Today, for my birthday, the only "gift" my parents gave me was the gift of choice: I got to choose which one of them I'll be living with after their upcoming divorce. This was the first time I'd heard anything about a divorce. FML
Collection
Fall
Dead leaves, the first cold of the season and an umbrella flipped inside out: fall, the season of grace.
Today, two days before my birthday, my parents drove three hours to visit me at school and take me out to lunch. I assumed that it was to celebrate my birthday. They told me they are getting divorced. FML
Today, my parents took me out to dinner. I thought they were taking me because it's my birthday. Turns out they are getting divorced. They forgot it was my birthday. FML
Today, it's my birthday. My parents, with whom I live, told me that they didn't get me anything, but instead they said they would knock off a bit of the housekeeping I owe them. FML
Today, I told my son and daughter that their father and I were getting a divorce. They each responded with something like, "Yay! I want to live with Daddy! He buys better presents!" Their father has literally never bought anything for them, one of the many reasons I'm divorcing him. FML
Today, it's my birthday. My fiancé decided to give me the gift of "freedom." That's how he put it, anyway. FML
Today, I overheard my parents discussing their divorce. Apparently, what they mostly disagree over is that neither of them want custody of me and are considering delaying their divorce until I’m 18, because at least then legally I’m not either of their problem to deal with. FML
Today, I found out about my parent's divorce over Facebook from my sister who lives 8 hours away in another province. They made the decision 3 weeks ago. I live with my parents. FML
Today, it's my sixteenth birthday. The only gift I got was a bill from my parents. Apparently, the rent is due on the 1st. FML
Today, it's my birthday. My parents wished me a happy one via text message. We live in the same house. FML
Today, after telling my parents just exactly what I thought of them and that I was moving out, the person I was supposed to move in with called to say they'd decided they would rather live alone. FML
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Top comments
saucyrossi 18
Things like this are never easy... Keep your head up!
Despereaux 15
That doesn't seem fair at all! Sorry op. they should have warned you and gave you time. But to tell you on your birthday was not the best choice.
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Comments (55)
saucyrossi 18
Things like this are never easy... Keep your head up!
ElementaryEdGuy 18
It seems easy for Rachel. They both fought over which got to take her.
Leasha3 14
Edward and Jacob fought over Bella. It still sucked!
Bubbelz 25
Don't ruin the comments with shitty references, please.
Despereaux 15
That doesn't seem fair at all! Sorry op. they should have warned you and gave you time. But to tell you on your birthday was not the best choice.
gntfmlingnow 12
It does sound really unfair and like a horrible choice in timing, but on the bright side at least they got a choice. Custody battles can really screw things up and make life more difficult for everyone involved, especially if you end up with the parent you don't like as much. They should have mentioned this at another time, but still. I'm glad they could handle that part of the divorce with less trouble. Edit: Could this possibly be an extremely screwed up April Fools prank?
olpally 33
Sorry to hear that op. try and make the best of it, seems like you got a rough road ahead of you.
MatteKudasai 17
Happy birthday!
joshiepo0 18
I do not believe this birthday was a happy one.
Catkam623 27
* you made it through another year, try not to kill yourself;)
im_joking 11
maybe next year will be better :) chin up!
DDCA 24
No shit, Sherlock.
hama806 19
Nice of them to tell you on your birthday. Sorry OP. That really sucks.
Chucklikesbacon 12
First off, happy birthday! I'm sorry your parents didn't think about you at all! Also, they shouldn't make you choose like that! I hope it works out. And maybe, treat yourself on your birthday, even if it's not as nice as being treated.
RoboCunnilingus 23
1. Happy Birthday 2. That was more than a little ****** up on their part. This news REALLY could have waited.
deloria_fml 22
Maybe they'd decided they wouldn't divorce until OP was however old she turned when she posted this. Some couples don't want to divorce until their kids are 16, so it kind of turns into a ticking time bomb situation and becomes all they can think about. Her birthday could have been the release from a horrible marriage for both her parents. Yes, I agree that it's terrible of them to have sprung this on her on her birthday, but they might have gotten so used to the idea that they didn't even imagine it would be any different for her.
chosha_fml 27
None of that would make what they did any less selfish.
perdix 31
#7, on point #2, you are almost certainly right. Most parents hate each other for many years and try to stay together "for the sake of the kids" before they pull the trigger on the divorce process. Unless some urgent problem cropped up (abuse, cheating), they could have waited until after the OP's birthday to break the news.
AKGirlinSD 20
I concur with Perdix. OP will always be reminded, on her birthday, for the rest of her life, that instead of celebrating it with her family, her parents forced her to choose between who she wants to live with.
carry_on 19
This is really selfish of them to do this on your birthday!
cieloalicia 16
Happy birthday, girl! Divorce is not an easy thing to go through, especially being the child. Just surround yourself with good friends and supportive family members.
joshiepo0 18
Double the presents next year.
SaxophoneHero 12
That is a perk!