If you’ve had a positive role model in your life, you know how important they can be. There’s the saying that it takes a village… which is true.

But what if, like in this story, there’s infighting in the village? How do you reconcile with a parental figure who is not actually a parent?

Let’s figure it out.

AITA took niece hiking and moms got mad

My niece just turned 9.

I have been very involved with her life since she was a baby. I watch her and we hang out at least once a week, I have taken her swimming, amusement parks, aquariums… etc.

That’s sweet. And will probably be a meaningful, lifelong relationship. But what’s the hitch right now?

This past weekend I took her on a real hike for the first time.

I told both her moms where we were going, I didn’t give times for when we would be back as I didn’t know how long the hike would take.

I have watched her all day before though and everything has always gone great.

But not this time?

When we got down from the hike and drove back into cell service I received a barrage of angry messages from both of them about why I wasn’t responding and what I was doing with their daughter.

I told them we were on our way back now and I was going to get her dinner and that there wasn’t any cell service.

Uh-oh. Sounds like a communication breakdown. Can OP recover?

They told me they would be feed her and to bring her home immediately. When I brought her back I got glares and side eyes from them.

They wanted to talk but I was honestly upset at the damper this had out on our great day so I told them we could talk later and I left.

Talk later, moms. But was OP in the wrong?

I understand being worried about her up in the mountains but I am struggling to see what I could/should have done differently?

I’ll talk to them soon but wanted to hear what you all think?

This is a tricky one. I see both sides… sometimes it’s nice to not be tethered to a phone. But as a parent, you wanna know where your kid is.

What do the comments think?

This person says, misunderstanding, no fault sitch.

Someone else says the parental freakout was unwarranted.

Another poster disagrees and says YTA.

One user says, people gotta know hikes have no service.

Here’s another YTA, but gentle.

And this person is divided on their own opinion.

These moms said, take a hike.

If you liked that story, read this one about grandparents who set up a college fund for their grandkid because his parents won’t, but then his parents want to use the money to cover sibling’s medical expenses.