I separated from my first husband when my daughter was only three years old. The reason was his loafing and love of women. It got to the point where he took his chicks to our apartment. And in my apartment. I had to pack him a suitcase and change the lock on the door. I filed for alimony, but my daughter was twelve years old, and we didn’t get a penny from him. But in principle, I didn’t get upset. I was working, and my salary wasn’t bad. My daughter and I had enough to live on.
And then I met a man (Adam), who also has a seven-year-old daughter. Lives with him, and her mother, not even interested in her life.
So we decided to get together. The girl was drawn to me, almost immediately began to call me her mother. And I stuck to her. My daughter’s relationship with Adam was nothing. She didn’t want to accept him, although she and his daughter found a common language.
At the beginning everything was good with us. We both worked, earned money and spent money together. And then I got laid off. Adam persuaded me not to look for a new job, it was better to stay home and take care of the girls. Although my daughter didn’t need a babysitter, Adam’s daughter had to be taken to school, to all sorts of activities. Adam didn’t skimp on his daughter, buying her everything she needed and didn’t need. I spent all my savings on my daughter. Except they weren’t rubbery. Mine had grown out of all her things. I asked Adam for money for my daughter, and he gave it to me, albeit reluctantly. I did not pay much attention to it. And with my daughter we bought everything we needed. And then as if by chance her backpack was torn. So I went back to Adam, and he was indignant.
-Actually, I feed her out of my own pocket. And I don’t have to buy her things. Go find her daddy, and ask him for money. I ain’t giving a penny more for her!
It’s like a pail of cold water being poured over me. I thought we were family. I take care of his daughter like she was my own. Her mom has no part in raising her at all. That’s all right. And it turns out mine’s not part of this “family.” How so? Adam and I had a fight. I locked myself in my room with the girls. Crying. I just really do not know what to do. If he were alone, I would have shaken him off. But what about his daughter? She’s become family to me. And I’m her family too. So I betrayed her too. But I don’t want to put up with this attitude towards my daughter either.
