I’m Braden, 34 years old, and a single dad to the most amazing 8-year-old daughter you could imagine. Amanda is the light of my life, even if my family doesn’t always see her the same way. Growing up in a close-knit but judgmental family has its challenges, especially when your mom micromanages everything, and your sister’s kids are the gold standard for behavior.
I never expected to be staring at my phone in disbelief, reading a group text from my mother saying, “We’re doing Thanksgiving with just the well-behaved kids this year.” Amanda can skip. The way my daughter’s face crumpled when she accidentally saw that message over my shoulder broke something inside me. If you’re watching this from somewhere where family drama hits close to home, hit like and subscribe.
Trust me, you’ll want to see how I finally stood up for my daughter this Thanksgiving. Family dynamics are complicated, aren’t they? Mine certainly are.
I’ve been divorced for 3 years now, sharing custody of Amanda with my ex-wife, Jennifer. We manage a pretty civil co-parenting relationship, all things considered. Jennifer and I split after 10 years of marriage that gradually deteriorated into two people who barely recognized each other anymore.
The separation was hard on Amanda, but we’ve done our best to provide stability across both households. Amanda is this bundle of creative energy and imagination. She loves art, music, dancing, and can spend hours creating elaborate worlds with her toys.
She talks a mile a minute when she’s excited about something, which is often. She doesn’t always pick up on social cues about when to tone it down, and yes, she can be a bit loud and energetic compared to other kids her age. Her teachers have suggested she might have mild ADHD, but she’s doing well in school and is genuinely kind-hearted.
My extended family, however, has always had opinions about Amanda’s behavior. At the center of it all is my mother, Margaret. Mom has always been the type who needs to control every situation.
She raised us with rigid expectations about how children should behave. Seen and not heard was practically her mantra. When my sister Sarah and I were growing up, there was no room for messiness or spontaneity.
Everything had to be perfect, especially when others were watching. Sarah took after mom in many ways. She married young to David, a successful accountant, and they have 10-year-old twins, Jackson and Sophia.
The story doesn’t end here — it continues on the next page.
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