Blended families come with struggles and challenges. Sometimes, no matter what, step kids will not accept their step parents as family.

This woman was married to a man with a teenage son who made it clear he never wanted her in his life.

She still offered financial help for his college, but she was immediately shut down.

Now, her stepson needs financial help again, but this time, she’s not willing to help. Is this the wrong decision?

Read the full story below for all the details.

AITAH for how I responded when my husband asked me to pay for stepson’s surgery?

I’ve been with my husband for about 5 years.

He has a son from his previous marriage, let’s call him Ethan, who moved in with us when he was 16.

From the start, things were very, very difficult.

This woman was never accepted or respected by her husband’s son.

Ethan was hostile toward me.

He never liked me and had kept me at arm’s length.

He constantly hurt my feelings with his mean-spirited, offensive comments about my age or living situation.

He made it clear that he didn’t want me in his life.

Still, she offered to help pay for his college.

While his dad was struggling financially, I offered to help pay for college.

I did this because I wanted to help.

But my husband’s response? “You can’t buy your way into being his mom.”

That hurt. A lot.

Ethan got sick and needed surgery.

But okay.

I respected their choice and didn’t push.

Ethan recently got sick and needs surgery. He has been sick for 4 months but used to take medication until now, and he needs surgery.

He reached out to his dad, asking for financial help.

She refused to help with the medical bill.

My husband came to me and asked if I’d be willing to contribute. He was hoping this might be a chance to rebuild a relationship.

I just said no.

He said this could be the perfect opportunity to make things right between me and Ethan.

I said, “I won’t buy my way into being his mom, can I?”

Now, her husband is calling her petty and cruel.

He didn’t take it well.

He said I was being cruel and petty.

Now, he’s even saying he’s “reconsidering our marriage” because he thinks I should put the pettiness aside and help Ethan regardless.

But I still refused.

He wouldn’t let her help financially when she wanted to help, so why should she help now?

Let’s read the reactions of other people to this story on Reddit.

This person thinks she’s facing a huge problem.

This user shares their personal thoughts.

Here’s a different perspective from this user.

It might be easier said than done, but this advice may help.

Finally, stand your ground, says this person.

Don’t expect support from someone you’ve pushed away.

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.