“WIBTA for telling my daughter the truth about her dad?”

In this situation, a 45-year-old mother is grappling with whether to tell her 12-year-old daughter, Julie, the truth about the strained relationship between Julie and her father, who is now showing newfound interest in her. The mother divorced her ex-husband ten years ago after he accused her of infidelity, despite the fact that she was faithful. This accusation stemmed from the fact that Julie was conceived relatively quickly after their middle child, and the ex-husband had questioned the paternity of the child, even though DNA testing confirmed that Julie was indeed his.

Since the divorce, the father’s relationship with Julie has been notably cold compared to his warmer relationships with their other two children. However, Julie’s talent in soccer has recently sparked his interest. He is now attending her games and showing more involvement, which has led to a noticeable shift in his behavior towards her. Julie has noticed this change and questioned her mother about why her father is suddenly paying more attention to her and why they got divorced. The mother has typically told her that people sometimes fall out of love, which aligns with the ex-husband’s own explanation.

During a recent conversation, Julie expressed her hurt and confusion over her father’s past indifference. She revealed feelings of inadequacy and frustration at having tried to win his affection in vain. The mother, deeply moved by this, is now faced with a difficult decision. She is torn between revealing the truth about the divorce’s impact on their family dynamics and preserving the newly budding father-daughter relationship.

Her friends and family are divided on the issue. Some believe Julie deserves to know the truth to understand her father’s past behavior and heal from it, while others warn that disclosing this information might damage the fragile and potentially positive relationship developing between Julie and her father. The mother also plans to seek therapy for Julie and possibly for the entire family, recognizing the need for professional guidance in navigating these complex emotions. Additionally, she intends to discuss the situation with her ex-husband to gauge his response and determine how best to address the truth in a way that minimizes harm to Julie.

Read for more info Reddit