absorbed mother's mine 699 00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:45,720 Speaker 1: as a way of turning siblings against each other, She's 700 00:33:45,720 --> 00:33:48,320 Speaker 1: managed to convince my sister that I've been talking to 701 00:33:48,360 --> 00:33:50,640 Speaker 1: her and trashing my sister behind her back, which is 702 00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:55,200 Speaker 1: insane considering my mom prides herself on supposedly avoiding my calls. 703 00:33:55,720 --> 00:33:59,000 Speaker 1: I never call that woman and insists she doesn't even 704 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:01,960 Speaker 1: speak to me. Yesterday, my sister blew up on me 705 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:05,400 Speaker 1: over this supposed trash talking and then immediately called my 706 00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:09,200 Speaker 1: mom to trash talk me with her, which is pretty hypocritical. 707 00:34:09,920 --> 00:34:12,440 Speaker 1: Why she believes anything my mom says is beyond me, 708 00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:17,080 Speaker 1: especially since my mom is a pathological liar. Second comment says, 709 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:20,439 Speaker 1: you cannot begin to heal until you pluck the splinter out. 710 00:34:20,840 --> 00:34:23,160 Speaker 1: If you leave it in the wound just keeps festering. 711 00:34:23,520 --> 00:34:25,640 Speaker 1: You've done the painful part and pulled the splinter out. 712 00:34:25,680 --> 00:34:29,480 Speaker 1: Good for you. Now focus on yourself heal, grieve if 713 00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:32,200 Speaker 1: you need to take care of yourself and love yourself. 714 00:34:32,640 --> 00:34:36,000 Speaker 1: Well done, Oh Pete true that that is the end 715 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:39,480 Speaker 1: of this story, sam here og host. We're going to 716 00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:41,680 Speaker 1: get back to these stories, but here's three minutes fads 717 00:34:41,680 --> 00:34:42,360 Speaker 1: from our sponsors. 718 00:34:42,400 --> 00:34:46,799 Speaker 2: First, my brother is dating my cheater X and it's 719 00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:48,520 Speaker 2: tearing our family apart. 720 00:34:49,280 --> 00:34:51,360 Speaker 1: No no, no, no, get. 721 00:34:51,160 --> 00:34:53,520 Speaker 2: Out of there, Get out of her. My ex and 722 00:34:53,560 --> 00:34:55,760 Speaker 2: I dated for four years. We broke up in twenty 723 00:34:55,760 --> 00:34:59,400 Speaker 2: seventeen after she cheated on me multiple times and tried 724 00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:01,360 Speaker 2: to keep it a seat. The good news was that 725 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:04,120 Speaker 2: I had my full family support. I cut her off 726 00:35:04,200 --> 00:35:06,680 Speaker 2: and life was fine. By the way, this comes from 727 00:35:06,680 --> 00:35:08,840 Speaker 2: a username, and if you want to submit your own stories, 728 00:35:08,840 --> 00:35:10,759 Speaker 2: go to the hour slash Okay, story Time, Separate It 729 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:13,319 Speaker 2: And I'm Angie and I'm Savannah and we're here to 730 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:16,200 Speaker 2: give good advice. Goofully. But we don't have all the answers, 731 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:17,560 Speaker 2: so we're just gonna guess what we would do in 732 00:35:17,560 --> 00:35:19,480 Speaker 2: this situation. Let us know what you would do in 733 00:35:19,520 --> 00:35:23,040 Speaker 2: the comments. So Op says, fast forward to June of 734 00:35:23,080 --> 00:35:26,319 Speaker 2: this year and I get dropped with a bombshell from 735 00:35:26,360 --> 00:35:30,080 Speaker 2: my brother who's two years younger than me. He's now 736 00:35:30,120 --> 00:35:33,520 Speaker 2: seeing my ex. They ran into each other at a 737 00:35:33,520 --> 00:35:35,839 Speaker 2: bar and supposedly hit it off and went from there. 738 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:39,040 Speaker 2: Apparently she's a totally new person now or something, and 739 00:35:39,080 --> 00:35:41,920 Speaker 2: my brother wants me to try and be understanding. Luckily 740 00:35:41,960 --> 00:35:44,040 Speaker 2: for me, I don't live in the same state anymore, 741 00:35:44,040 --> 00:35:46,319 Speaker 2: so I haven't been forced with making a decision on 742 00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:49,080 Speaker 2: seeing them. However, my parents called the other day and 743 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:51,120 Speaker 2: asked about my holiday plans at the end of the year. 744 00:35:51,400 --> 00:35:54,400 Speaker 2: They said that my brother and my ex his girlfriend 745 00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:57,160 Speaker 2: will be invited to Thanksgiving and Christmas if they want 746 00:35:57,160 --> 00:36:00,720 Speaker 2: to come. I absolutely won't stand for it and don't 747 00:36:00,719 --> 00:36:03,480 Speaker 2: want to see her, and now my family is upset 748 00:36:03,520 --> 00:36:07,839 Speaker 2: at me. Am I completely insane. I'm losing my mind here. 749 00:36:08,040 --> 00:36:11,000 Speaker 2: We have some comments, though common nuber one. It's their house. 750 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:13,360 Speaker 2: They can invite her, but you don't have to attend. 751 00:36:13,560 --> 00:36:16,279 Speaker 2: They should respect your position in not being interested in 752 00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:19,240 Speaker 2: exposing yourself to that. That's fine for the short term. 753 00:36:19,280 --> 00:36:22,480 Speaker 2: What if they marry and become a permanent fixture. Has 754 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:24,720 Speaker 2: she reached out to you and to try to patch 755 00:36:24,760 --> 00:36:27,240 Speaker 2: things up on a personal level. I bet she hasn't 756 00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:30,400 Speaker 2: she wronged you, and there is almost certainly unfinished issues 757 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:34,160 Speaker 2: between you. This cannot come from someone acting on her behalf. 758 00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:38,840 Speaker 2: It must come from her directly. Accept no envoys acting 759 00:36:38,840 --> 00:36:41,040 Speaker 2: on her behalf. If she has changed, then she can 760 00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:43,520 Speaker 2: clean up the mess she left in my experienced people, 761 00:36:43,600 --> 00:36:45,920 Speaker 2: your family will try to smooth things over, but she 762 00:36:46,120 --> 00:36:48,680 Speaker 2: will not. That's how you know that she hasn't really 763 00:36:48,719 --> 00:36:51,399 Speaker 2: changed or improved. That's how you know it's the right 764 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:54,480 Speaker 2: thing to stay. Let them play happy families without hurting 765 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:58,719 Speaker 2: you with an unrepentant and unreformed cheater fan firm on this. 766 00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:02,440 Speaker 2: If it's a multi year issue, example, she hasn't already 767 00:37:02,520 --> 00:37:04,680 Speaker 2: cheated on him and split up, decide what she would 768 00:37:04,680 --> 00:37:06,640 Speaker 2: do to redeem herself to the point that you can 769 00:37:06,719 --> 00:37:09,279 Speaker 2: stand being in the room with her. Then insists that 770 00:37:09,360 --> 00:37:12,160 Speaker 2: she does it before you will attend anything involving her. 771 00:37:12,440 --> 00:37:17,040 Speaker 2: Once a cheater, almost always defective, Opie says, to answer 772 00:37:17,040 --> 00:37:19,440 Speaker 2: one of your questions, she has supposedly wanted to reach 773 00:37:19,520 --> 00:37:21,520 Speaker 2: out to me, but I completely cut her off and 774 00:37:21,600 --> 00:37:23,920 Speaker 2: blocked her number and have made it clear to never 775 00:37:23,960 --> 00:37:27,120 Speaker 2: contact me again. I have reiterated this to my family. 776 00:37:27,680 --> 00:37:30,399 Speaker 2: As for if it's a multi year thing. My head 777 00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:32,880 Speaker 2: hurts thinking about it. I didn't find out about her 778 00:37:32,960 --> 00:37:36,279 Speaker 2: cheating until year four. Feels impossible for me to ever 779 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:39,239 Speaker 2: think of regaining trust in her in any capacity. 780 00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:39,480 Speaker 1: You know? 781 00:37:39,800 --> 00:37:42,359 Speaker 2: Someone else responds, she wants to talk to you so 782 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:44,319 Speaker 2: that she can check a little box in her head 783 00:37:44,360 --> 00:37:47,160 Speaker 2: that says, see, he's okay, so I'm not so bad 784 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:50,560 Speaker 2: after all. You can allow that or not at your 785 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:53,120 Speaker 2: own whim. In my opinion, you should skip the holidays. 786 00:37:53,280 --> 00:37:55,280 Speaker 2: What are the odds is she's really a changed person 787 00:37:55,320 --> 00:37:57,719 Speaker 2: in her and your brothers aren't broken up in one 788 00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:00,680 Speaker 2: to two years. They're asking you to rip open your 789 00:38:00,680 --> 00:38:05,200 Speaker 2: wounds for what is almost surely a temporary relationship. Comment 790 00:38:05,280 --> 00:38:08,280 Speaker 2: number two of this comment is downvoted. You were not insane, 791 00:38:08,440 --> 00:38:11,120 Speaker 2: But I will say this, Does she matter to you anymore? 792 00:38:11,400 --> 00:38:14,720 Speaker 2: If not, then who cares? People? Don't change. Your brother 793 00:38:14,760 --> 00:38:16,920 Speaker 2: will find out soon enough what the deal is. Don't 794 00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:20,400 Speaker 2: let it bother you. It's not worth your energy. Opie says, No, 795 00:38:21,080 --> 00:38:23,960 Speaker 2: she doesn't matter, but my family does. I hope I'll 796 00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:26,719 Speaker 2: never have to use past tense. The biggest difficulty is 797 00:38:26,760 --> 00:38:29,080 Speaker 2: my relationship with my brother. I don't know if betrayal 798 00:38:29,239 --> 00:38:32,040 Speaker 2: is the accurate word to describe my feelings, but that's 799 00:38:32,120 --> 00:38:34,840 Speaker 2: what hurts more. We do have an update. First off, 800 00:38:35,040 --> 00:38:37,120 Speaker 2: I want to thank all of you who responded in 801 00:38:37,160 --> 00:38:39,319 Speaker 2: the original thread and motivated me to have a long 802 00:38:39,360 --> 00:38:42,359 Speaker 2: and uncomfortable conversation with my family last night. I'm going 803 00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:45,480 Speaker 2: to try my best to summarize the details and feelings 804 00:38:45,520 --> 00:38:48,560 Speaker 2: of my family as I decide what to do from here. Brother, 805 00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:51,319 Speaker 2: so we did a bit of a deep dive into 806 00:38:51,360 --> 00:38:53,920 Speaker 2: the relationship. Essentially, they met at a bar at the 807 00:38:53,960 --> 00:38:56,880 Speaker 2: beginning of the year. She sought him out, recognized him, 808 00:38:56,880 --> 00:38:59,480 Speaker 2: and approached him. She said she had wanted to apologize 809 00:38:59,520 --> 00:39:01,120 Speaker 2: to me for the longest time, but I was no 810 00:39:01,200 --> 00:39:04,520 Speaker 2: contact with her, so it didn't work. She basically apologized 811 00:39:04,520 --> 00:39:06,879 Speaker 2: to me through my brother, but he didn't really want 812 00:39:06,920 --> 00:39:09,359 Speaker 2: to get in the middle. For some unknown reason, they 813 00:39:09,440 --> 00:39:11,680 Speaker 2: just kept talking and catching up, and I guess they 814 00:39:11,880 --> 00:39:15,040 Speaker 2: just instantly hinded off. Supposedly, she has been going to 815 00:39:15,080 --> 00:39:17,760 Speaker 2: therapy and hates who she was then and the things 816 00:39:17,760 --> 00:39:20,640 Speaker 2: she did. So they exchanged numbers and it all went 817 00:39:20,719 --> 00:39:22,839 Speaker 2: from there. He keeps trying to tell me that I 818 00:39:22,920 --> 00:39:24,960 Speaker 2: would think she's a different person if I gave her 819 00:39:24,960 --> 00:39:27,719 Speaker 2: a chance, still have no desire to do so, I 820 00:39:27,880 --> 00:39:30,839 Speaker 2: asked if I ever get brought up, and supposedly they 821 00:39:30,840 --> 00:39:33,120 Speaker 2: don't talk about it much because she's ashamed of who 822 00:39:33,160 --> 00:39:35,960 Speaker 2: she was. Then uh, again, this is all from his perspective, 823 00:39:36,040 --> 00:39:38,759 Speaker 2: so who knows what's real and what's rose colored. We 824 00:39:38,840 --> 00:39:41,480 Speaker 2: basically ended with him saying he's happy and he's sorry 825 00:39:41,480 --> 00:39:43,319 Speaker 2: for how crappy of a position this puts me in, 826 00:39:43,400 --> 00:39:46,000 Speaker 2: but to just try and give her and them a shot, 827 00:39:46,120 --> 00:39:48,760 Speaker 2: and we're gonna go into the mom But I it's 828 00:39:49,680 --> 00:39:51,919 Speaker 2: I have a lot of thoughts on that one too. 829 00:39:52,280 --> 00:39:56,319 Speaker 2: I just like, don't I don't know, I if she 830 00:39:56,600 --> 00:40:00,280 Speaker 2: wants to patch things up, like if she believes that like, oh, okay, 831 00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:02,440 Speaker 2: I you know, am in love with your brother. He's 832 00:40:02,440 --> 00:40:04,239 Speaker 2: the one for me. Blah blah blah, I see me 833 00:40:04,640 --> 00:40:08,799 Speaker 2: being with him. Then you have to recognize who you 834 00:40:08,840 --> 00:40:12,720 Speaker 2: were before if you have changed mm hmmm, which a doubt, 835 00:40:13,160 --> 00:40:16,240 Speaker 2: but you know, giving her the benefit of the doubt. Sure, 836 00:40:16,400 --> 00:40:19,680 Speaker 2: you have to acknowledge what you did in the past, 837 00:40:19,880 --> 00:40:23,279 Speaker 2: and you can't just apologize through someone else. You know, 838 00:40:23,360 --> 00:40:25,160 Speaker 2: you have to go up to that person, even if 839 00:40:25,160 --> 00:40:27,200 Speaker 2: they don't want it if they are, like you know, 840 00:40:27,280 --> 00:40:29,480 Speaker 2: cause I in that situation, like if my ass came 841 00:40:29,520 --> 00:40:32,400 Speaker 2: up to me, no way, absolutely no way, would there 842 00:40:32,440 --> 00:40:34,400 Speaker 2: ever be a conversation. Would there ever be like a 843 00:40:34,400 --> 00:40:36,600 Speaker 2: face to face like no, like you know what you 844 00:40:36,680 --> 00:40:38,799 Speaker 2: did and that's it, and if you want to go 845 00:40:38,840 --> 00:40:41,279 Speaker 2: and do this, leave me out of it. But like 846 00:40:41,560 --> 00:40:45,160 Speaker 2: now you're going to my family, Like, no, that's not okay. 847 00:40:45,320 --> 00:40:48,560 Speaker 2: I I don't like that exactly. Yeah, what I don't 848 00:40:48,680 --> 00:40:52,560 Speaker 2: like is that he's trying to convince Opie that she's 849 00:40:52,600 --> 00:40:55,879 Speaker 2: a different person and ask for her to be given 850 00:40:55,960 --> 00:40:59,480 Speaker 2: a chance, but not so that she can start dating 851 00:40:59,480 --> 00:41:02,520 Speaker 2: op again, and so she like that's just such a 852 00:41:02,560 --> 00:41:05,800 Speaker 2: weird thing of like, Okay, I'm being asked to forgive 853 00:41:05,840 --> 00:41:08,400 Speaker 2: my ex for what she did to me, not so 854 00:41:08,440 --> 00:41:10,640 Speaker 2: that we can give it another shot, and I don't 855 00:41:10,760 --> 00:41:12,439 Speaker 2: not so I can give her a chance to try 856 00:41:12,440 --> 00:41:14,759 Speaker 2: things again with me, but now to try things with 857 00:41:14,800 --> 00:41:17,440 Speaker 2: my brother. That's just weird. It's just weird. That's it's 858 00:41:17,600 --> 00:41:20,080 Speaker 2: very very weird. And also I just don't really like 859 00:41:20,200 --> 00:41:23,160 Speaker 2: the whole Like I don't know, if I didn't like 860 00:41:23,239 --> 00:41:26,520 Speaker 2: your your brother, I probably wouldn't like your. 861 00:41:26,400 --> 00:41:28,719 Speaker 3: Brother like, I don't you know, I don't know. 862 00:41:28,880 --> 00:41:30,759 Speaker 2: If I didn't like you, I probably won't like your brother. 863 00:41:30,800 --> 00:41:33,400 Speaker 2: I'm just I don't know. You do not have to 864 00:41:33,480 --> 00:41:36,960 Speaker 2: keep it in the family. Yeah, exactly the conversation with 865 00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:39,960 Speaker 2: my mom for context. My mother is a very religious person, 866 00:41:40,040 --> 00:41:42,680 Speaker 2: but in my opinion, she represents the best of religion. 867 00:41:42,840 --> 00:41:46,000 Speaker 2: She's kind, generous, thoughtful, and all that good stuff. But 868 00:41:46,120 --> 00:41:48,840 Speaker 2: she's also very forgiving, and I think that's where the 869 00:41:48,880 --> 00:41:52,240 Speaker 2: issue is here. This was the hardest conversation. She admitted 870 00:41:52,280 --> 00:41:54,920 Speaker 2: she had reservations, but searched within herself to try and 871 00:41:54,960 --> 00:41:57,120 Speaker 2: find forgiveness. If it was meant to be so, she 872 00:41:57,200 --> 00:41:59,040 Speaker 2: was willing to give it a shot, and she's been 873 00:41:59,080 --> 00:42:01,360 Speaker 2: happy with the two of them. It seems like they're 874 00:42:01,360 --> 00:42:03,480 Speaker 2: doing all the right things in her eyes, to earn 875 00:42:03,520 --> 00:42:06,480 Speaker 2: that forgiveness. She started crying, which eats me up, and 876 00:42:06,560 --> 00:42:08,759 Speaker 2: talked about not wanting to see her family torn up 877 00:42:08,800 --> 00:42:11,040 Speaker 2: and to try and see if I can find it 878 00:42:11,080 --> 00:42:13,239 Speaker 2: within myself to give this a shot. She said if 879 00:42:13,280 --> 00:42:15,840 Speaker 2: I couldn't, that I'd always be her son, and a 880 00:42:15,840 --> 00:42:18,320 Speaker 2: lot of other motherly stuff that hit me in the gut. 881 00:42:18,640 --> 00:42:21,520 Speaker 2: I felt like crap. After but I had to talk 882 00:42:21,560 --> 00:42:24,040 Speaker 2: to my dad, so I powered through. As for Dad, 883 00:42:24,239 --> 00:42:27,400 Speaker 2: he's kind of always been the if mom's happy, then 884 00:42:27,440 --> 00:42:30,520 Speaker 2: I'm happy type of mindset. Not much has really changed, 885 00:42:30,719 --> 00:42:33,160 Speaker 2: he said. He knows it's a tough situation, but to 886 00:42:33,160 --> 00:42:34,719 Speaker 2: see if I can find a way to give it 887 00:42:34,719 --> 00:42:37,480 Speaker 2: a shot. Yeah, I'm glad we're having these conversations. At 888 00:42:37,560 --> 00:42:40,839 Speaker 2: least it's true seeing how everyone else is feeling. Yeah, 889 00:42:40,880 --> 00:42:44,200 Speaker 2: because it's just it's a weird situation. But also like 890 00:42:44,520 --> 00:42:47,480 Speaker 2: to hear, like if I were to have this conversation, 891 00:42:47,600 --> 00:42:48,920 Speaker 2: like if I were Opie and I were to have 892 00:42:48,960 --> 00:42:51,840 Speaker 2: this conversation with my firshault, this would never happen in 893 00:42:51,840 --> 00:42:55,960 Speaker 2: my family, right, everyone hates the same people in my No, 894 00:42:56,160 --> 00:42:58,399 Speaker 2: there would never be an issue on that because one 895 00:42:58,400 --> 00:43:01,800 Speaker 2: thing we can all agree on. So like I think, 896 00:43:02,239 --> 00:43:04,880 Speaker 2: like if if I were to put myself in this 897 00:43:04,920 --> 00:43:08,640 Speaker 2: situation and my mom would be like, I think we 898 00:43:08,760 --> 00:43:11,440 Speaker 2: just need to give her another chance and stuff, I 899 00:43:11,520 --> 00:43:13,319 Speaker 2: that would rub me the wrong way, cause then it's like, 900 00:43:13,680 --> 00:43:17,000 Speaker 2: didn't you see what happened to me? Didn't you see 901 00:43:17,040 --> 00:43:19,880 Speaker 2: me go through all of that? Don't you not want 902 00:43:19,920 --> 00:43:24,960 Speaker 2: that for me or your other son? Like, you know, yeah, no, absolutely, 903 00:43:25,040 --> 00:43:28,759 Speaker 2: and it's just like it's not even just like that 904 00:43:28,840 --> 00:43:30,960 Speaker 2: this is gonna be a problem in this moment too. 905 00:43:31,080 --> 00:43:33,960 Speaker 2: It's like, this is gonna be a problem, something uncomfortable 906 00:43:34,000 --> 00:43:36,919 Speaker 2: whenever you like hit milestones, because then I'm gonna remember 907 00:43:37,000 --> 00:43:39,160 Speaker 2: hitting those milestones with her, and then I'm gonna remember 908 00:43:39,280 --> 00:43:42,880 Speaker 2: how confused and betrayed I felt thinking that she was 909 00:43:43,200 --> 00:43:47,360 Speaker 2: cheating on me that whole time, you know exactly. So yeah, Luckily, 910 00:43:47,440 --> 00:43:49,640 Speaker 2: my dad said if it isn't something I can do, 911 00:43:49,719 --> 00:43:51,960 Speaker 2: then we can do something separate from my brother and 912 00:43:51,960 --> 00:43:54,319 Speaker 2: his girlfriend for the holidays. My mom is hurt about 913 00:43:54,320 --> 00:43:56,359 Speaker 2: the idea, but he said he'd get her to come 914 00:43:56,400 --> 00:43:58,359 Speaker 2: around to make sure that they get to see both 915 00:43:58,400 --> 00:44:00,840 Speaker 2: of their sons in some way. So while it was 916 00:44:00,960 --> 00:44:03,480 Speaker 2: nice to talk and learn more, I still feel stuck 917 00:44:03,520 --> 00:44:05,799 Speaker 2: in the situation. I don't mind going back home and 918 00:44:05,840 --> 00:44:08,640 Speaker 2: doing something separate, but not sure if we can dance 919 00:44:08,680 --> 00:44:11,480 Speaker 2: around the elephant in the room. I told them I'd 920 00:44:11,480 --> 00:44:13,560 Speaker 2: think about my decision and let them know in a 921 00:44:13,600 --> 00:44:15,799 Speaker 2: couple of weeks. I hope this helps, and if you 922 00:44:15,840 --> 00:44:19,080 Speaker 2: have more ideas, I'll take them. Thanks guys, And there 923 00:44:19,120 --> 00:44:23,160 Speaker 2: are some comments. Comming number one says, sorry, Ope, that stings. 924 00:44:23,440 --> 00:44:25,480 Speaker 2: Long story short, Your family has chosen the one who 925 00:44:25,640 --> 00:44:28,640 Speaker 2: cheated on you over you. Someone else responds, why is 926 00:44:28,680 --> 00:44:31,440 Speaker 2: the mother the one who is trying to forgive Opie's 927 00:44:31,520 --> 00:44:34,160 Speaker 2: cheating X, She's not even the victim. Mother has a 928 00:44:34,200 --> 00:44:36,839 Speaker 2: clear bias on which kid she likes, and it's not op. 929 00:44:37,280 --> 00:44:40,120 Speaker 2: Someone else responds, sounds more like they have two sons 930 00:44:40,239 --> 00:44:43,400 Speaker 2: and just want them around for the holidays, preferably altogether. 931 00:44:43,600 --> 00:44:47,440 Speaker 2: But they're willing to be like the two Christmas kids 932 00:44:47,640 --> 00:44:51,080 Speaker 2: to their son's role as the divorce. Just go make 933 00:44:51,120 --> 00:44:53,160 Speaker 2: it super awkward for your bro and X as you 934 00:44:53,200 --> 00:44:55,879 Speaker 2: wonder aloud if she tastes any different in the Yule 935 00:44:55,920 --> 00:45:05,920 Speaker 2: log crazy, don't say that, coppeture, that's crazy. You only 936 00:45:06,080 --> 00:45:08,640 Speaker 2: got one life. Don't hold on to anger, don't take 937 00:45:08,719 --> 00:45:13,200 Speaker 2: everything as a mortal wound. Um And yeah, Op doesn't 938 00:45:13,200 --> 00:45:16,200 Speaker 2: respond to any of these. And that's the end of 939 00:45:16,200 --> 00:45:19,000 Speaker 2: this story. We're gonna go on to the next one. 940 00:45:20,160 --> 00:45:23,759 Speaker 2: I cut ties with my cheating father. Now my brother 941 00:45:24,000 --> 00:45:28,879 Speaker 2: is furious. Does he not understand since I thirty five 942 00:45:28,920 --> 00:45:33,719 Speaker 2: female was a baby, my father sixty seven male has 943 00:45:33,880 --> 00:45:38,080 Speaker 2: never changed his philandering ways. I have grown up seen 944 00:45:38,160 --> 00:45:41,600 Speaker 2: my mother and father's toxic relationship, yet my mother never 945 00:45:41,719 --> 00:45:44,279 Speaker 2: kicked him out for all the thirty six years of 946 00:45:44,360 --> 00:45:48,600 Speaker 2: marriage with my father being unfaithful. By the way, this 947 00:45:48,680 --> 00:45:51,520 Speaker 2: comes from you throw away seventeen and if you would 948 00:45:51,600 --> 00:45:53,840 Speaker 2: like to submit your own stories, you can go to 949 00:45:54,000 --> 00:45:58,480 Speaker 2: the Okay story time subreddit. I'm Savannah and I'm Angie, 950 00:45:58,840 --> 00:46:01,560 Speaker 2: and we're here to give you some good advice. Goofully. 951 00:46:02,080 --> 00:46:05,160 Speaker 2: But obviously we are not professionals. We're just telling you 952 00:46:05,200 --> 00:46:07,040 Speaker 2: what we would do in this situation, so take it 953 00:46:07,040 --> 00:46:09,919 Speaker 2: with a grain of salt. All right, let's get back 954 00:46:09,920 --> 00:46:13,319 Speaker 2: to OP. I have been in countless therapy sessions as 955 00:46:13,360 --> 00:46:16,479 Speaker 2: an adult due to depression cause by this my mom 956 00:46:16,560 --> 00:46:19,320 Speaker 2: has been keeping it strong and has only her friend 957 00:46:19,320 --> 00:46:22,279 Speaker 2: and I to talk to for support. Last week, my 958 00:46:22,400 --> 00:46:26,520 Speaker 2: father royally messed up by accidentally going on Facebook live 959 00:46:26,560 --> 00:46:31,279 Speaker 2: with his new mistress and see through very sheer clothing. 960 00:46:31,640 --> 00:46:34,520 Speaker 2: Oh god. This was viewed by my sister in law, 961 00:46:35,000 --> 00:46:39,799 Speaker 2: my cousins on both parents' sides, my mother's coworker who 962 00:46:39,880 --> 00:46:43,520 Speaker 2: they're friends with, and many other people in his friends list, 963 00:46:43,600 --> 00:46:49,640 Speaker 2: including me who lives overseas. I was so heartbroken, angry, sad, 964 00:46:50,040 --> 00:46:53,600 Speaker 2: and to be honest, quite feeling vengeful. For the past 965 00:46:53,680 --> 00:46:56,759 Speaker 2: few days, I screenshot her image on his Facebook to 966 00:46:56,840 --> 00:46:59,319 Speaker 2: send to him and confront him, as well as telling 967 00:46:59,440 --> 00:47:01,920 Speaker 2: him that I am cutting ties with him, practically saying 968 00:47:02,480 --> 00:47:05,640 Speaker 2: that he has now passed away to me. My brother, 969 00:47:05,840 --> 00:47:09,279 Speaker 2: twenty nine male, found out from my mother, whom I 970 00:47:09,360 --> 00:47:12,560 Speaker 2: have been in close contact with for emotional support, that 971 00:47:12,640 --> 00:47:15,320 Speaker 2: I have cut ties with my father and was furious 972 00:47:15,400 --> 00:47:18,600 Speaker 2: because he thinks that family is family no matter what. 973 00:47:18,960 --> 00:47:21,600 Speaker 2: I told him that my mother doesn't deserve us sticking 974 00:47:21,680 --> 00:47:24,160 Speaker 2: with our father, what with all the pain he has 975 00:47:24,239 --> 00:47:26,680 Speaker 2: caused her, and it's about time for someone to stand 976 00:47:26,719 --> 00:47:29,040 Speaker 2: up for our mother. I love my brother, but I 977 00:47:29,120 --> 00:47:32,000 Speaker 2: want to make him understand that what I did is 978 00:47:32,040 --> 00:47:35,000 Speaker 2: for my own mental health as well as for my mother's, 979 00:47:35,480 --> 00:47:38,279 Speaker 2: as well as to at least reclaim some of the 980 00:47:38,320 --> 00:47:41,800 Speaker 2: dignity caused by my father's shameful act. He has comment 981 00:47:41,880 --> 00:47:45,200 Speaker 2: Number one, your brother sees how your father behaved, yet 982 00:47:45,280 --> 00:47:48,000 Speaker 2: after thirty six years, he's still married to your mother. 983 00:47:48,160 --> 00:47:50,920 Speaker 2: This is how your brother thinks successful relationships work, and 984 00:47:50,960 --> 00:47:53,680 Speaker 2: he doesn't want you rocking the boat just replied, he 985 00:47:53,800 --> 00:47:57,200 Speaker 2: sees OP as the root cause of the problem, because 986 00:47:57,200 --> 00:47:59,479 Speaker 2: in his mind, the problem is OP causing a fuss. 987 00:47:59,480 --> 00:48:02,240 Speaker 2: He doesn't see the dad's cheating as a problem. Comment 988 00:48:02,520 --> 00:48:06,319 Speaker 2: number two. Your brother doesn't have to understand it. You 989 00:48:06,360 --> 00:48:08,840 Speaker 2: can't really make people agree with you, but you don't 990 00:48:08,880 --> 00:48:11,319 Speaker 2: have to. You can just tell him I'm not going 991 00:48:11,320 --> 00:48:14,280 Speaker 2: to hurt myself for somebody else, even if they are family. 992 00:48:14,600 --> 00:48:17,439 Speaker 2: If you don't understand that, that's okay. But I don't 993 00:48:17,440 --> 00:48:19,399 Speaker 2: want to discuss it with you if you're only going 994 00:48:19,440 --> 00:48:21,480 Speaker 2: to try to make me feel bad. If you think 995 00:48:21,520 --> 00:48:23,680 Speaker 2: family is family no matter what, then I expect you 996 00:48:23,719 --> 00:48:26,719 Speaker 2: to be supportive of me your family. And if you 997 00:48:26,760 --> 00:48:29,200 Speaker 2: think family is not family no matter what, then you 998 00:48:29,320 --> 00:48:31,759 Speaker 2: might start to understand why I had to do this. 999 00:48:32,320 --> 00:48:35,359 Speaker 2: The point is set boundaries so you can get along 1000 00:48:35,400 --> 00:48:38,560 Speaker 2: with your brother without feeling bad, without falling into the 1001 00:48:38,560 --> 00:48:41,360 Speaker 2: same track he did. He thinks he should get to 1002 00:48:41,400 --> 00:48:44,239 Speaker 2: change your view. He can present his view, but you 1003 00:48:44,280 --> 00:48:47,319 Speaker 2: get to decide for yourself and he should respect that. 1004 00:48:47,640 --> 00:48:50,960 Speaker 2: While setting boundaries so that you don't feel bad when 1005 00:48:50,960 --> 00:48:54,480 Speaker 2: you interact with each other, which might mean agreeing not 1006 00:48:54,640 --> 00:48:55,560 Speaker 2: to discuss. 1007 00:48:55,200 --> 00:48:56,240 Speaker 1: This issue together. 1008 00:48:56,400 --> 00:49:00,080 Speaker 2: Further so, going to comment number three, there is this 1009 00:49:00,280 --> 00:49:02,120 Speaker 2: thing that my mother in law, who is in the 1010 00:49:02,120 --> 00:49:05,120 Speaker 2: mental health field, told me what others think of me 1011 00:49:05,360 --> 00:49:07,640 Speaker 2: is none of my business. It might seem like an 1012 00:49:07,640 --> 00:49:10,279 Speaker 2: odd thing to say in this instance, but hear me out. 1013 00:49:10,640 --> 00:49:12,879 Speaker 2: You will never truly be able to change what others 1014 00:49:12,920 --> 00:49:15,160 Speaker 2: think of you, and it's not really your place to 1015 00:49:15,360 --> 00:49:18,040 Speaker 2: because their thoughts are their own and yours or your own. 1016 00:49:18,320 --> 00:49:20,400 Speaker 2: Let your brother think when you will, let him be 1017 00:49:20,480 --> 00:49:23,520 Speaker 2: the one on the outer stand firm. If you feel 1018 00:49:23,560 --> 00:49:26,360 Speaker 2: the need to say anything, just point out that you 1019 00:49:26,440 --> 00:49:28,839 Speaker 2: haven't done anything that your father hasn't already done on 1020 00:49:28,880 --> 00:49:31,600 Speaker 2: his own, and that pointing out that you were the 1021 00:49:31,640 --> 00:49:34,719 Speaker 2: only one to finally say something doesn't make you the perpetrator. 1022 00:49:34,840 --> 00:49:36,759 Speaker 2: He needs to deal with it in his own way. 1023 00:49:36,760 --> 00:49:39,120 Speaker 2: And maybe he doesn't see anything wrong with what your 1024 00:49:39,200 --> 00:49:41,560 Speaker 2: father is doing because he has grown up with it 1025 00:49:41,920 --> 00:49:44,520 Speaker 2: going on, and now that someone has pointed out that 1026 00:49:44,560 --> 00:49:48,920 Speaker 2: it's unacceptable, his world has been racked. You need time 1027 00:49:48,960 --> 00:49:51,200 Speaker 2: to deal with what your father did, and I am 1028 00:49:51,360 --> 00:49:53,560 Speaker 2: sure it wouldn't be easy for you to deal with 1029 00:49:53,600 --> 00:49:55,880 Speaker 2: your own feelings while also assisting your mother to do 1030 00:49:55,960 --> 00:49:59,040 Speaker 2: the same. But what your father did must surely be 1031 00:49:59,239 --> 00:50:02,120 Speaker 2: a double edge sword for your mother because the added 1032 00:50:02,160 --> 00:50:04,920 Speaker 2: embarrassment of him posting it on Facebook for the world 1033 00:50:04,960 --> 00:50:07,400 Speaker 2: to see. So I think you and your mother should 1034 00:50:07,400 --> 00:50:11,200 Speaker 2: seek some counseling to help you through all this. Agreed, Yep, 1035 00:50:11,360 --> 00:50:13,120 Speaker 2: give your brother some time to work through all of 1036 00:50:13,120 --> 00:50:14,600 Speaker 2: this on his own. Try to talk to him again 1037 00:50:14,600 --> 00:50:18,680 Speaker 2: when the wound is not as fresh. Update. Oh, let's 1038 00:50:18,680 --> 00:50:23,160 Speaker 2: do it. Thank you redditors for your support and kind words. Yes, 1039 00:50:23,440 --> 00:50:25,759 Speaker 2: my brother seems like he has also taken after my 1040 00:50:25,800 --> 00:50:29,240 Speaker 2: father's lifestyle. My brother's ex saw the video as well 1041 00:50:29,320 --> 00:50:31,960 Speaker 2: of my father and knew that I would need someone 1042 00:50:32,000 --> 00:50:34,560 Speaker 2: to talk to as she was like a sisternamy. We 1043 00:50:34,640 --> 00:50:36,880 Speaker 2: have been friends for so many years. Even after their breakup, 1044 00:50:36,960 --> 00:50:38,719 Speaker 2: she told me about the reason why they broke up, 1045 00:50:38,760 --> 00:50:41,400 Speaker 2: and now it made total sense. My brother was not 1046 00:50:41,600 --> 00:50:43,759 Speaker 2: loyal to her either for the past five years that 1047 00:50:43,800 --> 00:50:45,799 Speaker 2: they were together. She broke up with him after he 1048 00:50:45,920 --> 00:50:49,879 Speaker 2: cheated on her the second time. My home country does 1049 00:50:49,920 --> 00:50:54,040 Speaker 2: not have divorce, only annulment that is available, and it 1050 00:50:54,120 --> 00:50:57,759 Speaker 2: is quite long, tedious and expensive. Unfortunately, my father still 1051 00:50:57,800 --> 00:51:01,040 Speaker 2: lives with my mother, thus will not be sitting home ever. 1052 00:51:01,520 --> 00:51:04,160 Speaker 2: I found out that my father had two mistresses, and 1053 00:51:04,200 --> 00:51:06,320 Speaker 2: out of anger, I sent the screenshot of my father's 1054 00:51:06,400 --> 00:51:10,719 Speaker 2: live video of Side Chick one to side chick number two. 1055 00:51:11,200 --> 00:51:14,200 Speaker 2: I told both women that I promise not to tell 1056 00:51:14,200 --> 00:51:16,560 Speaker 2: their husbands and children if they return any gift of 1057 00:51:16,640 --> 00:51:19,240 Speaker 2: value that my father has given them and hand it 1058 00:51:19,280 --> 00:51:21,439 Speaker 2: to my mother to make sure that she can sell 1059 00:51:21,520 --> 00:51:25,319 Speaker 2: or pawn them. Haha, Okay, that's a way to do it. 1060 00:51:25,680 --> 00:51:28,879 Speaker 2: I mean, yeah, she's like, listen, she did like the 1061 00:51:29,000 --> 00:51:34,319 Speaker 2: Reynolds pamphlet literally and you can keep seeing. Yeah, she's 1062 00:51:34,360 --> 00:51:38,640 Speaker 2: like literally blackmailing them, you know, just keep just letting 1063 00:51:38,920 --> 00:51:42,560 Speaker 2: keep the money, right. I was able to track mistresses 1064 00:51:42,680 --> 00:51:47,080 Speaker 2: famili's info. Ah. Needless to say, my father is now 1065 00:51:47,120 --> 00:51:50,160 Speaker 2: also in hot water with both mistresses, aside from my mother, 1066 00:51:50,239 --> 00:51:52,719 Speaker 2: who is now only keeping him in the house so 1067 00:51:52,920 --> 00:51:55,799 Speaker 2: long as he gives her all of his retirement money 1068 00:51:55,800 --> 00:51:59,440 Speaker 2: as payback for all the pain has cased. As crushed 1069 00:51:59,440 --> 00:52:01,920 Speaker 2: as I am, I've done such, I am happy to 1070 00:52:02,000 --> 00:52:04,040 Speaker 2: at least see my father in this dilemma I have 1071 00:52:04,160 --> 00:52:06,600 Speaker 2: created for him. I've told my brother my reasons and 1072 00:52:06,640 --> 00:52:09,640 Speaker 2: told him that I understand his position, but that is 1073 00:52:09,680 --> 00:52:12,280 Speaker 2: not going to change my decision about me cutting ties 1074 00:52:12,320 --> 00:52:16,680 Speaker 2: with my father. There is another update, But what thoughts? 1075 00:52:17,120 --> 00:52:19,560 Speaker 2: What are we thinking? Oh Bi, I think you're so petty, 1076 00:52:19,600 --> 00:52:24,000 Speaker 2: but I really like what you did. I usually don't like, 1077 00:52:24,320 --> 00:52:27,160 Speaker 2: you know, those petty responses and stuff, but honestly, like 1078 00:52:27,640 --> 00:52:30,960 Speaker 2: he deserved it. Yeah, he totally deserved it. And because 1079 00:52:31,239 --> 00:52:33,480 Speaker 2: because really I feel like you would probably want to 1080 00:52:33,560 --> 00:52:36,959 Speaker 2: do that anyway of like if you if your mom 1081 00:52:37,000 --> 00:52:39,200 Speaker 2: didn't know, for instance, like you would want your mom 1082 00:52:39,239 --> 00:52:41,400 Speaker 2: to know and you would tell him like okay, dude, 1083 00:52:41,880 --> 00:52:43,920 Speaker 2: you tell her, you tell her or I do you know? 1084 00:52:43,960 --> 00:52:45,320 Speaker 2: And so you're kind of just doing that with the 1085 00:52:45,360 --> 00:52:48,160 Speaker 2: other mistress. Obviously you don't have the same obligation to 1086 00:52:48,200 --> 00:52:51,000 Speaker 2: them as you would your mom. But like still, it's 1087 00:52:51,000 --> 00:52:56,200 Speaker 2: like you're really just you know, you're you're advertising his 1088 00:52:56,200 --> 00:52:59,600 Speaker 2: his work, So you're really just like which he was 1089 00:52:59,640 --> 00:53:05,080 Speaker 2: already advertising by live literally yeah, those so crazy, Like 1090 00:53:05,120 --> 00:53:08,279 Speaker 2: what did you would you want to have happened? Yeah? 1091 00:53:08,280 --> 00:53:10,239 Speaker 2: Like he literally did it to himself and you just 1092 00:53:10,360 --> 00:53:12,839 Speaker 2: like literally got him the views that he wanted, right, 1093 00:53:13,200 --> 00:53:15,239 Speaker 2: and you're just like reaping the benefits now with all 1094 00:53:15,239 --> 00:53:18,400 Speaker 2: this other Ste's like Okay, give a mom the money. Yeah, exactly, 1095 00:53:18,960 --> 00:53:22,360 Speaker 2: all right, back to what Opie has said. I have 1096 00:53:22,520 --> 00:53:25,920 Speaker 2: also advised my mother to seek actual professional help, as 1097 00:53:26,000 --> 00:53:28,520 Speaker 2: my mental health is not at a good spot since 1098 00:53:28,560 --> 00:53:31,960 Speaker 2: I have been her sounding board for so many years now, 1099 00:53:32,000 --> 00:53:34,719 Speaker 2: which is hard otherwise. I asked her if she can 1100 00:53:34,760 --> 00:53:37,200 Speaker 2: speak to her sisters about it, as I am not 1101 00:53:37,320 --> 00:53:40,880 Speaker 2: mentally and emotionally equipped to handle this anymore. I have 1102 00:53:40,960 --> 00:53:44,279 Speaker 2: also blocked my father from all social media contacts and 1103 00:53:44,440 --> 00:53:47,480 Speaker 2: from contacting my children, eight and twelve year old girls. 1104 00:53:47,640 --> 00:53:50,280 Speaker 2: My boyfriend has been with me throughout this entire ordeal 1105 00:53:50,320 --> 00:53:52,440 Speaker 2: and has been very supportive of me and my decision. 1106 00:53:52,719 --> 00:53:55,120 Speaker 2: He was also my voice of reason and talked me 1107 00:53:55,280 --> 00:53:58,839 Speaker 2: out of my recklessness. So as to not contact any 1108 00:53:58,880 --> 00:54:01,520 Speaker 2: more of my father's miss is to avoid further pain 1109 00:54:01,640 --> 00:54:04,600 Speaker 2: on my side. It's like, but I won't revenge. Yeah, 1110 00:54:05,480 --> 00:54:08,399 Speaker 2: that's actually larious. But there's only three more I have 1111 00:54:08,480 --> 00:54:11,239 Speaker 2: to like figure out, hold me back, hold me back. 1112 00:54:11,920 --> 00:54:16,040 Speaker 2: I gotta talk to these mistresses. Oh my god, that's 1113 00:54:16,120 --> 00:54:19,520 Speaker 2: so that's that's it's not funny, but you know, think 1114 00:54:19,560 --> 00:54:24,279 Speaker 2: of it making light of a situation. I led him 1115 00:54:24,280 --> 00:54:29,680 Speaker 2: a terrible that's pretty funny. Right, All right, here's some comments. 1116 00:54:29,719 --> 00:54:32,520 Speaker 2: Comment one, did you confront your brother on his cheating? 1117 00:54:32,840 --> 00:54:36,160 Speaker 2: OHP responds, Yes, I did. He said he and his 1118 00:54:36,320 --> 00:54:39,200 Speaker 2: ex were working two different schedules and they drifted apart, 1119 00:54:39,560 --> 00:54:42,560 Speaker 2: that he never meant to have a lapse in judgment. 1120 00:54:43,000 --> 00:54:45,919 Speaker 2: I called his bus and told him that his ex 1121 00:54:46,000 --> 00:54:48,320 Speaker 2: was lucky to have gotten out of their relationship before 1122 00:54:48,440 --> 00:54:49,560 Speaker 2: they even married. 1123 00:54:49,960 --> 00:54:50,440 Speaker 1: She was a. 1124 00:54:50,520 --> 00:54:54,880 Speaker 2: Wonderful girlfriend and cared for my family genuinely. He married 1125 00:54:54,920 --> 00:54:57,520 Speaker 2: the girl he cheated on her with. I barely talked 1126 00:54:57,560 --> 00:54:59,480 Speaker 2: to her, and she knew that I never liked her. 1127 00:54:59,560 --> 00:55:02,160 Speaker 2: Because I found it fishy that my brother has one 1128 00:55:02,719 --> 00:55:05,680 Speaker 2: moved on so quickly, and to propose less than a 1129 00:55:05,760 --> 00:55:09,120 Speaker 2: year of them together, I knew something was fishy. Yeah. 1130 00:55:09,160 --> 00:55:13,040 Speaker 2: I openly call his ex sister and her child with 1131 00:55:13,160 --> 00:55:17,040 Speaker 2: her new husband niece. His wife hates it because she 1132 00:55:17,120 --> 00:55:20,000 Speaker 2: wants me to call her sister, to which I refuse 1133 00:55:20,400 --> 00:55:23,440 Speaker 2: because we never had a bond to begin with anyway. 1134 00:55:23,719 --> 00:55:27,200 Speaker 2: Common number two, good for you feel free toy cut 1135 00:55:27,200 --> 00:55:29,160 Speaker 2: out the toxic brother too. Sounds as if he is 1136 00:55:29,200 --> 00:55:31,719 Speaker 2: headed down the same path, so why allow him around 1137 00:55:31,760 --> 00:55:36,799 Speaker 2: your children? Avoid all the toxicity? Oh pe responds, I 1138 00:55:36,840 --> 00:55:39,719 Speaker 2: only talk to my mother now, as far as I'm concerned, 1139 00:55:40,080 --> 00:55:42,319 Speaker 2: I only have one family member now and that is 1140 00:55:42,360 --> 00:55:44,799 Speaker 2: my mother. Oh. Oh, I'm sorry it didn't work out 1141 00:55:44,840 --> 00:55:47,600 Speaker 2: with your brother, right, but it seems like he's just 1142 00:55:47,680 --> 00:55:51,120 Speaker 2: going down the same path. So obviously, honestly, if if 1143 00:55:51,160 --> 00:55:54,000 Speaker 2: it took you, what like the thirty six years of 1144 00:55:54,400 --> 00:55:57,200 Speaker 2: like doing it with a dad, like, if you it's honestly, 1145 00:55:57,239 --> 00:55:59,400 Speaker 2: you shouldn't have to wait another thirty six years if 1146 00:55:59,440 --> 00:56:01,600 Speaker 2: it's gonna be this same exact thing, you know right, 1147 00:56:01,800 --> 00:56:03,759 Speaker 2: just a different person doing the same thing to you, 1148 00:56:03,760 --> 00:56:06,560 Speaker 2: you know right. I feel like you have the opportunity, 1149 00:56:06,600 --> 00:56:08,319 Speaker 2: you know the signs, you know what you want in 1150 00:56:08,360 --> 00:56:10,120 Speaker 2: your life and what you don't exactly. 1151 00:56:10,239 --> 00:56:13,319 Speaker 1: Oh and that is the end, Hey is John Ogi host. 1152 00:56:13,320 --> 00:56:14,839 Speaker 1: We're gonna get back to the stories, but a quick 1153 00:56:14,880 --> 00:56:16,560 Speaker 1: three minute break of ads from our sponsors. 1154 00:56:17,040 --> 00:56:23,240 Speaker 2: My boyfriend cheated with an escort while I'm pregnant. Oh leave, 1155 00:56:23,880 --> 00:56:26,560 Speaker 2: Oh my gosh. And this comes directly from the r 1156 00:56:26,640 --> 00:56:29,080 Speaker 2: slash Okay storytime separate it. So this is one of 1157 00:56:29,120 --> 00:56:33,280 Speaker 2: our own out there. I twenty five female, am pregnant 1158 00:56:33,280 --> 00:56:37,200 Speaker 2: with by my boyfriend. Twenty eight male let's call him Junior. 1159 00:56:37,360 --> 00:56:41,160 Speaker 2: Last October, before our little week long trip to California 1160 00:56:41,200 --> 00:56:43,439 Speaker 2: from the East Coast, while on the plane, I made 1161 00:56:43,440 --> 00:56:46,400 Speaker 2: a joke about him cheating. I meant nothing serious by it, 1162 00:56:46,760 --> 00:56:49,520 Speaker 2: but when I looked at his face, I saw guilt. 1163 00:56:49,719 --> 00:56:52,200 Speaker 2: I pressed the matter, and while we were on our 1164 00:56:52,239 --> 00:56:54,960 Speaker 2: second flight, he confessed to me that he had slept 1165 00:56:54,960 --> 00:56:57,520 Speaker 2: with the Lady of the night a few weeks prior. 1166 00:56:58,080 --> 00:57:01,839 Speaker 2: Oh boy, like legit cash for a spicy sleep. By 1167 00:57:01,880 --> 00:57:05,000 Speaker 2: the way, this comes from Radiance Shoulder sixteen ninety one, 1168 00:57:05,000 --> 00:57:06,640 Speaker 2: and if you want to submit your own stories, go 1169 00:57:06,719 --> 00:57:09,960 Speaker 2: to the r slash Okay, storytime separatedit. I'm Angie and 1170 00:57:10,000 --> 00:57:12,640 Speaker 2: I'm Savannah, and we're here to give good advice goofy, 1171 00:57:12,680 --> 00:57:14,600 Speaker 2: but we don't have all the answers. We're just gonna 1172 00:57:14,600 --> 00:57:16,360 Speaker 2: guess what we would do in this situation. So let 1173 00:57:16,480 --> 00:57:18,360 Speaker 2: us know what you would do in the comments. So 1174 00:57:18,480 --> 00:57:21,640 Speaker 2: Opie says, I now had to spend a week with 1175 00:57:21,760 --> 00:57:25,160 Speaker 2: this man stuck in California doing activities with his family 1176 00:57:25,240 --> 00:57:28,120 Speaker 2: while we worked out logistics. I forgave him because I'm 1177 00:57:28,120 --> 00:57:30,280 Speaker 2: not about to hold that hate in my heart. We 1178 00:57:30,360 --> 00:57:32,920 Speaker 2: decided to work on a relationship and move forward. Moving 1179 00:57:32,960 --> 00:57:35,760 Speaker 2: on to January of this year, his mom let her 1180 00:57:35,880 --> 00:57:39,800 Speaker 2: friend host a mini sweet sixteen for her daughter at 1181 00:57:39,840 --> 00:57:43,120 Speaker 2: my boyfriend's house. Long story with that living arrangement. While 1182 00:57:43,160 --> 00:57:46,480 Speaker 2: I was in my boyfriend's room just chillin', the birthday 1183 00:57:46,480 --> 00:57:49,440 Speaker 2: girl and her twenty year old cousin went up to 1184 00:57:49,520 --> 00:57:52,920 Speaker 2: my boyfriend and asked him if he wanted her hmmm. 1185 00:57:54,000 --> 00:57:58,960 Speaker 2: Immediately he was like, that's disrespectful, as f my girlfriend 1186 00:57:59,000 --> 00:58:01,960 Speaker 2: is here, blah blah blah ah. Then he came and 1187 00:58:01,960 --> 00:58:05,040 Speaker 2: told me, of course I wanted to fight, but my 1188 00:58:05,160 --> 00:58:07,640 Speaker 2: boyfriend and I just stayed in his room for the 1189 00:58:07,640 --> 00:58:10,040 Speaker 2: rest of the night and watched a movie. The next day, 1190 00:58:10,160 --> 00:58:12,040 Speaker 2: I made it clear that I was going to talk 1191 00:58:12,080 --> 00:58:13,880 Speaker 2: to this girl and his mom with the help of 1192 00:58:13,880 --> 00:58:17,120 Speaker 2: his older sister. They all speak Spanish. While gearing up 1193 00:58:17,160 --> 00:58:19,400 Speaker 2: to talk to everyone, his sister and I found out 1194 00:58:19,400 --> 00:58:22,440 Speaker 2: that his mom had been making her friends and her 1195 00:58:22,520 --> 00:58:25,880 Speaker 2: friend's cousin comfortable with the idea that they could go 1196 00:58:26,000 --> 00:58:30,000 Speaker 2: after two sons, my boyfriend and his brother, who at 1197 00:58:30,000 --> 00:58:32,600 Speaker 2: the time was just beginning to separate from his wife. 1198 00:58:32,680 --> 00:58:35,760 Speaker 2: To this day, they're still married, separated but married. I 1199 00:58:35,880 --> 00:58:39,280 Speaker 2: told my boyfriend. The only logical conclusion was that the 1200 00:58:39,320 --> 00:58:41,919 Speaker 2: girl who tried to get at him couldn't come over. 1201 00:58:42,400 --> 00:58:44,840 Speaker 2: No more parties could be hosted there, and his mom's 1202 00:58:44,880 --> 00:58:48,160 Speaker 2: friends needed to dress more appropriately when they came over. 1203 00:58:48,600 --> 00:58:52,160 Speaker 2: He agreed, His sister told his mom what's up, and 1204 00:58:52,280 --> 00:58:54,919 Speaker 2: she lost it on them. At the end of the day, 1205 00:58:55,120 --> 00:58:57,800 Speaker 2: I got what I wanted. For like a month, the 1206 00:58:58,000 --> 00:59:01,520 Speaker 2: offender moved out of her cousin's house, the friends stopped 1207 00:59:01,520 --> 00:59:04,160 Speaker 2: hanging out, and for a while they would dress appropriately 1208 00:59:04,160 --> 00:59:06,040 Speaker 2: if they came over. By the way, his mom is 1209 00:59:06,120 --> 00:59:09,760 Speaker 2: like in her sixties and these friends are mid thirties 1210 00:59:09,880 --> 00:59:13,720 Speaker 2: to early forties. After this, hanging out at his house 1211 00:59:13,960 --> 00:59:16,880 Speaker 2: just became toxic. I didn't want to be disrespectful towards 1212 00:59:16,920 --> 00:59:18,680 Speaker 2: his mom, but I'm the type of person who will 1213 00:59:18,720 --> 00:59:22,080 Speaker 2: cut significant people out of my life very quickly out 1214 00:59:22,080 --> 00:59:24,160 Speaker 2: of respect. I just say hello and goodbye when I 1215 00:59:24,160 --> 00:59:26,640 Speaker 2: see her, but I never start a conversation. With this 1216 00:59:26,720 --> 00:59:29,600 Speaker 2: turnaround and us working on trust, things between my boyfriend 1217 00:59:29,640 --> 00:59:32,479 Speaker 2: and I seemed better. A few weeks later, I found 1218 00:59:32,520 --> 00:59:35,320 Speaker 2: out that I was pregnant, and we were both excited 1219 00:59:35,560 --> 00:59:38,240 Speaker 2: for context. Junior works out of state during the week 1220 00:59:38,240 --> 00:59:41,200 Speaker 2: and comes home on the weekends. From February to August, 1221 00:59:41,280 --> 00:59:43,560 Speaker 2: we took turns traveling back and forth seeing each other. 1222 00:59:43,960 --> 00:59:46,960 Speaker 2: Around mid August, my pregnancy hormones got really strong and 1223 00:59:47,000 --> 00:59:50,240 Speaker 2: I started to feel very territorial. We share locations have 1224 00:59:50,400 --> 00:59:52,959 Speaker 2: been since our first year of dating, currently going on four. 1225 00:59:53,240 --> 00:59:55,840 Speaker 2: I didn't see him going anywhere hot Sometimes he'd grab 1226 00:59:55,920 --> 00:59:58,680 Speaker 2: dinner with his bosses, but he'd always FaceTime me before 1227 00:59:58,720 --> 01:00:01,320 Speaker 2: they ate and again and he got back to his hotel. 1228 01:00:01,560 --> 01:00:03,320 Speaker 2: But of course, in the back of my mind, it 1229 01:00:03,400 --> 01:00:05,600 Speaker 2: kept thinking about how he had slept with the lady 1230 01:00:05,680 --> 01:00:07,800 Speaker 2: of the night and I didn't know it. I chalked 1231 01:00:07,800 --> 01:00:11,280 Speaker 2: my feelings up to pregnancy and decided to keep moving forward. Eventually, 1232 01:00:11,400 --> 01:00:13,600 Speaker 2: Junior told me that he was tired of working far 1233 01:00:13,640 --> 01:00:15,560 Speaker 2: away and wanted to be home with the baby and me. 1234 01:00:15,960 --> 01:00:17,640 Speaker 2: He let me know that he told his boss come 1235 01:00:17,680 --> 01:00:20,000 Speaker 2: the end of September he would be taking two months 1236 01:00:20,000 --> 01:00:22,280 Speaker 2: off to get ready for the birth of his first child, 1237 01:00:22,440 --> 01:00:25,760 Speaker 2: which brings me to where we are today. Last Friday 1238 01:00:25,920 --> 01:00:29,960 Speaker 2: was Junior's last day. Turns out that on Sunday, his 1239 01:00:30,120 --> 01:00:33,200 Speaker 2: mom's friends were moving out of her home so she 1240 01:00:33,400 --> 01:00:36,800 Speaker 2: could move back into her own home and out of 1241 01:00:36,880 --> 01:00:39,720 Speaker 2: Junior's home. Don't get too caught up on the living arrangements. 1242 01:00:39,840 --> 01:00:41,680 Speaker 2: Got it at the end of the day. His mom 1243 01:00:41,800 --> 01:00:44,680 Speaker 2: is currently moving out of Junior's home back into her own. 1244 01:00:45,000 --> 01:00:48,040 Speaker 2: I felt so much relief and stress leave my body. 1245 01:00:48,200 --> 01:00:50,720 Speaker 2: Junior and I talked and figured out plans for the baby, 1246 01:00:50,800 --> 01:00:53,000 Speaker 2: made lists of things we needed to get this week, 1247 01:00:53,200 --> 01:00:55,760 Speaker 2: and started getting our hospital back together. At this point, 1248 01:00:55,840 --> 01:00:57,800 Speaker 2: I am two weeks away from my due date. 1249 01:00:58,080 --> 01:00:58,520 Speaker 1: Well. 1250 01:00:59,080 --> 01:01:02,480 Speaker 2: On Sunday morning, I woke up very early to be 1251 01:01:03,160 --> 01:01:06,120 Speaker 2: I was spending the weekend at Junior's house and for 1252 01:01:06,160 --> 01:01:08,960 Speaker 2: some reason something came over me to go through his phone. 1253 01:01:09,040 --> 01:01:11,720 Speaker 2: Say what you want, but we both have each other's passwords. 1254 01:01:11,720 --> 01:01:13,800 Speaker 2: We both use each other's phones to watch videos on 1255 01:01:13,840 --> 01:01:16,720 Speaker 2: the toilet. I went to his photo app to recently 1256 01:01:16,800 --> 01:01:20,240 Speaker 2: delete it, and what did I find? A screenshot of 1257 01:01:20,320 --> 01:01:23,680 Speaker 2: him talking to some woman who was calling him baby. 1258 01:01:23,920 --> 01:01:26,760 Speaker 2: The conversation was very short. He said talk to you soon, 1259 01:01:26,960 --> 01:01:29,880 Speaker 2: She said okay, babe. He asked if she was busy 1260 01:01:29,960 --> 01:01:31,880 Speaker 2: if he could call her. She said yes and sent 1261 01:01:32,000 --> 01:01:34,360 Speaker 2: him a number. He tried to FaceTime her. It didn't work, 1262 01:01:34,720 --> 01:01:37,120 Speaker 2: and that was all of the screenshot that I saw. 1263 01:01:37,240 --> 01:01:40,120 Speaker 2: I sent the screenshot to myself. I re downloaded his 1264 01:01:40,200 --> 01:01:43,720 Speaker 2: Snapchat and Instagram. On Snapchat, I found conversations he was 1265 01:01:43,760 --> 01:01:46,960 Speaker 2: having with women towards the beginning of us dating. He 1266 01:01:47,280 --> 01:01:50,760 Speaker 2: was messaging women in July. We first met in April, 1267 01:01:50,880 --> 01:01:53,040 Speaker 2: had our first date a few weeks after that, and 1268 01:01:53,120 --> 01:01:55,680 Speaker 2: didn't make it exclusive until August. The only reason I 1269 01:01:55,720 --> 01:01:57,600 Speaker 2: had a problem with this was because when I asked 1270 01:01:57,680 --> 01:01:59,840 Speaker 2: him if he was talking to anyone else, he said no. 1271 01:02:00,480 --> 01:02:02,480 Speaker 2: In fact, he said a few days after he met me, 1272 01:02:02,640 --> 01:02:04,800 Speaker 2: he met some women at a bar, but they didn't 1273 01:02:04,800 --> 01:02:07,800 Speaker 2: really hit it off. So why lie? We weren't exclusive 1274 01:02:07,800 --> 01:02:11,200 Speaker 2: in July, so just be honest. In these snapchat conversations, 1275 01:02:11,200 --> 01:02:13,840 Speaker 2: he was talking about paying for hotel rooms and how 1276 01:02:13,920 --> 01:02:17,919 Speaker 2: these women looked on Instagram that was a different thing, 1277 01:02:18,240 --> 01:02:21,040 Speaker 2: and his dms, his friend and him would send videos 1278 01:02:21,080 --> 01:02:23,200 Speaker 2: back and forth of women who didn't look like me 1279 01:02:23,240 --> 01:02:27,160 Speaker 2: at all. These were dated around a year after we 1280 01:02:27,240 --> 01:02:31,000 Speaker 2: started dating exclusively. Seeing how they talked on Instagram, I 1281 01:02:31,040 --> 01:02:33,840 Speaker 2: wondered what their eye messages looked like. His friends would 1282 01:02:33,880 --> 01:02:36,440 Speaker 2: send him random pictures of women walking on the street 1283 01:02:36,960 --> 01:02:39,520 Speaker 2: or say things like I just meant this bad thing, 1284 01:02:39,880 --> 01:02:43,520 Speaker 2: and Juneior would respond with things like let me pull 1285 01:02:43,640 --> 01:02:47,920 Speaker 2: up that's what I'm looking for my DMS, or scrumptious 1286 01:02:48,880 --> 01:02:50,960 Speaker 2: that one gave me a little bit of a nick 1287 01:02:51,080 --> 01:02:53,840 Speaker 2: taking pictures of random women on the street. Yeah, sending 1288 01:02:53,880 --> 01:02:57,520 Speaker 2: it to your buzz that's crazy. Yeah. I mean, okay, 1289 01:02:57,560 --> 01:02:59,640 Speaker 2: if I saw like a cute guy and I'm like, 1290 01:02:59,640 --> 01:03:03,040 Speaker 2: oh my God, like you Yeah, okay, wait, maybe maybe 1291 01:03:03,040 --> 01:03:05,560 Speaker 2: I would like, wait, like how cute, but also like 1292 01:03:05,840 --> 01:03:08,520 Speaker 2: it's just weird. I don't know. They just don't seem 1293 01:03:08,520 --> 01:03:10,760 Speaker 2: to be very respectful of these weeks and when men 1294 01:03:10,880 --> 01:03:15,280 Speaker 2: do it, yeah, to weird. When women, when I'm in 1295 01:03:15,360 --> 01:03:19,320 Speaker 2: the picture, it's harmless, Yeah, do it in a respectful way. 1296 01:03:19,680 --> 01:03:24,080 Speaker 2: But yeah. Also Junior would say things like, yeah, I'm 1297 01:03:24,120 --> 01:03:27,520 Speaker 2: gonna come over because this is what I've been looking for. Yeah, 1298 01:03:27,680 --> 01:03:31,959 Speaker 2: that's been crazy. Yeah for a year. I mean at 1299 01:03:32,000 --> 01:03:34,600 Speaker 2: this point, yeah, they're going on four years or happened 1300 01:03:34,720 --> 01:03:37,880 Speaker 2: like four years yeah exactly, And this was their first 1301 01:03:37,960 --> 01:03:41,760 Speaker 2: year of dating. And he's like, oh, like, that's what 1302 01:03:41,800 --> 01:03:44,280 Speaker 2: I'm looking for my DMS, Like why are you looking 1303 01:03:44,320 --> 01:03:47,560 Speaker 2: for anything in your DA exactly? And they're sending like 1304 01:03:48,040 --> 01:03:51,360 Speaker 2: women sending like pictures and videos of women that don't 1305 01:03:51,400 --> 01:03:54,880 Speaker 2: even look like Opete. That's another level of heartbreaking. Yeah, 1306 01:03:55,000 --> 01:03:58,280 Speaker 2: I'm sure that they and they're probably like, you know, 1307 01:03:58,440 --> 01:04:02,400 Speaker 2: bikini or like swimsuit. I'm sure like that are not covered. 1308 01:04:02,440 --> 01:04:05,560 Speaker 2: I know that, I'm sure. At this point he was awake. 1309 01:04:05,800 --> 01:04:08,040 Speaker 2: I gave him his phone and started gathering my things 1310 01:04:08,040 --> 01:04:10,480 Speaker 2: to leave. The only thing he knew I knew about 1311 01:04:10,520 --> 01:04:12,680 Speaker 2: was the screenshot of him talking to the Lady of 1312 01:04:12,720 --> 01:04:15,280 Speaker 2: the Night. He explained that he saw this woman at 1313 01:04:15,280 --> 01:04:17,800 Speaker 2: his hotel and she looked familiar. She looked like a 1314 01:04:17,880 --> 01:04:19,880 Speaker 2: lady from the Lady of the Night website that he 1315 01:04:20,000 --> 01:04:23,160 Speaker 2: had visited in the past. He cheated on me in Atlanta, 1316 01:04:23,440 --> 01:04:27,360 Speaker 2: this current situation was in Virginia, but I let him continue. 1317 01:04:27,480 --> 01:04:30,280 Speaker 2: He proceeded to say that he then went on the website, 1318 01:04:30,440 --> 01:04:33,000 Speaker 2: saw her and reached out to her, but nothing happened. 1319 01:04:33,200 --> 01:04:35,680 Speaker 2: I said, I forgive you for the hurt that you 1320 01:04:35,920 --> 01:04:38,400 Speaker 2: just caused me. I need to leave. I left, and 1321 01:04:38,440 --> 01:04:40,919 Speaker 2: we haven't spoken about it since. At this point, I'm 1322 01:04:40,960 --> 01:04:44,040 Speaker 2: thirty seven weeks and three days pregnant. I've been pregnant 1323 01:04:44,040 --> 01:04:48,560 Speaker 2: for two hundred and sixty two days. We've had conversations 1324 01:04:48,640 --> 01:04:54,360 Speaker 2: about our wants for the baby, placenta encapsulation exclusively, breastfeeding him, 1325 01:04:54,440 --> 01:04:56,439 Speaker 2: staying at my house over night for the first month 1326 01:04:56,480 --> 01:04:59,600 Speaker 2: to help me with postpartum, the baby taking his last name. 1327 01:04:59,680 --> 01:05:01,960 Speaker 2: I've have strong beliefs that if you're not married, the 1328 01:05:01,960 --> 01:05:04,720 Speaker 2: baby gets the mom's last name. This was something we 1329 01:05:04,800 --> 01:05:07,560 Speaker 2: talked about, and he convinced me that he was serious 1330 01:05:07,600 --> 01:05:10,440 Speaker 2: about marriage. I told him he could propose at anytime, 1331 01:05:10,520 --> 01:05:12,880 Speaker 2: but I'd want to get married after the baby comes, 1332 01:05:12,920 --> 01:05:15,400 Speaker 2: so i'd have time to heal and make this decision 1333 01:05:15,440 --> 01:05:19,160 Speaker 2: fully without all the hormones in me, just all this stuff. Now, 1334 01:05:19,360 --> 01:05:22,680 Speaker 2: I just feel betrayed and angry. Please don't marry this man, 1335 01:05:22,720 --> 01:05:27,360 Speaker 2: O'll be Yeah, don't don't marry this man because what 1336 01:05:28,040 --> 01:05:31,320 Speaker 2: you've already been cheated on him, or he cheated on 1337 01:05:31,360 --> 01:05:34,320 Speaker 2: you once already and you forgave him. Yeah, and now 1338 01:05:34,320 --> 01:05:36,479 Speaker 2: he's just doing it again, so like obviously he didn't 1339 01:05:36,520 --> 01:05:38,920 Speaker 2: learn his lessons, Like you know, I could see it, 1340 01:05:39,000 --> 01:05:41,360 Speaker 2: like I don't tolerate any cheating, So like if someone 1341 01:05:41,440 --> 01:05:43,240 Speaker 2: were to cheat, I'd be like, okay, cool, go be 1342 01:05:43,320 --> 01:05:47,000 Speaker 2: with them, Like what, Yeah, why I'm going like, cool, 1343 01:05:47,040 --> 01:05:48,840 Speaker 2: then we don't need to be a thing. Like I 1344 01:05:48,840 --> 01:05:51,680 Speaker 2: don't want an open relationship. I would rather just be 1345 01:05:51,720 --> 01:05:54,720 Speaker 2: explosive and just not have to worry about It's hard 1346 01:05:54,760 --> 01:05:58,080 Speaker 2: to worry about one person, let alone like five, right, Well, 1347 01:05:58,160 --> 01:06:00,720 Speaker 2: like literally, I don't I don't need that, especially when 1348 01:06:00,720 --> 01:06:05,200 Speaker 2: his stories are changing too. It's like, yeah, well that 1349 01:06:05,360 --> 01:06:08,760 Speaker 2: means that we're lying. That just is what it means. Yeah, 1350 01:06:08,800 --> 01:06:11,680 Speaker 2: it's not adding up. And also I don't think that 1351 01:06:11,800 --> 01:06:16,120 Speaker 2: he really even is like sorry about it. Yeah, doesn't 1352 01:06:16,160 --> 01:06:17,680 Speaker 2: seem like he's like, oh my god, I'm so sorry. 1353 01:06:17,760 --> 01:06:21,080 Speaker 2: I'll change, Like I mean just like, oh, that person 1354 01:06:21,160 --> 01:06:24,680 Speaker 2: looks like someone that I messaged looking for a night 1355 01:06:24,720 --> 01:06:27,840 Speaker 2: of fun, you know. Yeah, Like he just never really 1356 01:06:28,040 --> 01:06:30,040 Speaker 2: he doesn't seem like he has any remorse for what 1357 01:06:30,080 --> 01:06:33,040 Speaker 2: he's done. He's just like, oh, yeah, like that happens. Sorry, 1358 01:06:33,200 --> 01:06:36,920 Speaker 2: not even sorry, just oh yeah that happened. Like ohay, 1359 01:06:37,200 --> 01:06:38,919 Speaker 2: there is a little bit more to the story. I'm 1360 01:06:38,960 --> 01:06:41,520 Speaker 2: trying really hard to think about all of this because 1361 01:06:41,600 --> 01:06:44,040 Speaker 2: I don't want to go into labor early. I don't 1362 01:06:44,040 --> 01:06:46,560 Speaker 2: want my emotions to cause any complications with the baby. 1363 01:06:46,720 --> 01:06:49,440 Speaker 2: So far, everything seems fine, but my brax and hicks 1364 01:06:49,480 --> 01:06:52,880 Speaker 2: have increased in pain and frequency. Sleep the past two 1365 01:06:52,960 --> 01:06:56,240 Speaker 2: nights has been very uncomfortable. He's supposed to be in 1366 01:06:56,240 --> 01:06:59,400 Speaker 2: the delivery room with me, my push partner. Again. I'm 1367 01:06:59,680 --> 01:07:02,440 Speaker 2: trying not to let this affect me negatively, but I 1368 01:07:02,520 --> 01:07:05,280 Speaker 2: need to be very realistic right now. I just need 1369 01:07:05,320 --> 01:07:07,360 Speaker 2: some help and advice, and that's the end of that story.