When my ex-husband, Willie, gave our daughter, Lily, a tablet for her birthday, her face lit up with pure joy. It wasn’t just a gadget—it was a promise, a sign of the attention and commitment she rarely received from him. She’d been counting down the days until the gift was given, and for once, I thought, “Maybe he’s finally stepping up as a dad.”
How wrong I was.
A few months later, my phone buzzed with his name on the screen. It was unusual for him to call unless it was about child support or confirming drop-off times, so I didn’t expect much.
“Hey, Judy… I need the tablet back,” he said.
I almost dropped the phone. “What?”
“Uh, Sarah—his new wife, whom he married eight months after our divorce—doesn’t think it’s appropriate for Lily to have something so expensive. She says it’s not fair to her kids.”
There it was.
I glanced at Lily, who was on the couch, tapping away at the screen. She’d overheard and immediately began to cry, clutching the tablet like it was her lifeline.
“That’s when I got an idea.”
I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. “Fine. You can have it back. But there’s ONE condition.”
He paused. “What condition?”
“Since it was a gift to our daughter, and taking back a gift from a child is… well, frankly, disgusting, the only way I agree to return it is if you explain to Lily, in person, why you’re taking it away.”
There was a long silence. “Judy, don’t be like this. You know how Sarah is. She thinks Lily is too young for it, and we need to be on the same page with parenting.”
I laughed dryly. “Now we’re co-parenting? Because the last time I checked, I’m the one handling the parenting, while you swoop in with birthday gifts and broken promises. You want the tablet? Fine. Come get it. But be ready to explain to your daughter why you’re breaking your promise.”
Another pause, followed by an annoyed exhale. “Fine. I’ll be there tomorrow.”
The next evening, Willie showed up. Lily was waiting with the tablet, her face twisted with frustration. I stepped back, letting him in. He crouched down to her level, forcing a smile.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he started, but Lily wasn’t having it.
“Why are you taking it back?” Her voice was small but firm, and I felt a surge of pride.
Willie glanced at me, then back at Lily. “Uh, well… Sarah thinks it’s not fair that you have it when her kids don’t.”
Lily frowned. “But you gave it to me. You promised. That’s not fair.”
The guilt in his eyes was instant. He shifted uncomfortably. “I know, baby, but sometimes grown-ups have to make tough choices.”
“No,” she shot back. “You made a bad choice.”
I bit my lip to suppress a smirk.
Willie sighed. “Look, how about I get you something else later? Maybe a new toy?”
Lily crossed her arms. “I don’t want another toy. I want this one. Because you gave it to me.”
More silence. Willie glanced at me, clearly searching for a way out. I raised an eyebrow. This was his mess, and he had to clean it up.
Then, unexpectedly, he looked back at Lily, and for the first time in a long time, something shifted in him—a realization.
He exhaled slowly, shook his head, and admitted, “You’re right, baby. I made a bad choice.” He looked at me and nodded, almost as if admitting defeat. “Keep the tablet. But maybe keep it here, and don’t bring it when you visit?”
Lily’s face lit up, and she hugged him tightly. Willie looked surprised but hugged her back. Without another word, he stood up and walked toward the door.
“Thank you,” I said quietly.
He nodded and stepped outside.
As I closed the door, Lily smiled up at me. “I think Daddy learned his lesson.”
I laughed, ruffling her hair. “I think he did too, sweetheart.”
And for the first time in years, I felt like maybe, just maybe, there was hope for him as a father after all.
Would you have done the same in my situation? Let me know in the comments! And don’t forget to like and share if you enjoyed this story!