It can be a really hard transition for kids when their parents get remarried, especially if the new stepmom or stepdad has kids of their own.

If the step kids don’t get along with each other, growing up can be pretty painful.

In this story, one boy grew up in a home where he knew his step siblings despised him. Now that he’s all grown up, he doesn’t ever plan to go back to his childhood home.

But his dad clearly doesn’t understand.

Let’s read the whole story.

AITA for denying my dad’s wife and her kids as my family and reminding my dad he made the choice to stay when I had no say?

I (20m) was 5 when my dad married Ellen. Ellen was a widow and she had five kids.

Her oldest four were all older as in late teens to 20s. Her youngest was 7.

My mom bailed on me when I was 3 so I didn’t have an active mom and I was an only child.

Ellen didn’t fill any motherly role for me and her kids were clear that I was less than a stranger.

He was hopeful that he’d get along with Ellen’s youngest child.

Ellen’s youngest never wanted to hang out or play with me.

For a little while when we first started living together I thought we would. But he always moved away or told me to go away when I tried to play or spend time with him.

He ignored me the rest of the time and would sometimes refuse to say anything when I talked to him.

The older siblings were even worse.

Ellen’s older kids would all come and visit their brother and ignore me.

They’d bring him toys, candy, take him to see movies or bring him for treats like McDonald’s.

Not only was I not welcome but a few times they were asked to take me and I’d hear it from them when they told me I wasn’t their brother and that meant I couldn’t come and I better not get upset about it so they’d be asked again.

Gifts didn’t make it any better.

Christmas and other holidays where they visited their brother it was always like that. I was left out and they were angry I was even there to begin with.

My dad would try to cheer me up or spend a little extra on me but it didn’t help because I was living in a house where the kid around my age, who was supposed to be family wanted nothing to do with me and his siblings who were supposedly my family too wanted nothing to do with me AND would be mean about excluding me.

They liked rubbing it in.

Ellen’s kids are so cruel!

I was miserable and I didn’t have any extended family to fall back on so I had to suck it up.

I started avoiding celebrations when I could. And I focused on me.

When I did that I heard Ellen’s kids say stuff was better without me ruining everything and if only dad was gone it would be perfect.

He avoids his family now.

I decided to focus on getting out of dad’s house ASAP and I couch surfed for months after I turned 18 before settling into a place with some friends.

I still talk to dad, but not a lot.

He mentioned recently that I should come for a family dinner with him, Ellen, her kids and some of her extended family.

I told him they’re not my family and I would not be welcome so I won’t be going.

His dad clearly doesn’t get it.

Dad told me we might not get along all the time but we are family.

I told him they’re not and he made the choice to stay knowing they rejected me and now I wasn’t going to pretend we’re something we’re not and never were.

He told me it wasn’t fair because he made sure I didn’t miss out on stuff all the same.

I told him being rejected by everyone else and ostracized in my own home was not made up for with a few material things. AITA?

His dad probably didn’t realize just how mean Ellen’s kids were to him. It wasn’t the same as his experience. No, OP didn’t do anything wrong by leaving home and explaining why he’s not coming back, even just for dinner.

Let’s see how Reddit reacted to this story.

This person calls the dad “a despicable human being.”

Another person approves of how he phrased it.

He really did have a difficult childhood.

Seriously, why were the older step siblings so mean?

He never has to see them again.

If you liked that post, check out this post about a rude customer who got exactly what they wanted in their pizza.