AITA for telling my estranged father he can take care of his own wife?

Family betrayal can leave wounds that never quite heal, especially when a parent’s actions destroy the trust that once held a family together. In this story, a 17-year-old boy finds himself pulled back into the life of his estranged father — the same man who cheated on his mother, lied to him, and tried to manipulate his emotions.

Now, years later, that father wants help caring for his pregnant wife, the woman he had the affair with. The teen refuses, sparking a fierce online debate about forgiveness, family obligations, and whether children owe anything to parents who have broken their trust.

A teenage boy’s fractured relationship with his father came to a breaking point.

After gaining control over visitation, the son cut ties completely.

Then, out of nowhere, his father reached out again with a surprising request.

When the father tried to guilt-trip him, the teen stood firm on his boundaries.

Family therapist Dr. Helena Wright explains that children who experience a parent’s betrayal often carry deep emotional scars that influence their relationships for years. “When a parent cheats, it doesn’t just break a marriage — it breaks a child’s sense of safety,” she says. “Forcing a teenager to help the very person who caused that trauma can reopen wounds that haven’t fully healed.”

Dr. Wright also points out that estranged parents sometimes try to reinsert themselves into their child’s life under the guise of “family duty.” In reality, it can be another attempt to regain control or absolve themselves of guilt. “It’s manipulative,” she says, “especially when the parent uses guilt or emotional pressure to demand help.”

Ultimately, Dr. Wright believes the teen’s decision to say no was an act of self-preservation, not cruelty. “He’s not rejecting family — he’s protecting his emotional boundaries. It’s healthy, it’s mature, and it’s necessary for long-term healing.” In her view, reconciliation should only happen if the parent genuinely apologizes and respects the child’s boundaries, not because of guilt or obligation.

Here’s what Redditors had to say:

Many users supported the poster, praising his maturity and firm boundaries despite his young age.

Others offered a more balanced perspective, suggesting that while his anger was valid, forgiveness might bring peace in the long run.

Some users took a lighter, sarcastic tone, turning their disbelief into humor.

In situations like this, forgiveness doesn’t have to mean reconciliation. The teen has every right to protect himself from a father who broke his trust and tried to rewrite the past. While empathy is valuable, so are boundaries — and this young man’s decision to say “no” reflects strength, not spite.

What do you think? Should children ever feel obligated to help parents who betrayed their family? Or was this teen right to cut ties completely?