Some blended families have trouble with money or may find it hard to treat all of their children the same. For example, Lindsay wanted her daughter to be treated the same way as her stepdaughter, which made her think about buying her daughter a pricey graduation gift. But her husband didn’t agree, saying it was his money and telling her to choose something cheaper. We were able to help Lindsay when she was feeling down.

This is the letter from Lindsay:

“I planned to give my daughter a $2,000 graduation present.” Just last year, my husband of 12 years got a $2,000 gift for the graduation of his own daughter.

He told her, “You don’t work, and this is my money!” Spend less on the gift or ask her dad to pay!” He said, “I don’t think it’s my responsibility to buy her a gift from my own money in the first place; it should be you or her dad.”

He said that even though he knew I would never ask my ex-husband to help me buy our daughter a gift. We’re not friendly, and if I asked him, I’d be putting myself down. I had to get my daughter a smaller present because I had no other choice.

My stepdaughter came up to me on graduation day and said, “I will not let your daughter feel like she is being treated unfairly.” It’s wrong what my dad did!”

Then she gave me a small box. When I opened it, I was shocked to see a piece of jewelry that looked a lot like the one her dad had given her last year and the one I was going to buy for my own daughter.

I hugged my sweet stepdaughter with tears in my eyes. But I still can’t forgive my husband for how he treats my child and me. He’s been taking care of her for ten years, and I hate what he did.

What should I do?

Thank you,
Lindsay”