A father recently shared his challenging experience on the “AITA” subreddit. He explained that he and his ex-wife had split when their children were young, and they initially shared custody equally. However, after his ex-wife remarried, he stopped providing spousal support.
The situation took an unexpected turn when his ex-wife called him, asking for money to buy food for herself and their children. Feeling sympathetic, he agreed to consider her request and said he would call her back.
After discussing the situation with his live-in girlfriend, the father decided to provide his ex-wife with a freezer full of elk, deer, and wild hog meat, along with a well-stocked pantry of beef, pork, and chicken. He delivered the food to her, hoping to meet the immediate need.
However, things took a confusing turn when his ex-wife refused to accept the food and insisted on receiving cash instead. She claimed that she wanted to buy lunch for herself and the children. The father, understandably, was taken aback by her response. He had already provided her with two weeks’ worth of food and couldn’t understand why she would reject it.
This led to an argument, with his ex-wife hurling insults and calling the food he brought her “scraps.” The father explained that he had given her an abundance of freezer meat, canned vegetables, fresh garden produce, and unopened packets of pasta and rice. He stood his ground, prioritizing his children’s well-being and their love for hunting and cooking.
Despite facing criticism from some family members who believed he should have given her money, the overwhelming majority of responses on his Reddit post supported his decision. People commended him for offering food instead of cash, which is a common approach when helping others in need without enabling poor financial choices.
The general consensus was that the father was not in the wrong. Many Redditors compared his situation to dealing with panhandlers, who they would offer food instead of money. They praised his responsible parenting and questioned why his ex-wife accused him of trying to make her a “housewife” when all he was doing was fulfilling his parental duties.
In conclusion, the father’s decision to provide food for his ex-wife and children instead of giving her money was widely supported by the Reddit community. His focus on his children’s well-being and his refusal to enable poor financial choices resonated with many users.
