Thrown Out for a New Baby: How Karma Came Back to Bite My Dad

Carla felt her world crumble once again when her father demanded she leave to make room for a new baby. With the unwavering support of her determined grandparents, she found the courage to begin anew and uncover the hidden truths of her family, forcing her to choose between her independence and her connection to them.

My name is Carla, and I’m twenty-one years old. Losing my mother at the age of ten changed everything for me. She was my anchor, and her passing left a void that shattered my world.

At fifteen, my dad got married again. Megan, his sixteen-year-old daughter, arrived with her new wife, Linda. Subsequently, Dad and Linda welcomed Jimmy, a boy, and most recently, a daughter.

I vividly recall the day Dad told me they were getting married. He seemed uncomfortable as he said, “Carla, I believe it’s time to move forward.” He then added, “Linda is good for both of us.”

“Us?” I was unsure of my feelings when I asked.

“Yes, we do. Her daughter is about your age. You might find it comforting to have company.”

After Linda took over, everything was… different. Linda was initially gracious yet aloof, but we made it work. Over time, Megan and I became extremely close. We grew close to one another, sharing everything and supporting one another during difficult times.

Following Jimmy’s birth, Linda was a stay-at-home mother. That’s when the real shift occurred.

When I reached sixteen, I began working. I wanted to be independent of my father and have my own money. Being independent felt nice, especially since I worked at the neighborhood grocery store. I put money aside for small purchases, school supplies, and clothes for myself.

When I turned eighteen, my father called me into his “office.” He avoided eye contact as he said, “Carla, you’re grown up now. It’s time for you to start contributing. The rent will only be $500—just a symbolic amount.”

It stunned me. “But why, Dad? My goal is to attend college.

He emphasized, “It’s time to contribute.” “You’ll still get food and other essentials.”

After much debate, I decided to agree. Although difficult, I succeeded.

It all changed again five months ago. Dad and Linda arrived to my room. “Carla, we really need to talk,” he replied firmly. Linda is expecting, and we require your room for the unborn child. You’ve got two months to get settled.”

I looked in shock at him. “What? You work out of two offices! Why are you unable to use one of those?

Linda said nothing, but she had a remorseful look. Dad said it again: “You have to move out.”

Once again, it felt like everything around me was collapsing. I was lost and didn’t know where to turn, so I broke down and called my Aunt Lisa. “Aunt Lisa, Dad is asking me to leave. Can I stay with you?”

Aunt Lisa was furious. “Of course, you can stay with me. You won’t have to worry about rent. I’ll handle your dad.”

We had Grandpa visit us the following day. He and Dad had a lengthy conversation. I heard rising voices, but the words were indiscernible to me. Grandpa then came over to me. He said softly, “Carla, you have three choices.” “You can stay here, move in with me and Grandma, or find your own place, and I’ll cover the rent.”

I felt both relieved and torn. I opted to stay a little while longer, but circumstances worsened. Dad and Linda become chilly and aloof. Megan even took notice. She said to herself one night, “Why are they so mad at you?”

“I’m not sure,” I moaned. “I just don’t know.”

I finally told Grandpa that I was ready to move out. After packing up my things, I settled into the apartment he had rented for me. Grandpa had taken care of every detail—it was a cozy place with all the essentials like a stove and refrigerator. To my surprise, he even gave me a $15,000 check to help me get started.

“This is to assist you in becoming self-sufficient,” grinned Grandpa. “As long as you’re working or studying, you can live here rent-free.”

I gave Grandpa a strong embrace and said, “Thank you.” “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

The first few weeks were an emotional whirlwind. I especially missed Jimmy and Megan. Yet, at the same time, I embraced the freedom of living on my own. It felt amazing to have my own space and experience independence.

I didn’t spend much time with Dad or Linda. I did not visit, and they did not call.

I made the decision to see Aunt Lisa one day. I needed to share my feelings with someone. She opened her arms to me when I got there.

“Carla, it’s wonderful to see you,” she exclaimed, embracing me. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been alright,” I answered. “It’s just… I miss them, you know?”

“I understand, my love,” she whispered. “But you have to do what’s best for you.”

My cousin heard us talking and chuckled. “I bet Dad misses you because Grandpa is making him pay for kicking you out,” he replied.

“What do you mean?” Confused, I asked.

My cousin said, “Grandpa owns the house, not Dad.” “Grandpa is charging him rent and making him repay the $15,000 he gave you.”

I was taken aback. I shook my head and added, “I had no idea.” “I didn’t realize how much Grandpa had been supporting us.”

Aunt Lisa, “Grandpa’s been helping a lot,” said. “For years, he has been providing for your Dad. He is now seeing to it that you are taken care of as well.”

Everything seemed to fall into place. Dad was having a hard time because Grandpa was making him pay for something he had done, not because he missed me. A mixture of despair and rage filled me. How could Dad treat me like this?

I made the decision to see Grandma and Grandpa. Their version of events was what I needed to hear. They gave me a hearty welcome when I got there.

Grandma gave me a deep embrace and said, “Carla, we’ve missed you.” “How’s the apartment?”

It’s fantastic, Granny. I said, “Thank you so much. “But I need to know more about what’s going on with Dad.”

Grandpa sighed. “Your father has been relying on us financially for years,” he said. “We have been providing support for education, medical bills, and other costs. The final straw was when he ejected you.”

“I just didn’t know,” I said. “Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

Grandpa said, “We didn’t want to burden you.” “However, you are entitled to the truth. This is the only way we can teach your father responsibility, which he needs to learn.”

“But what about Megan and Jimmy?” I enquired. “And the new baby?”

Grandpa assured me, “They’ll be fine.” “We continue to assist them. We have money set up for Megan as well as for all of you. All individuals should be afforded equal opportunity.

A flood of appreciation and relief washed over me. I said, “Grandpa, thank you.” “I’m so lucky to have you.”

I reviewed all I had learnt as I drove back to my flat. My siblings broke my heart, but I knew there was no turning back. I had to maintain my independence.

Even though things were difficult with Dad and Linda, I made the decision that I needed to keep my relationship with my siblings intact. Megan and I spoke on a daily basis. About her day, school, and everything in between, she would text me.

Dad called back after a few days. “Carla, how about we have dinner?” he proposed. “We need to talk.”

In the hopes of clearing the air, I consented. The tension was evident when we first met at a quiet café.

Dad began, “Carla, I’m sorry for everything.” “You are missed. Everyone here misses you.

“Dad, I miss you too,” I said, attempting to control my feelings. “But I can’t just come back like nothing happened.”

“I comprehend,” he stated, lowering his gaze. “I had no idea how dependent I was on Grandpa. I’ve been attempting to resolve issues.”

“Thank you,” I replied. But please, give me some space. I can’t move back, but I will continue to visit and communicate. This works better for me.”

“All right,” he nodded slowly. “We’ll figure it out. Just don’t disappear for too long.

“I swear I won’t,” I said.

Although dinner was a positive step, things would obviously not be the same. I was resolved to establish and maintain boundaries.

As I gave it some thought, I was incredibly appreciative of my grandparents. I would have been lost without them. Dad needed Grandpa’s strong love, and I appreciated him even more for it. A regular source of consolation has been Grandma’s loving support.

I sat with Grandpa and Grandma one evening and we spoke about the future. “I want to finish college and start my career,” I said. “I am extremely grateful to you both. I wish to bring you pride.”

Grandpa said, “You already make us proud,” with sparkling eyes. “Just keep working hard, and you’ll do great things.”

Grandma continued, “Remember, we’re always here for you.” “No matter what.”

Feeling extremely fortunate, I gave them both a hug. Their encouragement had given me the courage to proceed.

That night, as I got situated into my apartment, I had a newfound feeling of direction. The relationships in my family were complex, but I was determined to handle them gracefully. I would continue to be in contact with Megan and Jimmy, establish limits with Dad, and concentrate on creating a promising future.