Single Dad Battles Grandpa For Kids’ Affection As They All Seem To View Their Grandpa As Father Figure Over Him

“My son complained to me that he thinks I’m horning in on his role as their father.”

Jesse

• Published in Interesting
• December 10, 2023

Our narrator’s (Original Poster's) son faced a shocking revelation that reshaped the very fabric of his life—his wife had an affair, and his youngest son was the biological product.

The fallout was intense, especially for the unsuspecting 6-year-old. OP’s son got partial custody of the two kids that were actually his, while the youngest son remained with their mother.

Imagine the man who once showered you with limitless love and affection suddenly turning icy and declaring you weren’t his child! The emotional scars ran deep, and even after three years of therapy, he still had a very anxious attachment style.

His half-siblings weren’t pleased about this, so they began a little passive-aggressive revolution of their own. Little by little, their affection for their dad dwindled. In fact, OP’s 17-year-old grandson had begun to increasingly count on him to perform fatherly roles.

When he needed a hand for a school project, OP was the go-to; or was it some fatherly advice? OP to the rescue. He even ignored his parents during his graduation and posted a picture praising OP for molding him into the man he became.

Things weren’t any better on OP’s granddaughter’s end. They all rallied around him, basically leaving their dad in the rearview mirror—and OP’s son wasn’t pleased about this. He lamented how he barely had any relationship with his kids and blamed OP for snatching up the father role. 

OP’s daughter urged him to take a back seat and let them work out their issues as a family. Was OP wrong for stepping in where his grandchildren needed him?

Let’s dig into the details

A bit of background

OP’s son’s two biological kids gradually become distant and titled towards him instead

OP’s son complained about a lack of relationship with the kids and accused him of intruding

Here’s how the Reddit community reacted to the story:

“The kids have formed a bond with you because you have shown yourself reliable, unconditionally.”

“NTA. And your daughter has an incredible amount of nerve to suggest that you basically abandon your grandchildren to try to manipulate them.”

“NTA…They don’t trust him. They have seen what he did to their sibling and the pain that it caused.”

“If your son wants a better relationship with his kids then he needs to do the work.”

“Of course his other children hate what he has done to their little brother. Do everything you can to help those kids.“

“As far as I’m concerned, this is now all about the kids: their health, safety, and development. You cannot abandon them also.“

“NTA…Your son's decision shaped how they view him.“

Redditors unanimously rallied behind OP. Despite the biological twist, OP stood as the steadfast grandfather to the youngest son—that was what true family did.

The reliability and unconditional support he demonstrated clearly resonated with the other kids; hence, they were drawn to him.

As for OP's daughter's advice, Redditors agreed such cruel advice should be discarded—it definitely went against his loving instincts.

So cheers to OP for being the stability the children desperately craved. 

Do you agree with this verdict? Let us know in the comments.

Jesse