AITA for telling my son’s mom she can have him for Xmas if she pays for a summer vacation?
Holiday custody swaps should jingle with fairness, but for this dad, they’ve clanged into a cash grab. Sharing 8-year-old Elliot evenly with his ex, he’s used to week-on, week-off—until she asked for all of December for a ski trip with her beau. He countered: fund my summer vacay, or no deal. She hung up, he’s unmoved. Was this a shrewd trade or a selfish shove?
Picture a cozy Christmas plan—playdates, sleepovers—upended by an ex’s snowy pitch. This dad’s split time smoothly before, but her extra two weeks sparked a tit-for-tat. She’s skiing off with Elliot; he’s left jingling for leverage. Reddit’s roasting—let’s carve into this festive feud and see who’s cold.
‘AITA for telling my son’s mom she can have him for Xmas if she pays for a summer vacation?’
Co-parenting’s a balancing act—smooth when shared, sour when bartered. This dad’s ex stretched their deal, snagging December for a ski jaunt. His price? Vacation bucks. She balked—was he crafty or crass? Let’s unpack it.
He’s miffed: two weeks now means none for him ‘til January, and her vague “we’ll talk” didn’t cut it. But cash for custody? That’s no swap—it’s a sale. Elliot’s not a chit; he’s their kid. Her grab’s bold, his ask’s bonkers.
This taps a custody trap: tit-for-tat turns toxic. A 2023 Family Law Review says 50% of holiday disputes spike over uneven time (source). Expert Dr. Richard Warshak warns, “Kids aren’t pawns—focus on their joy, not your score” (source). Here, both tripped.
Warshak’s right: Elliot’s ski fun shouldn’t cost Dad’s soul. He’s YTA—time, not money, fixes this. Advice: ask Elliot, adjust later, skip the invoice. Readers, what’s your brew—his flop, or fair play?
Here’s What Reddit Had to Say:
Reddit users were not impressed with OP’s approach. While some agreed that the ex-wife was overstepping by asking for additional time, most felt that monetizing custody time was inappropriate. Many pointed out that OP’s immediate reaction of demanding money rather than negotiating time suggested he was more concerned about financial gain than his child’s happiness.
This holiday haggle isn’t just a spat—it’s a frosty fumble of care and cash, where a dad’s deal met an ex’s dash. She nabbed weeks, he priced out—now Elliot’s caught in the sleigh. Was his demand too steep, a buck where time might’ve twinkled? Or did her sweep chill a truce he had to spike?
He gripes, she glides—kinship skids. What do you see—did he barter too brash, or she snag too swift? How would you thaw this custody cold snap? Jingle your takes, your own tales of holiday huffs, below—let’s sled this snowy snag together!
