One day, a woman organized a trip for her husband, her teenage daughter, and her three stepchildren. However, the excitement waned when the daughter’s passport vanished unexpectedly before the journey, despite frantic searching. The lingering question persisted: where could the passport be?
A happy middle-aged couple | Source: Shutterstock
On September 14, 2022, an anonymous female poster turned to the highly popular “AITA” subreddit to share her story. The woman began by talking about her husband, who had been with her for three years. He had three children from a prior relationship, while she had one.
The woman’s 17-year-old daughter was the oldest of the brood. Her husband was a devoted man who prioritized his faith and believed in sharing love with everyone around him.
A couple with three children outdoors | Source: Shutterstock
The woman’s husband often expressed dissatisfaction about her daughter’s lack of interaction with her step-siblings and him. However, the daughter had valid reasons for her limited availability, juggling school, health issues, and work commitments. Despite her busy schedule, she made an effort to spend time with her step-siblings.
The woman had organized and paid for the entire family’s trip.
A young woman using her laptop in her bedroom | Source: Shutterstock
On the other hand, the daughter felt frustrated because her stepfather seemed to expect her to act as a babysitter whenever she was with her step-siblings. When confronted, the husband denied this accusation, suggesting that the daughter was fabricating excuses to avoid spending time with his children.
In an attempt to address the situation, the woman believed a family trip could bring them closer and encourage more bonding. Her husband initially agreed with the idea but expressed concerns about his children feeling uncomfortable around her daughter due to her perceived attitude.
Fueled by anger and betrayal, she confronted him, leading to a heated argument.
A couple and their children having a lovely time on the beach | Source: Shutterstock
He suggested letting her stay home alone, claiming it was what she wanted. The woman disagreed, insisting it was important for all of them to go on the trip together. Despite her efforts, her husband continued to voice complaints until she finally snapped and firmly told him to stop.
Girl holding passports and boarding pass | Source: Shutterstock
The woman had organized and paid for the entire family’s trip. However, the excitement dimmed when her daughter couldn’t find her passport despite a thorough search of the house. Her husband, considering it a divine intervention, suggested leaving the daughter behind to avoid potential trip mishaps.
Dismissing his comment, the woman later found the passport tucked away in her husband’s office drawer, raising suspicions. Upon confronting him, he professed innocence, claiming ignorance about the passport’s location. The situation escalated when security footage from the camera upstairs revealed him entering her daughter’s room.
Half-open drawer of old vintage wooden table with an old handwritten letter inside | Source: Shutterstock
Fueled by anger and betrayal, she confronted him, leading to a heated argument. In the end, she canceled the trip entirely, standing firm despite his pleas to reconsider for the sake of their devastated stepchildren. Regarding her husband’s reaction, the woman recalled:
“He [became] cold and distant and said that he wants to take some time to do some fasting and get guidance from God about how he should deal with the disrespect and control I had displayed lately.”
A middle-aged couple arguing at home | Source: Shutterstock
In light of the situation, the woman couldn’t help but question her actions, wondering if she was in the wrong for canceling the trip altogether. Her predicament pushed her to share her story online, turning to the Reddit community for opinions and advice.
The commenters on the woman’s Reddit post unanimously agreed that she was “NTA” in this situation. They criticized her husband for his manipulative behavior, pointing out his attempts to control her and her daughter.
