This woman said she was supporting her older daughter by attending her performance, but questions were raised about whether attending with her baby was really a good idea.
A Big Family From Two Marriages
The Original Poster (OP) has two children with her ex-husband, a daughter named Penelope, 12 years old, and a son named Johnny, 10 years old.
The New Baby
A few years after a divorce, OP remarried a man named Chris, and they have a 6-month-old daughter named Lyla.
Dad Has the Kids Most of the Time
Penelope and Johnny live primarily with their father, as he is closer to their school, but they visit OP and Chris on weekends.
Her Oldest Daughter’s Big Performance
Penelope is part of the theater program at her school and had a spring show that opened last week. OP brought Chris and Lyla to the show while Will, the ex-husband, Johnny, and Will’s wife, Ariana, were already there.
Strange Looks When They Saw the Baby
When he saw Lyla, Will gave the woman a strange look, but Ariana calmed him down.
Baby Was Getting Fussy During the Act
During the first half of the play, Lyla slept but woke up fussy a little before intermission. OP tried to calm Lyla while also watching the play but received dirty looks from the parents around her.
They Said She Should Take the Baby Home
Will suggested Chris take Lyla home during intermission, but OP thought Lyla would sleep during the second half, and Chris wanted to watch the performance.
People Were Becoming Upset
Will became upset, but Ariana managed to calm him down.
The Baby Was Screaming and Crying
Lyla fell asleep again but woke up halfway through Act II and started screaming, causing the performers to be caught off guard.
She Left, and They Wouldn’t Let Her Back In
OP quickly went into the lobby with Lyla, but the usher wouldn’t let her back in because of the rule that they are not allowed back in once a person leaves to prevent interruptions.
She Missed the Big Solo
This caused OP to miss Penelope’s solo.
Her Daughter Is Upset
After the show, Penelope refused to see OP or accept the flowers she bought for her.
The Argument in the Parking Lot
Will confronted OP in the parking lot and was angry, saying she should never have brought Lyla and pointing out that he and Ariana got a sitter for their young child.
Her Side of the Story
OP said she didn’t want to leave Lyla and felt it was good for everyone to support her. Will gave her a disgusted look and walked away.
Her Daughter Is Giving Her the Cold Shoulder
Penelope has not answered the woman’s calls or texts and refused to come over for the weekend. Chris thinks she was not wrong although OP’s parents are also angry and have called her insensitive.
Redditors Were Not Happy
Morgaine125 said, “You sent a loud and clear message that your new family with Chris is more important than your older children.”
Another wrote, “Performances like that are so important to young girls. I don’t know why Chris couldn’t take her Lyla home, since this is your daughter’s solo.”
Heartbrekker exclaimed, “First, Lyla is a baby and can’t support anyone. You, however, are Penelope’s mother and should do whatever you can to appropriately support her, such as having the foresight to get a babysitter, or having your husband take charge of the screaming baby.”
What Do You Think?
What do you think? Was this a classic case of a mom doing the best she could and her best not being good enough, or was she being insensitive and negligent?
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The post She Brought Her Baby to Her Daughter’s Performance. But After Stepping Out With the Crying Baby, She Missed the Solo Act. Was She Wrong for Bringing the Baby? first appeared on Fistful of Dollars.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Marharyta Gangalo. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Source: Reddit