MY DAUGHTER BEGGED ME TO STOP MY STEPSON FROM VISITING — THEN I FOUND WHAT HE WAS HIDING
My 17-year-old stepson, Mateo, stays with us on weekends. Recently, my 14-year-old daughter, Violet, begged me to stop his visits without explanation. One day, I found a velvet box hidden under a pile of socks in Mateo’s room. Inside was a silver bracelet with a heart charm. Confused, I confronted Mateo gently. He admitted it was for Violet’s birthday, a thank-you for helping him through anxiety attacks he’d kept secret. Violet had been supporting him, even helping him find a therapist, but his reliance overwhelmed her, prompting her plea to stop
his visits. She felt responsible for him but didn’t know how to set boundaries. I was stunned—both kids were struggling silently. I apologized to Violet for not noticing and reassured her she wasn’t obligated to fix anyone. In a family meeting with my husband, Trevor, Mateo shared everything. We agreed he’d continue therapy, and we’d monitor both kids’ well-being. Weeks later, Mateo gave Violet the bracelet, not as a thank-you but as a gesture of sibling love. She accepted, setting healthy boundaries. This taught me love sometimes means stepping back, allowing others to help, and guiding kids to say no when overwhelmed.
