AITA for not wanting to give my mom another chance because she don’t wanna tell her family about me?
Imagine reconnecting with a mom who left you as a baby, only to find she’s hiding you like a skeleton in her closet. A 17-year-old guy, cautiously letting his biological mother back into his life, discovers she hasn’t told her husband or kids about him. Her plea to keep their meetings secret stings like a betrayal, pushing him to cut ties. Is he too harsh, or is her secrecy a dealbreaker?
This emotional saga unfolds in quiet coffee shop meetups and tense phone calls, where hope for family clashes with the pain of being hidden. The teen, raised by a supportive dad and stepmom, craves connection but not at the cost of his dignity. As his mom’s texts pile up, begging for another chance, this story dives into the raw heart of family, identity, and the courage to demand respect.
‘AITA for not wanting to give my mom another chance because she don’t wanna tell her family about me?’
This teen’s decision to step back from his mother reflects the deep pain of being treated as a secret. Her refusal to acknowledge him to her family prioritizes her comfort over his sense of belonging, undermining their fragile reconnection. His anger is valid—being hidden feels like a rejection of his very existence.
Dr. Kenneth Adams, an expert in family dynamics, notes in Silently Seduced , “When parents hide their children from others, it signals shame, which can erode self-worth.” A 2021 study in the Journal of Family Issues found that 70% of children in reconnected families feel devalued when excluded from their parent’s new life. The mother’s secrecy likely stems from guilt over her past, but it unfairly burdens her son.
The teen could set clear boundaries, like giving her a deadline to disclose him, as Reddit suggests, while involving his dad for support. For others in similar situations, therapy can help process rejection, and open communication with trusted family members can rebuild confidence. He deserves a relationship where he’s fully embraced, not hidden.
See what others had to share with OP:
The Reddit crew rolled in like a protective family, dishing out fiery support and sharp advice with a touch of humor. They rallied behind the teen, tearing into his mom’s secrecy with gusto.
These Redditors didn’t hold back, cheering the teen’s stand while slamming his mom’s evasiveness. Their blunt takes—tell your dad, don’t be her secret—fuel a heated debate. But do their fiery opinions capture the full nuance of this family rift, or are they just stoking the flames?
This teen’s choice to cut off his mom shines a light on the pain of being a hidden child. Her secrecy, meant to protect her new family, left him feeling like an afterthought. Reddit’s call to stand firm and seek support from his dad offers a path forward. How do you rebuild trust with a parent who’s let you down? Share your stories—what would you do if your family kept you a secret?
