[UPDATE] for yelling at my ex’s GF in front of kids?
Under the dim glow of a streetlamp, a mother’s heart races as she learns her 10-year-old son has biked through the dark to escape his father’s home. The culprit? Her ex-husband’s 24-year-old girlfriend, whose unsettling “family bath” punishment pushed the boy to flee. For this 38-year-old mom, already stung by the girlfriend’s earlier demand to be called “mom,” this is the breaking point in a co-parenting saga soaked in tension.
Her gripping update, shared on Reddit, escalates a driveway clash into a full-blown fight for her children’s safety. As she storms her ex’s house and prepares for court, the internet rallies—some praising her mama-bear ferocity, others questioning the girlfriend’s motives. Can she shield her kids from this chaos?
For those who want to read the previous part: AITA for yelling at exDH’s GF in front of kids?
‘[UPDATE] for yelling at my ex’s GF in front of kids?’
This mother’s ordeal is a chilling escalation of parental alienation, now tinged with alarming behavior from the girlfriend. The “family bath” incident, vague but deeply unsettling, suggests a boundary violation that traumatized the 10-year-old enough to flee. The girlfriend’s aggression—yelling, attacking the car—further paints a picture of instability, while the ex’s defense of her raises questions about his judgment.
The girlfriend may believe she’s asserting authority, but her actions scream control, not care. Forcing intimacy, like a shared bath, disregards the children’s autonomy and comfort. A 2022 report in Child Abuse & Neglect notes that non-parental caregivers who overstep boundaries can cause significant psychological harm, especially in high-conflict divorces (Child Abuse & Neglect, 2022). The children’s fear and pleas to leave signal a toxic environment.
Dr. Richard A. Warshak, an expert in family dynamics, warns, “When a caregiver prioritizes control over a child’s well-being, it risks lasting emotional damage” (Warshak, Divorce Poison). The girlfriend’s behavior, coupled with the ex’s enabling, fits this pattern. The mother’s swift action—removing the kids, seeking therapy, and pursuing full custody—is a textbook response to protect them. She should continue documenting incidents and consult a child psychologist to assess the children’s trauma. Barring the girlfriend from contact, as planned, is critical.
Here’s the feedback from the Reddit community:
The mother’s harrowing update unfolded on Reddit, detailing her son’s escape and the chaotic confrontation that followed. Here’s her story, raw and unfiltered:
Her account reveals a mother pushed beyond endurance, fighting to protect her children from a toxic environment while grappling with betrayal and fear for their well-being.
This mother’s saga is a stark reminder that protecting kids sometimes means waging war against those closest to them. The girlfriend’s disturbing overreach, from demanding “mom” to enforcing bizarre punishments, has shattered trust, pushing this mom to fight for full custody. Reddit’s outraged, but the road to healing is long. Can she rebuild her kids’ sense of safety? What would you do if a co-parent’s partner endangered your children? Drop your experiences and advice below—let’s keep this vital conversation alive!