AITA for being upset when my dad called my little girl his own child?

AITA for crying over my dad unintentionally claiming my daughter as his and his wife's?Family dynamics unravel in a complex web of boundaries and responsibilities.

Sienna

Published in Interesting
29 Sep 2025

AITA for being upset when my dad called my little girl his own child?

Are you the antagonist for getting emotional when your father mistakenly referred to your daughter as his and his wife's child? The original post delves into a 22-year-old single mom's predicament living with her dad and stepmom, who have been helping care for her baby.

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Despite the assistance, tensions arise as the stepmom becomes overly attached to the child, causing discomfort for the young mother. The situation escalates when the dad blunders by calling the child their "little baby." The daughter stands her ground, asserting her role as the parent and setting clear boundaries, leading to tears and confrontation.

The Reddit community chimes in, with many supporting the original poster's stance. They highlight the concerning behavior of the stepmom, who oversteps boundaries by restricting the mother's interactions with her child.

Suggestions pour in, advising the OP to establish firm boundaries, consider alternative living arrangements, and safeguard her parental rights. Concerns about potential custody issues and manipulation tactics by the family are also raised, urging the OP to prioritize her daughter's well-being and assert her parental authority.

The thread unfolds with a mix of empathy, advice, and calls for action, resonating with readers who empathize with the struggles of a young single mother navigating complex family dynamics. The consensus leans heavily in favor of the OP, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries and safeguarding her parental role amidst familial challenges.

Original Post

I'm a 22-year-old single mom with a 10-month-old baby girl. Her dad left us.

I'm okay with that, I don't want to date right now. My dad wasn't there much when I was growing up.

He met my stepmom when I was 12. They have two sons now.

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One is only a few months younger than my daughter. I live with them because my mom didn't want a baby around.

I'm training to work in childcare now. My job is 35 hours a week.

It takes me nearly two hours to get there and back. I leave home at 6:30am and get back at 7pm.

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I pay rent, make meals, and clean up. My stepmom takes care of my baby while I work.

She's home all day. In two months, my daughter can go to the nursery where I work.

My stepmom always wanted a girl. It hurts sometimes to see how close she is with my daughter.

Sometimes she won't let me hold or feed my baby. She says she's sorry, she's just worried because I'm so young.

I hope to save enough money to move out in a year. One day, my stepmom's sister came over.

I heard my dad call my daughter and his son "our little babies". After the aunt left, I reminded him that he didn't even want to be called grandpa.

He's not my daughter's dad, and she's not her mom. He apologized and said that because they take care of her so much, it feels like she's their daughter.

He's been pushing me to go to college. I'm not good at math, so college isn't an option for me.

But he said he would keep taking care of her if I did go. I told him I wouldn't even think about college if he couldn't respect boundaries.

I cried after that. My stepmom told me I was making a big deal out of nothing.

She said I should be glad that they're so close and help me so much. She said that people sometimes get attached without realizing it.

She said they were sorry, so I shouldn't have made them feel bad. So, am I the bad guy here?

PS. Sorry if I talked too much about stuff that doesn't matter.

I do that sometimes.