AIO? My stepdaughters pranked me on my bitthday and husband is mad because I said I needed space.
My stepdaughters (16) & (14) love doing pranks especially on me. My problem with their pranks is that they are hurtful in that they either mock or offend. For the past 4 years I been trying to suck it up and let it go but it escalated. They got me a wig for my birthday. Basically mocking me for my thinning hair which is a symptom of a medical condition that I've been suffering from. Their dad would make them apologize and even them punish but to no avail. I asked for space and he argued that I was punishing him for it. He went on about how he's the victim and how he's stuck in the middle between me and the girls. Now he's threatening to take the girls phones away if I stay with my sister and the girls will further resent me for it.
My question is did I overreact? Should I just let it go instead of escalating?
Reddit consensus: NOT OVERREACTING (NOR) (100% confidence)
Top comment: “NOR & your husband is a major red flag to say the least, he’s very clearly purposely trying to punish you by punishing the girls too… That’s setting them up to hate you& forcing you to bend to his will wtf”
Notable explanation: “If you don’t, I’ll take their phones for as long as you’re gone but they’ll resent you for it and things will get worse
W in T actual F is this manipulative BS?! If you don’t throw the whole manchild away, idk why else to tell you. You’re the one who was insulted but HE’S the victim?! NOR”
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Originally shared by Proud-Cantaloupe3449 on r/AmIOverreacting on January 15th, 2026 at 12:36 PM UTC. Credit to u/rednecknuckles and u/Trin_42 for the quoted comments.