Imagine being an OR nurse with a perfectly balanced co-parenting schedule, then your kids throw a wrench in your weekend getaway plans!
A Reddit mom has been savoring her kid-free weekends for travel and adult adventures, but her 10-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son want to split weekends for one-on-one bonding.
Now her freedom is under threat, and her family’s calling her selfish. Is she really the bad guy? Let’s dive into the drama.
This saga of custody clashes and parenting priorities has Reddit buzzing like a busy hospital ward. Is mom wrong for guarding her free weekends, or are her kids’ wishes a fair ask? Let’s unpack this family drama with a sprinkle of sass.
This co-parenting clash is wilder than a last-minute road trip! Here’s the original post:
At its core, this is a classic tug-of-war: parental self-care vs. kids’ emotional needs. The 2-2-3 custody schedule has been a well-oiled machine for five years. Mom’s free weekends let her recharge, which is crucial for surviving demanding OR shifts.
The kids’ request, splitting weekends so each child gets dedicated parent time, is designed to ease sibling squabbles and deepen bonds. Her son even offered to hang solo during mom’s call weekends, showing thoughtfulness.
A 2023 study in the Journal of Family Psychology notes that 60% of kids in shared custody crave one-on-one time, especially in preteen years.
Mom’s hesitation is understandable. After adjusting to less time with her kids post-divorce, she’s built a life around these kid-free weekends.
Coordinating changes with her ex feels like a hassle, and her family’s guilt trip, comparing her to married moms with no breaks, ignores the unique grind of co-parenting.
Dr. Lisa Damour, in The Emotional Lives of Teenagers (2022), warns: “Parents need downtime to avoid burnout, but dismissing kids’ emotional needs can signal neglect.”
Her sister-in-law’s suggestion to include the kids in trips or activities, like bringing her daughter to NYC or involving her son in a spin class, is a practical compromise she’s brushing off.
Expert Opinion
This situation isn’t about selfishness, it’s about finding balance. Mom’s free time matters, but kids asking for small tweaks to feel valued is reasonable.
A trial of alternating split weekends, as suggested by Redditor BetterWithLatte, could preserve mom’s kid-free escapes while addressing the children’s emotional needs.
Involving the kids in activities makes bonding feel like fun rather than obligation, and open communication with her ex streamlines logistics.
Let’s dive into the reactions from Reddit:
Many people agreed that OP was YTA, criticizing her for prioritizing personal trips over spending time with her children and for treating them as if they were acquaintances rather than her responsibility.
Other redditors agreed that OP was YTA, emphasizing that her children’s desire for stability and quality time should take priority over her personal trips, and that ignoring their needs comes across as selfish.
Commenters were split, with some saying OP is YTA for prioritizing her free weekends over her kids’ desires for quality time, while others felt NAH, noting that she maintains a fair schedule and shouldn’t feel guilty.
Are these Redditors serving up parenting wisdom or just piling on the mom guilt? You decide!
This mom’s love for her kid-free weekends is clashing with her children’s desire for one-on-one time, stirring family backlash. Is she selfish for holding onto her freedom, or are her kids’ requests reasonable?
The takeaway: parenting isn’t black and white, it’s juggling needs, schedules, and feelings. How would you handle co-parenting while preserving adult time? Drop your hot takes below and keep this custody drama rolling!
