'AITA for giving my stepdaughter a food she's allergic to?'

In this scenario, a 25-year-old woman named (let’s call her Jane) is married to Richard, who has twin daughters, Isabelle and Maria, from a previous marriage. Jane, who is 5 months pregnant, has a strong craving for Snickers bars, but Maria has a severe nut allergy. To avoid any risk of contamination, Jane typically consumes the Snickers bars in private areas of the house.

One day, while indulging in Snickers bars in her bedroom, Isabelle (identified by a pink wristband) unexpectedly enters and Jane shares a piece of chocolate with her. However, it turns out the twins had swapped wristbands as a prank, and it was actually Maria who ate the Snickers and suffered an allergic reaction. Jane administers the EpiPen and rushes Maria to the ER, where her condition stabilizes.

The incident causes uproar among family members, particularly the twins’ mother, who blames Jane for having nut products in the house that could tempt Maria. Jane’s husband supports her, noting that Maria is old enough to understand her allergy and should not have taken the Snickers. However, tensions escalate with the mother demanding restrictions on Jane’s interactions with the girls.

Jane, who struggles with face recognition due to autism, feels devastated and seeks an impartial view on whether she was at fault for offering Maria the Snickers.

From an outside perspective, Jane’s actions were unintentional and based on the information she had (Isabelle’s wristband). Given her efforts to avoid any risk to Maria’s health and her reliance on the wristbands for identification, it appears Jane acted in good faith. The prank by the twins, while innocent in intent, resulted in unforeseen consequences due to Maria’s allergy.

The situation highlights the importance of clear communication and understanding regarding allergies, especially in blended families. Jane’s remorse and efforts to accommodate Maria’s condition demonstrate her concern for the well-being of her stepdaughters. While the incident was unfortunate, it does not seem Jane can be blamed for negligence, considering the circumstances and her efforts to manage her cravings without endangering Maria.

In conclusion, Jane is not the asshole (NTA) in this situation, as her actions were not intentionally harmful and were based on the information available to her at the time. The family should focus on clearer protocols for managing Maria’s allergy and preventing future misunderstandings.

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