“If she doesn’t want to hang out with the other kids and my wife, that’s fine, but expecting me to blow them off isn’t reasonable.”
Balancing time with family members is like walking on a tightrope, where every step needs to be careful to keep things peaceful. It’s well understood that no single family member should hog a parent’s attention, especially when the family includes many children with different needs and feelings.
This balance is thrown off when a parent starts focusing mainly on a newly found family member, ignoring the strong relationships and duties that have been built over the years.
This is what happens in the story of a dad who, after not knowing for years, finds out he has a teenage daughter from an old relationship. This news brings happiness, confusion, and many challenges, especially how to welcome this new family member without pushing away his other children.
His attempt to share his time equally—staying true to his current family while also building a real connection with his new daughter—shows the complicated balance of family responsibilities. The teenager’s wish for all the attention and her unwillingness to share her dad with her siblings causes family arguments, highlighting how unfair it is to expect one parent to put her first before the rest of the family.
This story clearly shows how hard it is to balance love and time in a family, showing the dad’s effort to be fair to all his children while dealing with the tricky situation of a suddenly bigger family.
Just take a look…
OP dated “Margot” in college, parted when she transferred. Married Cathy for 10 yrs, 3 kids: 9yo boy, 8yo girl, 2yo girl.
Last year, Margot messaged him on Facebook about her 16-year-old daughter, Paige. DNA test proved she’s his, nearby.
Margot hid Paige, thinking she could handle it alone. Paige now wants to connect, so he agreed; they started well, sometimes involving his family.
Paige initially wanted alone time. They meet weekly, with her staying every other weekend—balancing time with other kids is challenging for her to grasp.
Paige declines family invites but wants to join when he’s with other kids, even asking to cancel plans for her.
Paige asked him to skip his son’s basketball game to hang out, but he declined, explaining its importance to his brother.
He loves her but emphasizes balancing time with other kids. She’s upset with him.
She refuses therapy and wants him to prioritize her over her siblings, which he can’t do. He questions if he’s the jerk.
Scroll down to see what people had to say!
Lost in translation: ‘Dad’s Time Out’ edition. Siblings didn’t sign up for a surprise big sis either.
Daughter’s tuning into ‘Dad Show’ mid-season. Therapy’s the remote.
Looks like Margot’s been playing chess with people’s lives. Hope she brought enough pawns.
Clock’s ticking, Mom! Dad’s got a tight schedule to catch up on.
Dad’s juggling act: invites open, 1:1 time rolling. Sorry, ‘Long Lost Daughter,’ family’s not for ditching.
Plot twist: College tuition or family reunion? Margot’s got us all guessing!
New daughter, old blame game. Here’s hoping she warms up before her 18th birthday!
Watch out for Margot’s playbook: daughter drama or marriage mischief? Keep those boundaries tight!
Cheers to him for stepping up! At 16, she’s old enough for dad jokes, not drama.
Starved for attention or just craving dad jokes? Family therapy: the perfect recipe for household harmony.
At 16, she’s old enough to know dads aren’t superheroes, just super busy. Time for a reality check with mom.”
Margot’s honesty meter’s off.
Welcome to Dad’s juggling act, where every kid gets a turn. Patience, it’s a full house now.
In the end, family life isn’t a pie-eating contest where the one who grabs the most wins. It’s more like a potluck dinner—everyone brings something to the table, and there’s enough to go around. Our dad’s learning the hard way that in the feast of family love, sharing is indeed caring.
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