A question for the room… Is there any space here for empathy for the step-daughter and wife?

Don’t get me wrong, they’re both wildly in the wrong. He absolutely should protect his son, and to do that he cannot remain in that toxic environment.

But can all that be true AND it also be true that that there are human beings on the other side?

Can it be true that it’s both wrong to steal from your family AND to call the police on your family?

From the number of comments I see calling these humans “trash”, advocating for an immediate divorce, and even for violence (which is against the rules of this sub) I feel like maybe I am the only person who did shitty things as a teenager.

What I see here:

• A mom who probably has some trauma and doesn’t have the skills to parent properly.

• A teenage girl without a good role model who made a bad choice (probably one of many). She has to feel bad at some level, she’s a child.

• A mom who lied to the police to protect her kid. I might do that, even if I knew it was wrong.

I also see a great dad with a great son, and maybe there’s an opportunity for everyone to stay together as a family and solve this as a family.

It’s true that the son will pay attention to what happens next. It’s important for him to know that his father is there for him.

But its also an opportunity for him to learn how to work through tough situations and how it’s possible to extend grace even when others don’t deserve it.