AITA for asking what I’m supposed to do about my dad’s wife’s infertility?
Picture a 17-year-old guy, coasting through high school, dodging grocery runs, and dreaming of freedom—just your average teen, right? Now toss in a stepmom who’s sweet but clingy, a dad with big expectations, and a family curveball: infertility. Suddenly, he’s the one everyone’s staring at, like he’s got the magic wand to mend a broken dream. Spoiler: he doesn’t.
Our Redditor’s life’s a balancing act. Dad’s wife came into the picture when he was 10, all hopeful smiles and “call me Mom” vibes—sweet, but not his speed. She’s needy, sure, sulking when he skips her for driving lessons or field trips. But when her baby hopes crash, the family turns to him: “Make her feel better!” Cue his bewildered, “Uh, how?” Let’s unpack this sticky stepfamily saga.
‘AITA for asking what I’m supposed to do about my dad’s wife’s infertility?’
Stepmom’s infertility bombshell hit hard—she’s grieving a future that won’t come. Dad and grandparents see our teen as the cure, nudging him to “let her mother you more.” But here’s the kicker: he’s 17, not a therapist. Her pain’s real, but pinning it on him? That’s a plot twist no one signed up for.
The dynamic’s off. She’s craved closeness—chaperoning dreams, grocery bonding—but he’s kept her at arm’s length, politely. Now, her loss amplifies that gap. Dr. Patricia Papernow, a stepfamily expert, says it best: “Stepparents can’t force a parental role; it grows organically or not at all” (via Stepfamily Magazine). Her neediness predates this crisis—he’s not rejecting her now; he’s just being himself. Forcing “mom vibes” won’t heal her; it’ll strain him.
Stats show 1 in 8 couples face infertility (per CDC, 2023), and grief’s a beast—but it’s hers and Dad’s to wrestle, not a teen’s. Advice? He should keep being kind, set boundaries, and nudge Dad to get her therapy. Readers, when does family duty cross into unfair territory?
Check out how the community responded:
Reddit swooped in with pitchforks and popcorn, mostly yelling NTA. They’re baffled—how’s a kid supposed to fix infertility? Stepmom’s hurt’s legit, but he’s not her emotional Band-Aid. Some sniffed ulterior motives (adoption’s off—why?), others cheered his independence. One gem: “She needs yarn, not you!”—a light jab at her clinginess.
Our guy’s stuck in a guilt trap, but he’s no villain. Stepmom’s tears don’t rewrite his role—he’s a son, not a savior. Dad and crew mean well, but expecting a teen to patch her heart’s like asking him to grow her a kid. He’s doing enough: staying civil, living his life. Maybe therapy’s her next step, not him. What would you do—play along or push back? Ever had family lean too hard on you? Spill it below—let’s sort this mess out!
