by An 18-year-old has taken to social media to ask whether she was correct to cut ties with her adoptive parents after they chose to buy a Labubu doll for their biological daughter instead of coming to her graduation.
Sharing her story on Reddit’s Am I the A**hole forum, the teen asked whether she was wrong to walk away from her family.
But what unfolded sparked a wave of support – and outrage – from readers who agreed she had every right to be hurt.
According to the anonymous post, her adoptive parents struggled with fertility before adopting her as a baby. But eight years later, they had a “miracle” biological child, whom she refers to as “Princess,” now 10 years old.
“Princess was spoiled and clearly the favorite. She never got in trouble, was always right, got WHATEVER she wanted and acted HOWEVER she wanted,” she wrote.
While she was never directly mistreated, the girl said she always noticed the imbalance in attention and gifts. “If I got one toy, Princess got five. It sucked, I was jealous, and I got in trouble for it,” she added.
Things reportedly worsened when Princess turned six and began “realizing how much she could get away with.”
In response, the teen started spending more time away from home. “Now I have a car and a boyfriend (since sophomore year). I stay with him a lot and his family loves me so I’m barely home, maybe 24 hours at most weekly.”
The breaking point came on her graduation day – “one of the few things I asked my parents to come to,” she said. But once again, Princess and her parents’ priorities got in the way.
“See her current obsession are these doll plush keychains called Labubus, she collects them and that specific day, she found this super rare one for sale in our city,” the teen explained.
Instead of waiting to purchase the $350 collectible the next day, her parents skipped her graduation to get the toy. “Then they showed up so late, our caps were already being tossed.”
Her own graduation gift was $150, and, when she ignored their messages afterward, they tried to make it right with more cash.
“My parents called, texted, apologized, even came over and begged me to forgive them, worst part of it all, they think it’s the money and sent me another hundred dollars. I refused to talk to them,” she wrote.
The situation escalated quickly. Her parents began threatening to report her as missing or a runaway and said they would contact her future college.
“They are threatening to report me as missing/ a runaway and contact my future college if I don’t go back home.”
As her post gained traction, Reddit users rallied behind her.
“Sibling favoritism is so crazy to me and I think it’s so unfair to the one being treated poorly,” one user commented. “The fact that they only thought it was about the money speaks high volumes about their character.”
Another user shared: “Been there, yo. People don’t realize how much the ‘little things’ build up over time. You don’t have to accept the bare minimum just ‘cause it’s coming from family. You deserve effort, too.”
A third user got straight to the point: “They prioritized a toy over your graduation.”
Legal-minded Redditors were also quick to chime in, reminding the original poster that, at 18, she is a legal adult with full autonomy.
“I would call your future college and explain that you are estranged from your parents. Tell them your parents are threatening to call the college and make a scene,” one user advised.
“Update all your contact info. Ask that a note be put on your profile that you do not authorize them to make any changes or obtain any information.”
Others predicted long-term regrets from the parents, particularly in how they’re raising Princess.
“Honestly missing an important event like graduation for some stupid and expensive keychain, is just the straw that broke the camel’s back,” one user wrote. “I understand the princess being a miracle baby, but I have a feeling that in the next five to ten years your parents are really going to regret not disciplining her more.”
As for the now-viral Redditor, she remains firm in her decision to stay away.
“I was hurt,” she wrote. “I told him that I’m no longer interested in doing the collab, and that I felt disrespected.”
