Divorce Drama: When Your Parents Side with Your Soon-to-Be Ex
Oh, grab your popcorn and comfortably nestle in because this one’s a doozy. Let’s dive into a juicy morsel of real-life drama straight from the Internet’s own social storytelling haven – Reddit. A user decided to pour their heart out for some much-needed validation and we’re here to dissect every savory bit. Spoiler alert: feelings will be hurt, and shade will be thrown.
The Unhappily Ever After
So, the tale begins with our protagonist, a woman who’s in the throes of a divorce after enduring a 22-year relationship, 17 of which were cloaked in legal matrimony. The emotional rollercoaster she’s been on is nothing short of a demolition derby. Her soon-to-be-ex-husband is what we in the biz call a “human gaslighter.” Dripping in public charm, he’s the unsung hero of social events everywhere, but leaving our poor narrator to face her solitude back home.
Of Halos and Hypocrisies
Her misery was no secret to her parents. They were clued in on the unrelenting loneliness she experienced, although they might have missed out on the spicy details (or lack thereof—no physical touch… EVER). Here’s where the soap opera plot thickens like a gravy boat at Thanksgiving dinner. When she finally dropped the bomb of their impending split, expecting at least an ounce of parental solace, her parents flipped faster than a gymnast on a Red Bull binge.
Parental Betrayal
Her elderly parents, bless their wilting hearts, rallied behind the glossy ex-son-in-law, turning her into Public Enemy No. 1. They haven’t just ignored her plight—they’ve ghosted her more convincingly than a Snapchat message. Checking in on the almost-ex-husband? Sure. Offering their own daughter a shred of support? Pfft, as if! If they do break the silence, it’s only to share how they feel personally victimized by her audacity to seek happiness.
Whose Side Are They On?
Imagine the heartbreak of realizing your own parents have erected your soon-to-be-ex as the gold-standard family member, enshrining his halo in a display case while leaving their own flesh and blood out in the cold. You’d think after 22 years of being privy to their daughter’s struggles, they might throw her a lifeline. Instead, our protagonist is left to navigate this painful transition all by her lonesome. A classic case of family ties that bind… to the wrong person.
The Great Debate
We’ve arrived at the million-dollar question that sparked this online hue and cry: Is she the asshole for wanting her parents’ support in this messy, emotionally taxing time? You might be thinking, “Well, duh! Isn’t that Parenting 101?” But apparently, some folks missed that day in class.
To put it bluntly, our leading lady wants to know if she’s justified in feeling like a pariah in her own family drama. The outpouring of Reddit wisdom (or madness, depending on the day) had her back, generally agreeing that she’s NTA (that’s “not the asshole” for those not fluent in Reddit-speak). However, as with all internet debates, the jury’s still out on whether grievances aired on the Web can truly heal familial rifts older than most TikTok trends.
Roger’s No-Holds-Barred Opinion
Alright, time to fire up the sass-o-meter. Here’s what Roger thinks: Honey, you are so NTA. What kind of a parallel universe are your parents living in where your husband (with the emotional availability of a house plant) deserves more loyalty than you do? Maybe Cupid threw his quiver off a cliff just to be done with this nonsense. It’s time to serve them a reality check, not on a silver platter but on a common-sense cutting board.
Your parents? They are swimming in denial, clutching at past notions and glossed-over memories of your soon-to-be-ex’s shiny public persona. Meanwhile, you’re left to pick up the pieces of a life fraught with neglect and loneliness, not to mention single-handedly bearing the burden of raising a child who, let’s be honest, probably also sees through Dad’s golden façade.
Take this as an opportunity to reintroduce yourself to the only person who matters in your life right now— you. You got this, and if you need to, cut the dead weight, whether that’s emotional baggage or unsupportive family members. Sometimes, to grow, you’ve got to prune the tree. Harsh? Maybe. Necessary? Absolutely.
Original story
I am currently going through a divorce with my husband of 17 years. We’d been together for 22 years, so my parents have obviously formed an attachment.
It was a very unhappy marriage for me – he was emotionally and physically unavailable through 21 of the 22 years we were together. We have one child, a daughter, and he’s always gotten credit for being a great dad, and I barely get acknowledged as a mom.
It was always hurtful and weird to me. It doesn’t help that he’s one of those guys who is generous and kind and helpful to everyone else, so his halo seems so a hiny in public.
My parents are aware of my unhappiness over the years – maybe not the personal part (no physical touch…ever), but they know the loneliness I’ve dealt with. I was hoping for their support when I told them back in February that the relationship was winding down and not to expect him to be coming around with me much anymore, but my parents absolutely lost their frigging minds.
I became public enemy number 1, and they both stopped speaking to me. They’ve been checking in on my soon to be ex, but not me.
They refuse to speak to me about it, and if they DO say anything, it’s to say how hurt THEY are, and how HE will always be THEIR family. So I guess I want to know – AITA for wishing they’d offer me a little support right now, instead of thinking of how they feel?
It’s been a very lonely journey for me as I try to navigate what this next half of my life is going to look like. My parents are elderly – 78 and 83 – and to think that this is how things may be until they pass just sucks.