Living with extended family members can often be challenging, as one husband and father recently discovered. Sharing his story on the popular Reddit page AITA (“Am I the a-hole?”), the man revealed that his stepson, Ben, had asked if his girlfriend, Liv, could move into their home temporarily due to a difficult situation at her own house. While the man was initially hesitant about the idea of having four adults and two children living under one roof, his wife couldn’t say no to their son.
However, since Liv’s arrival, several issues have arisen. First, Liv comes from a home with alcoholic parents, so seeing the man drink alcohol triggers her. Although the man doesn’t drink excessively, he enjoys having a few drinks with meals or on weekends. Second, Liv is vegan, while the family consumes meat regularly. The presence of meat in the house and the man’s hunting trophies on the walls make Liv uncomfortable.
The situation came to a head when Ben and Liv sat down with the man and his wife to discuss potential solutions. They proposed that the man drink alcohol in private and not around the kids, allow Liv to cook vegan meals for the family, and remove his hunting mounts from the walls until they left in six weeks. However, the man firmly rejected all of their suggestions except for allowing Liv to cook a few vegan meals during the week.
The man’s wife, however, disagreed with him and felt that trying out their suggestions for a short period wouldn’t hurt. She believed that they should accommodate Liv since it was only for six weeks. The man maintained his stance, stating that if they wanted to change their own lifestyles, they were free to do so but couldn’t force him to change in his own home.
The Reddit post garnered over 1,200 comments, with many supporting the man’s position. One comment highlighted that Liv was a guest in their home and had no right to make demands or dictate their lifestyle choices. Another commenter emphasized that it was the man’s home first and foremost, and if Ben and Liv were unhappy with the arrangements, they were free to leave.
The most upvoted response to the dilemma stressed the importance of understanding that one cannot control the world or other people. It asserted that if Liv found their lifestyle difficult, then their home wasn’t the safe place she needed and she should make other arrangements. The comment also raised concerns about the wife’s acceptance of Liv’s demands, questioning whether she had made similar requests before.
In response to concerns about his drinking habits, the man clarified that he drinks occasionally, sometimes going weeks without consuming alcohol. He defended his right to enjoy a drink with a meal or on occasion.
To gain further insight into this family dilemma, Fox News Digital consulted a psychologist. Despite the expert advice being unavailable, it is evident that living arrangements involving extended family members can lead to conflicts and differing expectations. It is crucial for all parties involved to communicate openly and find compromises that respect everyone’s boundaries and needs.
