The day you graduate from high school should be happy and proud. It’s a special time, and having your loved ones there makes it even better. But in this story, a dad’s choice not to come has made everything feel sad.

He shared what happened online.
I’m 18 and I’m graduating from high school soon. Two nights ago, my dad told me he couldn’t come to my graduation because his stepdaughter, who’s 14, has an award ceremony in another state. She really wants him to be there. He said he couldn’t go to both events, and since his wife and their kids are going with him, he has to go too. He promised to make it up to me and celebrate with me another time.

I still live with my dad (but not for long). My mom died when I was 7, and my dad got married again when I was 11 or 12. It’s been a few years since then. His stepdaughter never knew her biological dad, so my dad treats her like his own. And he’s been focusing a lot on her for the past 5 or 6 years.

It’s not always obvious, but I can feel it. Dad and I don’t spend as much time together anymore. He says we should include her when we hang out, but he also has one-on-one time with just her. I talked to my dad about it, but he said I wasn’t trying hard enough to get along with her. He wants us all to bond, not just me and him.

He goes to her dance events instead of my basketball games, even if mine was planned first. He chooses her ideas over mine when we have family outings. He says it’s because they’ll be more fun for everyone, but really, he always picks whatever she wants. He even says so afterward, calling her his little princess.

Our fridge and shower stopped working at the same time. His stepdaughter’s birthday was close, so he used money from my birthday savings to fix them, to make sure she got what she wanted (a Barbie house and fashion set, which cost $250). He didn’t have all the money back by my birthday, so instead of the monitor and keyboard he promised (which were gifts from my grandparents), he gave me a $30 gift card.