AITA for telling my friend to help pay his biological daughters tuition?
Picture a swanky restaurant, plates clinking, and a reunion turning sour faster than a bad dessert. That’s where Mark, a devoted dad, found himself when his wealthy friend—the biological father of Mark’s adopted daughter—offered to cover 20% of her college tuition. What should’ve been a generous gesture blew up when Mark pushed for more, sparking a fiery clash that left his daughter in tears and family ties in tatters. Was Mark out of line, or just desperate?
Mark’s Reddit AITA post is a raw dive into adoption, obligation, and the messy lines of parenthood. With his friend living a cruise-ship life while Mark scrapes by, the tuition tug-of-war hit a nerve. Reddit’s got plenty to say, and it’s not pretty. Let’s unpack this drama that’s got everyone picking sides faster than a Black Friday sale.
‘AITA for telling my friend to help pay his biological daughters tuition?’
Mark’s tuition showdown is a tangle of adoption dynamics and misplaced expectations. By adopting Jasmine, Mark took on full parental responsibility, yet his demand for her wealthy bio-dad to foot more of the bill suggests a lingering sense of entitlement. The friend’s 20% offer—plus dorm and spending money—was generous, not stingy. Mark’s push for more turned gratitude into greed.
Adoption expert Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao says, “Adoptive parents must fully embrace their role, without expecting biological parents to fill gaps” . Mark’s frustration is real, but his friend isn’t a cash machine.
Mark should apologize to mend ties, focusing on Jasmine’s emotional needs. Dr. Pavao suggests exploring financial aid or part-time work for Jasmine to cover the $50,000 gap. Mark could also seek budgeting advice to ease the strain. His heart’s in the right place, but expecting a cruise-hopping friend to bankroll his daughter’s future crossed a line.
See what others had to share with OP:
The Reddit posse charged in like bargain hunters, slinging shade and tough love at Mark’s tuition tantrum. It’s a virtual courtroom where everyone’s a judge, and the verdicts are brutal. Here’s the unfiltered scoop:
![[Reddit User] − YTA you wanted their child which means she is your responsibility. 20% was very generous. Good job for being entitled and raising an entitled daughter.](https://en.aubtu.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/206085cm-01.png)
![[Reddit User] − YTA. Did you adopt the child? Have you been raising the child? Have you been asking for their input in making decisions for the child? Do you treat them like parents to your daughter in any other respect but this one?](https://en.aubtu.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/206085cm-08.png)
![[Reddit User] − YTA. The key word here is *your* daughter. Covering college expenses is something you should have considered and planned for when you adopted her seventeen years ago. Offering to contribute anything after they relinquished her to your custody is generous and entirely optional on their part,](https://en.aubtu.biz/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/206085cm-11.png)
Redditors roasted Mark for acting entitled, praising the bio-parents’ generosity while slamming his money grab. Some questioned Jasmine’s outburst, others his parenting. But do their fiery takes balance the scales, or just fuel the drama?
Mark’s clash over tuition is a stark reminder that adoption means full responsibility—cash and all. His push for more from Jasmine’s bio-dad backfired, hurting his daughter and burning bridges. This saga resonates with anyone navigating family ties and tight budgets. What would you do if you were stretched thin and a wealthy friend offered a partial lifeline? Share your thoughts and stories below!
