We've all heard of situations where two people break up, and the loved ones around one of the people, like their friends or family members, will remain close with their ex-partner.
Though it's normal to want to maintain those relationships, it can be awkward for the person who exited the relationship, empathized the members of the "Am I the A**hole?" (AITAH) subReddit.
Redditor Nice_Bill_4212 understood that his ex-girlfriend and his mother had grown close while his relationship was still alive, but it was harder to cope with after the breakup.
But when his mother tried to convince him to invite his ex-girlfriend to family gatherings and other important events, including his wedding, the Original Poster (OP) couldn't support their ongoing relationship anymore.
He asked the sub:
"AITAH for threatening to ban my mother from attending my wedding and ever meeting her grandchild if she doesn't cut off my ex-girlfriend?"
The OP struggled with still seeing his ex-girlfriend, Adriana, at family gatherings.
"I (28 Male) am marrying my current fiancée, Maddy, (24 Female) this November, and we're expecting our first son in February."
"Prior to my current partner, I dated my ex-girlfriend, Adriana (29 Female) for five years."
"Things did not end well with my last relationship. She was upset that I was taking too long to marry her and upset that I wanted to make a career change when it turned out I hated my career that I was starting in human resources."
"Two and a half years ago, she broke up with me despite my telling her that I was close to getting ready to propose to her. I just wanted to finish my school for my new career in healthcare, and then I would be ready."
"It tore me up for long time, especially since over the time we were together, she got very close to my family, particularly my mom. That meant I couldn't even get away from her at some family events, where she was still invited."
Everything changed when the OP met his future wife, Maddy.
"Two years ago, I met Maddy at a work function, and we hit it off immediately."
"We moved in within six months of knowing each other, I had proposed by a year since I had achieved the career track I wanted, and a couple of months ago, we found out she was pregnant."
"I couldn't be happier with how things have turned out for me recently."
Adriana did not take the OP's new relationship well.
"Adriana, learning about how fast things went with Maddy, went ballistic. She called me and said I was a piece of s**t who used her and led her on, and said many vile things to me."
"She started saying awful things about me to any mutuals who could listen, and even started leaving negative reviews at the hospital I work at, naming me by name. Those eventually got taken down, but it was incredibly embarrassing. I spoke with a lawyer to see what my options were, but he said I didn't have many options for relief."
"Last week, after having dealt with this for a while, I ran into her at my mom's birthday party."
"At that party, she happened to 'accidentally' spill a drink on my fiancée, and during a speech about my mother, she sniped at me, saying, 'I love this wonderful woman, and am glad she gave birth to three wonderful children' while glaring at me (my mom had four kids). When she was leaving, she also 'accidentally' dinged my car with her driver's side door."
The OP tried to discuss his concerns with his mother, but it did not go well.
"After she left, I sat down with my mother and said that my ex was making my life harder for no reason, listed the things I mentioned above, and asked her not to invite her to events anymore."
"She pushed back, saying that Adriana was a decent friend to her, and she likes Adriana's mother a lot, so it would be difficult for her to cut her off."
"I said that I understand that, but I am asking as her son to support me when somebody is mistreating me."
"She said we'd talk about it further."
When she did nothing about Adriana, the OP set a new boundary.
"Yesterday, I found out that Adriana was coming to my youngest brother's track tournament."
"I called my mom and asked her to uninvite Adriana. She said she couldn't."
"I said, 'Let me make this clearer for you then. If you are saying yes to her, you are saying no to me. If you decide to support her in this, you can consider yourself uninvited to my wedding, and not a part of the family I am building. You can also say goodbye to meeting your first grandchild.'"
"She called me mean and cold. I agreed and said I am about this."
"The fallout from this has been more than I was expecting. Adriana went nuts when my mom cut her off, and I got a bunch of mutuals saying I was a massive a** for destroying the relationship between my mom and Adriana."
"My mom is pretty upset with me, but I know she'll eventually come around."
"My fiancée is happy that I am standing up for her and us."
"My question is: Did I go too far? Am I the a**hole for threatening to cut off my mom if she didn't cut off Adriana?"
"AITAH?"
Fellow Redditors weighed in:
- NTA: Not the A**hole
- YTA: You're the A**hole
- ESH: Everybody Sucks Here
- NAH: No A**holes Here
It was clear to some that Adriana was remaining close to the mom to keep her chance with the OP alive.
"NTA, and it wouldn't surprise me if 1) Adriana thought she still had a chance of getting back with you and 2) if your mother was feeding her information and encouraging it."
"I feel badly for your wife, having to put up with so much disrespect from Adriana and your mother. I cannot imagine going to my partners family events and having to deal with his ex being there all the time, crapping all over your new relationship."
"Your wife has some class, unlike Adriana and your mother." - theworldisonfire8377
"In my opinion, Adriana is ONLY continuing to be friends with the mother in order to keep tabs on OP… AND to cause as much trouble as possible."
"She's made the entire so-called 'friendship' with the mother all about her, her obsession with OP, and is using OP's mother shamelessly…" - NotTheBadOne
"Seriously. How pathetic is Adriana to cling on and interfere when he's seriously moved on to his wife and child? His Mom is a jerk. They can have a happy relationship if they stay in their lane."
"Honestly, as his fiancée, I would be bothered too, but she's going to be the mother of grand grandbaby. You can bet Mom will come around when she realizes this woman is the mother of her grandchild, not Adriana." - rackfocus
"Dude, NTA. Who your mom chills with is her biz, but when it starts messing with your life, lines gotta be drawn. Adriana sounds like she's running the psycho ex playbook, page by page."
"Mom's gotta choose. It ain't about destroying a relationship, man, it's about protecting your fam. She'll come round. Good on ya for standing up for your lady and your kiddo. Keep that s**t up, bro." - Soft_Pulse_4650
"NTA. Here's what I don't get. You want to keep a relationship with this girl, fine. Get your mani-pedis, see each other for lunch. That's whatever."
"There's no reason for her to be coming to holidays and birthday parties, etc. Especially if she's causing issues for your son. It's weird." - tsh87
"Adriana ruined her own relationship. If she had just MOVED ON, and found her own happiness and joy, none of this would have been a factor. But she AND her flying monkeys are trying to what? Punish OP for moving on? Grow up. This woman sounds like she is 12, not in her mid-20s." - scarybottom
Others reassured the OP that the best thing to do was to cut his mother off, at least for now.
"Another reason OP needs to cut the mother out of his family's life until she does the right thing. With no extra details from the mother, the psycho ex will start getting bored."
"OP, if you wanna win, keep doing what you're doing! Your mother will come around because grandchildren and children are more important than your son's ex/friend's daughter." - ToastedCrumpet
"Mum shouldn't be the only one in the dog house. Anyone defending the nutbar who intentionally dropped a drink over her ex of almost three years' pregnant fiancée is not someone you need in your life."
"If someone can watch that kind of behavior and still try to defend it, they've made it clear where they stand. No way would I want people like that around on one of the biggest days of my life. They can all go, save money on the wedding, and spend it with people who will actually celebrate it." - Beth21286
"If I were you… I would move a very long way away from all of that drama. Adriana is never going to go away. She is always going to try to turn mutual friends and your own family against you. She obviously knew your mom had her back, or she wouldn't have felt so confident in bashing you at your mom's party." - Forsaken-Photo4881
"Mom could've still met up with Adriana outside of family events as she's no longer family... I don't take my friends to family events either, gosh that'd be awkward if everyone did that."
"Also, she spilled a drink over a pregnant woman... What's next, making her trip? Shoving her down the stairs?" - LayaElisaberth
"Not to mention, from what OP was saying, he was happy to stay with her and would eventually have married her, he just wanted to get his life a little more together, which is totally understandable. If she hadn't been so impatient, she likely still would be with OP! OP dodged a bullet for sure, and I am glad he is happy now, but she made her own bed. She can lie in it." - Mean_Guidance_2859
"This has all the vibes of fatal attraction. I'm just waiting for a bunny boil scene. Being friends with your mom is one thing, but to go off the deep end and attack you and your fiancée because you found some new after SHE dumped you is beyond the pale."
"Worst case, if she keeps it up, get a restraining order against her for harassment."
"Then she won't have a choice but leave you and your family alone, unless she wants to be arrested, something that would really cramp her style and make her look bad or nuts."
"Marry your wonderful future wife, OP, and then move far, far away. Change your numbers, and enjoy your life together." - Misa7_2006
The subReddit applauded the OP for setting his boundaries and respecting his wife.
If his mother wanted to keep her relationship with his ex-girlfriend that badly, she and his ex-girlfriend could pretend that she was the real "fourth" child in the family and have a friendship with her, while the OP, his wife, and their baby moved on and had a happy life elsewhere.
















Woman Asks If It's Wrong To Cancel Date After He Makes Too Many Sexual Comments
Dating can be really hard, because let's be honest, as fun as it's supposed to be, there are some very strange prospects out there.
While some might just be socially awkward, there are definitely some walking red flags, ready to push every boundary, cautioned the members of the "Am I Overreacting?" (AIO) subReddit.
Redditor Suspicious_End_441 had been talking to a guy for a little while and was planning to go on a first date with him when he started sending her increasingly inappropriate text messages.
But when his texts went far past her comfort zone, especially for someone she'd never met, the Original Poster (OP) planned to call off the date and truly never meet the guy in real life.
She asked the sub:
The OP had been talking to a guy and was looking forward to going on a first date with him.
"For context, I (30 Female) met this guy online and have been talking to him the past few days."
"He asked me out, and we planned a date for today. He seems really nice so far."
"I like him, but he’s made a couple of comments that maybe seem like a red flag to me."
"First off, I did my nails for the date, and he asked me to send him a picture, so I did."
"Then he made some comment like, 'Those would look great wrapped around something.'"
"I kinda brushed it off because I know that’s how some guys are... but it did give me the ick a little."
"Then I asked him to tell me more about himself, and the second thing he told me was that he has a high sex drive."
The potential date texted:
The OP no longer liked the idea of dating the guy.
"Don’t get me wrong, I’m no prude, but this made me slightly uncomfortable. I’m wondering what reason you would need to tell this to someone you haven’t even met yet."
"I didn’t think he would be expecting sex on a first date, but this made me rethink."
"I’m also recovering from a surgery that I had three weeks ago, and he knows this. So that literally isn’t even an option for me, not that I would wanna do that on a first date anyway."
The OP considered never meeting the guy in person.
"I kind of feel like he’s making too many sexual comments too quickly, especially considering I didn’t engage with his first comment at all."
"Am I overreacting, feeling like I maybe want to cancel the date and block him?"
"I just feel like these comments are an indicator of his expectations... or maybe he is just 'being a guy'?"
Fellow Redditors weighed in:
Some had second-hand "ick" from reading that text message.
"NOR. My face when I read that text: [Dan Levy from 'Schitt's Creek']" - Unlikely_Captain_499
"I’d nope out right after the nails comment. After I blast him for being completely out of line." - WHYohWhy__MEohMY
"If he’s that comfortable saying stuff like that before he meets you, imagine what he’ll say after he knows you better." - ScrambledNoggin
"Gross. That joke should be saved for wife or long-term girlfriend where you know you'll get a laugh... or more accurately, an eye-roll and a 'threat' to not sleep with him for the next three months, LOL." - HovercraftIII1258
"Every time I get my nails done, my husband says something similar to that, and I always reply, 'I think they'd look good jammed in your eye sockets,' and we both laugh, LOL. But we've been married for over a decade. When we met and when we were dating, he was incredibly polite and possibly TOO slow in making advances. THIS is gross." - wingin_it0618
"This is exactly what I expect as a response from a man heavily in the dating scene right now. Like, sex is fine, but this guy really couldn't wait to go out on the date that was already set up and chill for ONE d**n night? If the girl is into you, it will happen when it happens. It says to me like he has no self-control." - BrayIsreal
"If he's giving you the ick, listen to that. It's not going to go away. Don't waste your own time or his. Plenty more fish in the sea, girl." - Zieglest
"As a man who is heavily in the dating world right now, that sounds like such a turn off, and any self-respecting girl who wants an actual relationship would not even talk to him anymore after this. It's so cringey and makes all of us guys look like there's no reason we want to go out with them other than getting laid. As a guy, it's really annoying; it makes girls weirded out by all of us. Sigh."
"Like, sex is fine, but this guy really couldn't wait to go out on the date that was already set up and chill for ONE d**n night? If the girl is into you, it will happen when it happens. It says to me like he has no self-control."
"That was the dumbest thing he could say to kill his chances. I wouldn't bother with him." - BrayIsReal
"NOR, I wouldn’t want to go anymore either. Making multiple sexual comments before even meeting someone is purposeful, and I doubt he remembers that you can’t do anything due to your surgery or even considers whether you want to."
"Don’t brush off how your gut makes you feel. If you are uncomfortable, then you are under no obligation to go." - AliBari
Others urged the OP to listen to her gut, not to go on that date, and to immediately block the guy.
"If he is already this forward, making sexual comments to a complete stranger, then it will only increase from here; he’s not going to suddenly stop. OP, if he already makes you feel uncertain or pressured, then don’t bother." - saiphxo
"Your gut is telling you something and wants to keep you safe. Don't ignore it." - SparkEli1
"Stay far, far away from this guy. Block. Don't look back. Men like this use high sex drive as a disclaimer for zero boundaries later." - CompetitionLankys
"Trust your intuition. Don’t go."
"I (39 Female) am very comfortable with casual sex and hook-ups. When single, I have never needed an emotional connection with a man to let off some steam. I don’t need him to make me feel special or like we have potential. I don’t need to know his hopes and dreams. I separate men into 'just sex' and 'potential for more' easily."
"I do need him to show the most basic level of respect and not be a creep. I would stop talking to this guy the instant he started speaking like that, even if my intention was to just f**k him."
"We are already talking, we are already about to go on a date, why is he turning it creepy sexual, what is that doing for either of us. It just speaks to a lack of judgment, I wouldn’t want to trust. If he can’t handle a basic text conversation without being a creep, why would I trust him to be alone with me?" - TheCa11ousB**h
"Ok, so I'm a degenerate, but even I wouldn't say something like 'those would look good wrapped around something' to a person I'd never met."
"I mean... do I have to be dad here and say the obvious? It's some guy on the internet who's looking to f**k. Is that really what you want? He can't even be bothered to type the d in the word 'and.'"
"Also, your nails look cool." - skippybeefree
"I’m more insulted that it’s just a terribly uncreative line. This guy's a bum!"
"Also, it's a huge red flag is the first thing he describes himself as a clean freak and needs things done his way. Sounds like a control freak, which would make me dip out immediately." - JeromeBarkley
"Only you know what you need to do. Feel safe. Feel comfortable. Feel SAFE!"
"If you don't, then cancel."
"Some men (I am a man) sometimes say way too much way too soon, and some men don't know how to hold a decent conversation. Sometimes just telling them how you feel about the sexual comments and seeing his reaction will tell you more than anything else he has ever said to you up until this point."
"But always remember you can choose to back out at any point in a date, even if you turn up to have dinner but can't walk in. The same goes for him as well if he turns up but doesn't walk in. We all have the right to feel safe and comfortable, especially on a first date." - Ok_goal6591
It was possible that the guy was just excited about the date, nervous to talk to someone new, socially awkward, or just joking at an inappropriate level.
Unfortunately, though, it was much more likely that these comments indicated the guy's expectations for the first date and how he would treat the OP if she set boundaries, especially regarding his inability to perform after surgery for safety reasons.
While it would be fun to meet someone new, it was much safer for the OP to wait for someone else.