Family dynamics can be complicated, especially when stepparents and children are present. A mom on Reddit recently revealed her difficult situation with her stepdaughter’s diet and her role in it. To learn more, read our article in its entirety.
What was the situation?
My 15-year-old stepdaughter has been living with us every week for the past year, which has made mealtime difficult. Initially, she followed a vegan diet, which I accommodated by cooking meals free of animal products. However, she immediately adopted a holistic diet and developed allergies to a variety of foods.
Now, my stepdaughter avoids dairy and gluten. She insists on keeping food and cookware separate, even removing items from the cupboard that she feels induce stomach distress. I suggested she eat outside or do her own cooking and cleaning, which made her angry. My husband began yelling at me due of this predicament.
After recommending that my stepdaughter seek professional therapy for her eating troubles, it was discovered that she had no allergies. Despite this realization, she remained firm in her dietary convictions.
Frustrated and at a breaking point, I began adding gluten and lactose to her meals, which she unintentionally absorbed with no negative consequences. When her mother paid a visit and commended her daughter’s improved health as a result of her new diet, I calmly pointed out that she had been eating the same foods as the rest of us.
This discovery sparked a dispute, prompting my stepdaughter and her mother to leave our house. My husband was furious with me because his daughter had decided not to live with us anymore. I responded by making it obvious that if he wanted his daughter to live with him, he could move out. They eventually brought a lawsuit against me, but I stand by my actions. I refuse to accommodate to the demands of a teen with irrational food views, especially considering my busy profession as a nurse.
I think I behaved in the best interests of our family’s well-being, and I do not have the time or energy to meet unrealistic expectations based on unfounded nutritional ideas. Am I mistaken in this position?
