I have three kids: John, Mark, and Lucy. Lucy is my daughter from a previous marriage, and Daniel (my husband) and I had the boys together. We’ve always tried to blend our families and make sure everyone feels loved and included. Daniel has always been a **supportive** and caring husband, or so I thought, and I truly believed he treated Lucy like his own. He was always there for school events and helped her with her homework. He always told her he loved her. That is, until last Friday, when his true colors showed. Last Friday, Daniel tells me he’s taking “the family” to Disneyland. I was thrilled! A family trip was just what we needed. The kids were jumping for joy, and I started imagining all the fun we would have. Then it turned out he meant his mom and the boys! I was floored. The hurt didn’t end there. Then Lucy comes into the kitchen, all excited, and asks if she can come too. I thought he might try to save it. But then he drops the bomb.
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He goes, “no, it’s FAMILY-ONLY.” The room went silent. I stared at him, dumbfounded. I felt like I was watching a movie. My own horror movie! The look on Lucy’s face was absolutely heartbreaking. Her little face just fell. I felt rage starting to boil inside of me, but I didn’t want to explode in front of the kids. I wanted to remain calm for them. I wanted to process what I was feeling. But I also wanted to protect Lucy.
After Lucy left, I asked him what that was all about and he said, “She’s not mine. I’m not spending a fortune dragging someone else’s kid around.” I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. I was **speechless**. How could he say something like that? After all these years, how could he treat her like she was less than the other kids? After all this time, how could he not call her his own?
Later that evening, Lucy came into my room and sat on the bed and asked me, “am I not part of this family?” Her voice cracked and she looked so small when she said it. My heart shattered into a million pieces. I was absolutely livid but didn’t want her to spend the weekend crying, so I put on a brave face. I hugged her tight and told her that of course she was part of the family. That she was MY family, and that my family was forever.
I told her that he was wrong, and that I would never think of her as anything less than my own. I told her that I loved her with all my heart. I told her that she always came first. We spent the evening watching movies and eating popcorn, trying to forget what had happened. I tried my best to make her feel loved and secure, but the hurt in her eyes was still there.
I’m still trying to figure out what to do about Daniel. I can’t believe he would say something so cruel and hurtful to my daughter. I don’t know if I can ever look at him the same way again. How can I forgive him for this? How can I trust him again? I’m so **angry** and hurt. I just don’t know what to do. I have to figure out what to do. But first I have to protect my little girl.
