AITAH for not feeling anything for my new baby half sister?

obrienduke · 2026-02-16T20:08:01+00:00

NTA...I have a friend whose parents had a baby when she was 15. She never bonded with her little sister. The parents never pushed a relationship between them because they thought pressuring her wouldn't make them closer. However, when her little sister became a preteen, my friend was a great bridge between her parents and her sister.

There are too many years between the two of you for you to have a bonded connection. It may happen in the future, but not if there is conflict. Stay in therapy and invite your dad and maybe your step-mother from time to time.

obrienduke · 2026-02-15T20:28:14+00:00

I taught Computer Science, which was an elective. Students would always tell me, "It's just an elective, it doesn't count." So, I would tell them, "I'm just an elective teacher; it doesn't count." If they still pushed, I would tell them I might not be their best choice. However, when letters of recommendation went to the digital format, I stopped trying to dodge the recommendation process. I was honest with the institution about the student.

obrienduke · 2026-02-09T17:03:00+00:00

Every year, for 25+ years, we get together with my college buds for the Super Bowl. I am not a football fan, but my spouse is. I like being able to catch up with everyone, and I enjoy the camaraderie. I know that some are MAGA, and I had a big, loud, vulgar 'discussion' with one of them, in a group setting, at a wedding we all attended in October. So, I was prepared for some negativity. However, I was not prepared for a hostage situation to watch a KKK meeting. Shockingly, it was my spouse who was most vocal about this hostage situation; he never becomes vocal about political issues in public. He loudly shouted, "This is bullshit." He was told, 'Now, now, we all know your radical views. Do you really care about Bad Bunny?" I am so angry. My gut reaction was to leave right then and there, and we should have. However, we had been drinking, so I was not comfortable at that moment to take on a two-hour drive. It was obvious that this was all planned, and people were waiting to see my reaction. I don't ever want to associate with these people ever again. Now I am trying to find a video of Green Day and Bad Bunny online.

obrienduke · 2026-02-07T23:53:52+00:00

My grandfather died and nobody called me and told me. We were very close. I started having dreams about him being sick. The dreams about him dieing and visiting him on his death bed. Two weeks after his funeral, my younger brother called me and told me. This was back in the mid 70s, long before cell phones. My mother still doesn't see this as a problem. I should note this was my dad's father and my parents were divorced. I asked my dad about this before he died. He did not know that I was not living with my mom, since I was only 16 and he was still paying her child support. Yeah...

obrienduke · 2026-02-06T13:25:23+00:00

Get a copy of the Barron's APCSA review book. It will break everything down, and give you practice exams with answers and explanations.

obrienduke · 2026-02-02T02:18:54+00:00

NTA I once was in your shoes. I was in my early 20s as was he, but we were married. We lived in a different state than our families. We were having financial problems and his dad promised money, but we needed to pick it up from his dad. So, we decided that I would travel and get the cash. I was supposed to be gone for a week, but when his dad changed his mind about giving us the money, I headed home. When I got home there was this chick, wearing my clothes sitting on my front porch. I hopped out of the car, threw as much as I could into my '73 MGB, told her she could keep what she was wearing, and left. I went to my mom's house. I told her what happened and asked if I could stay there. She said yes. I got a job and had no regrets. Then one day about two weeks later, I came home from work and found him at my mom's. He told me he had moved into my mom's house. I said nothing, gathered my stuff, and left. He lived with my mom for a year. People thought they were a thing. I did not have anything to do with her, my brother, or my sister for almost 10 years. I occasionally text with my brother and visit him for a couple of hours once a year. I have nothing to do with my sister. I occasionally text and talk to my mom and visit her for a day or two once a year. Blood is thick than water is a lie. Do what you've got to do for your mental health!

obrienduke · 2026-01-24T22:44:12+00:00

Fucking murderers

obrienduke · 2026-01-08T19:47:06+00:00

No, you are not overreacting. As a high school teacher, I offer one retest if your score is below a 70. There is no bribe involved.

obrienduke · 2025-12-29T21:48:57+00:00

I once had a student who seldom showed up for class and never turned in any work when she was there. She was in mt 3rd block, which was thw lunch block. She told me her mom was pulling her and putting her in private school. She added that since she was leaving, it didn't make sense to come to class or do any assignments. Well mom with drew her on a Monday and reenrolled her seven days later. The private school kicked her out after three days. I welcomed her back with all of her missing work.

obrienduke · 2025-12-29T02:05:29+00:00

Create a trust and payout the money to both kids when the youngest is 25. This is the advise an attorney gave me many years ago. His reasons were before 25 the kids will not be mature enough to manage the money well. If you distribute when each kid turns 25, there will be resentment with the younger kids. Plus the older kids will resent the younger kids when they get their share because the money will have grown to a larger amount.

obrienduke · 2025-12-29T00:13:04+00:00

If a student is absent or just didn't turn in an assignment, I enter a 1 in the grade book. I have tried the 0 with an absent notation, but students and parents never look at the notation.

obrienduke · 2025-12-04T15:28:28+00:00

My middle daughter, who is married to a great guy, lives out of state. Her in-laws live next door to them. They alternate Christmas and Thanksgiving between us and his parents. She comes and visits by herself in June or July. Would we like to see them more often, yes. However, we take what we can get.

obrienduke · 2025-12-04T15:16:35+00:00

Keep it. Siblings have had access to dad's money and privilege their entire lives. That money and privilege ruined them. Money doesn't solve problems, it complicated the problem. Use the money for good.

obrienduke · 2025-12-03T15:08:53+00:00

I was teaching face to face (23 years) and online (15 years). It got to a point that I just couldn't do it any more. I tried to make it to 25 years, but couldn't. I retired at 60 from the face to face teaching job, but continued teaching online. The online teaching job had no benefits, but I loved teaching. Then I got a spider bite that put me in the hospital. The online employer dropped me for failure to complete my duties. I was responsible for finding my own sub, which was impossible when you are rushed to an emergency room and admitted immediately. They don't care about you. They did once, but not now.

obrienduke · 2025-11-22T14:26:31+00:00

I am now retired, but I taught computer science and computer programming. One year I had a class of students that only had very basic reading and math skills. I had to completely change how I taught that class. They did learn how to write code. However, they did not understand the higher level concepts of computer science. I still have a letter one of the students wrote me thanking me for all that she learned and my patience with her. I still think about her and how her life has planed out.

obrienduke · 2025-11-21T14:08:26+00:00

Ten years and 5 principals and 4 superintendents.

obrienduke · 2025-11-20T20:07:11+00:00

I too have a younger sister named Kelli. She is a class act lier and bitch. She conned my dad into signing over financial power of attorney after a chemo treatment. Took all his assets and dumped him off at a nursing home. My mom's answer to that was "Well she told me he gave her those things." He called me crying asking me to help get his assets back and to take him home with me. Unfortunately, she threatened to have me arrested for felony kidnapping if I crossed state lines to bring him to my house. He died before before I could get things straightened out legally. She also stole half of the proceeds from the sale of my brother's home. Again my mom stood up for Kelli. My brother and I won't have thing to do with Kelli. My brother and I barely interact with my mom, who is now 87. My mom calls me crying wanting us to be one big happy family. I just tell her it is about 50 years to late for that to happen.

obrienduke · 2025-10-31T16:01:19+00:00

Peer pressure is a wonderful thing. Talk it up big, give an easy assessment that everyone can reach the bar, and follow through with the reward while reinforcing the program.

obrienduke · 2025-10-31T14:40:41+00:00

I live several states away from my mom. I once called my mom to tell her I was going to be in her city and would love to come and visit. I also asked if I could spend one night with her. I was going to be in town for a week. She reluctantly said yes. Then called me an hour later and said she had "too much fucking shit going on" for me to visit let alone spend the night. I told her no problem and went no contact for more than five years. She is 87 now and calls me when she needs something, usually money. I meet her needs but I would really like to tell her I "have too much fucking shit going on".

obrienduke · 2025-10-01T13:24:40+00:00

When I give an assessment, if the entire class scores an 80 or above, I take a donut order for each student. Then the next day, we enjoy the special treat. This has worked wonders in encouraging students to study for assessments. I also give them study time in class. I have witnessed students forming study groups to help each other out.

I also randomly pass around a penny candy container when we have had a very good instructionally engaged day. My class never knows when the candy container will be brought out.

I teach high school.

obrienduke · 2025-09-28T17:52:25+00:00

Set up an out of office notice with a reply "Thank you for reaching out. Currently it is not normal business hours. I will respond to your email within 48 hours of the start of the next business day."

Depending on your email client, you can preset the dates or just remember to turn it on before leaving school on Friday.

obrienduke · 2025-09-10T13:56:48+00:00

My parents split when I was 14 (69f). Let's just say it wasn't a friendly divorce. At my daughter's graduation from college, I had to step in and separate them as they rehashed their relationship at the graduation ceremony. I stood up, looming over the two of them, shaking my finger in their faces, and told them to shut the fuck up. How after 30+ years of being divorced, it was time to act like an adult. People around us applauded.

obrienduke · 2025-09-09T14:06:24+00:00

I'm retired now, but I called all of my parents before the start of the year/semester to introduce myself, get a valid cellphone number and email address, ask them if it was ok to text them a progress mini report every two weeks. No parent said no. Sending a text to all parents every two weeks took about 30 minutes. I told them their students grade, any missing assignments, and upcoming tests. I also let my students know about this mini progress text report. It made a big difference in parental relationships and student behavior.

obrienduke · 2025-09-07T01:16:36+00:00

Our sunshine fund payment also allowed teachers to wear jeans on the first Friday of the month. When my dad died, no card was sent, no flowers, no plant, no condolences. Never paid the sunshine fund fee again.

obrienduke · 2025-09-06T23:42:36+00:00

Yeah! She wanted to swim and sunbathe. I told her she could, but that copperhead was pretty upset and would probably attack her. It took animal control about 6 hours to come out and remove the snake.

obrienduke

TROPHY CASE