Things can be tough for a bit after a married couple decides to separate. After all, not only are the two people breaking up, but extended family members might also be saying goodbye for good.
At least, that's what happened with one family. The father of a recently separated woman told Reddit that his daughter has finally left her husband, and he decided to invite her new boyfriend to their Halloween celebration. Unfortunately, her ex-husband was pretty mad about it.
"My wife and I have a son and a daughter," he explained. "My daughter married one of my son's best friends. We took him in when he was 15 and treated him like one of our own. He was kicked out of his father's home, and we took care of him like our own."
The father continued, "My daughter fell in love with him and they got married right out of high school. He went to college, while she took care of their daughter."
The two had problems early on, first because the man's daughter didn't get to pursue her own career, and then because her husband cheated:
"My daughter was resentful of the fact that she had to give up her dreams, and this created problems in their relationship. Her husband ended up having an affair and siring an illegitimate child. The mother was an addict and lost custody."
But then, his daughter decided to try to stick it out:
"After months of back and forth, my daughter decided to reconcile with her husband. We were not happy with her decision but decided to not let our disappointment show when she brought him around. We treated him the same."
Ultimately, the marriage fell apart:
"7 years go by, and last month my daughter decided that she cannot give her marriage a chance. I think we all knew that she was ashamed of her decision to reconcile. It came as a shock to my son in law because they were expecting another baby (which my daughter has decided to abort)."
In fact, his daughter has moved on with a guy whom everyone in her family likes a lot more.
"She also told us she is moving on and is already dating one of my friends' sons, a widower with a daughter my granddaughter's age and they are good friends," the father said.
“She has known him since they were both kids and I’m more than happy about her finding love.”
In fact, everyone is so happy that they invited her new boyfriend to their family's Halloween celebration:
"This Halloween, she brought her new boyfriend to the celebration and we welcomed him wholeheartedly. And in the pictures in the clear that they were acting like a couple.
“My son in law (soon to be former SIL) showed up to my office and accused me of encouraging the break up of his family when he was trying hard to save it. He was also disappointed that I didn’t invite his 7-year-old daughter (His daughter went to her grandparents. So I don’t understand the accusations).”
The dad gets it … kind of.
"I understand that being alone on Halloween for the first time in two decades must have felt bad, but he is no longer my daughter's husband. My son also cut him out of his life."
He also notes that his daughter ended up going back to school, so she's happy in her career, too.
The dad doesn't think he did anything wrong by inviting the new boyfriend, but he wanted to know what people on Reddit thought. Luckily for him, nearly everyone agreed that the ex sounds pretty awful, and that inviting the new boyfriend is totally fine.
One commenter said:
"Their relationship issues are between them, and expecting to be catered to by an ex's parents is pretty ridiculous, especially considering that this guy:
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Knocked up OP’s [the original poster’s] daughter while she was in high school, or shortly after
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Proceeded to control her life and make her give up her dreams while he just ‘went to college’ like normal.
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Cheated on her and knocked up another woman on the side.
…But, sure, inviting someone to a Halloween Party is what ‘broke up his family’. Lol.”
Others agree that the dad is just doing what parents should do: support their kids when they make positive changes and choices.
"You're supporting your daughter's decision to be happy with someone else," a commenter said. "Guy cheats and regrets it. They try to fix it and it doesn't work out. She moves on and you did the right thing to say you get it and support her new boyfriend. Especially if he makes her happy."
Another person even mentioned that the man and his wife are probably pretty hurt by how this guy treated their daughter, too:
"I can not believe I haven't seen a single comment mentioning how you yourself ( and your wife ! ) must have been disappointed and hurt by his actions for more than just your daughter's sake. As was stated, you took him in when he was a teenager and treated him as your own son. That he would do all that and more must have been upsetting and painful on several levels.
“Good on your daughter for legging it out of that horrid relationship. I hope she’s doing well and will have a much better future with this man, or whomever else may come along should this not be meant to be.”
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