After her husband’s father died, one woman refused to take her husband’s little sister in because she and her husband had agreed that they did not want to have children together.
A Reddit post that was twice restricted contained information about a man feeling conflicted about his little sister’s care. The original poster (OP) planned to do anything he could for her, but his wife did not think the same way.
The OP and his wife had been married for two years when the OP’s father passed away, leaving his sister with nobody to care for her. The OP’s sister is much younger than he is, making him more like a father figure than an older brother.
A man holding a crying young girl | Source: Shutterstock
The OP’s little sister was eleven when their father passed away. The OP and his wife had not welcomed any children then and had no plans to have any children in the future. The couple not wanting children is where the problem came in.
What Happened Between the OP and His Wife?
The OP and his family suffered a significant loss, and as they mourned the loss, they had some difficult decisions to make. However, these decisions caused unexpected tensions. The OP shared:
“My father passed away from pancreatic cancer. There are 2 options for my sister: either I take her in or my uncle [dad’s brother]. So we asked her who she wanted, and she chose me. Here is the problem: My wife and I decided that we did not want kids.”
Upset young girl resting her head on her hand | Source: Shutterstock
Both men knew it was a significant decision and decided to include the little girl, allowing her to choose where she would prefer to live. The little girl decided to stay with the OP.
However, the problem began when the OP’s wife clarified that she did not want children and that taking his sister in would mean that they had a child. The wife argued that since the little girl’s uncle could adopt her, she and her husband shouldn’t have to.
The OP said that since his sister was left with no parents after their father had died, he wanted to ensure she recovered healthily, and since she had expressed a desire to be with the OP, he was not going to force her to stay with their uncle.