Dad Outraged To Learn Where Parents Of Son's Friend Are While Ignoring His Texts: 'I'm Livid'

A "livid" dad who turned to the internet for help after realizing where the parents of his son's friend were while they ignored his pressing texts has sparked a discussion online.

The 45-year-old father and original poster (OP), user triandlun, explained on Reddit that he and his wife "always" play host to the friends of their four young children.

'Taken advantage'

Usually he doesn't mind. In fact, he actually loves the "extra company," he noted. However, he's starting to wonder if he and his wife's openness is, "Being taken advantage of."

According to the OP's post on Feb. 8, his eldest kid just celebrated his 12th birthday. One of his friends, who is often at the OP's house, stayed over the night before to attend the party. That, as the OP put it, was no problem.

The issue came on his son's actual birthday, when the OP's wife woke up with a fever and both their twin children were "chucking buckets," the dad shared.

"While at the party, the parents of the friend who had slept over the previous night asked if he could sleep at our house again tonight," the OP wrote in his post, adding that his wife and twins stayed home the party that took place at a different location.

"This was never apart of the plan."

The OP, "Responded immediately no, and explained the situation with people being sick."

While he could see that the parents read his text, the OP got no response, he wrote.

After the party, he drove this particular friend to his house, only for him to find out he was locked out and nobody was there. So, the OP took him home, sent another text and again got nothing back, he added.

As for what was holding the parents' attention at this time? Well, the answer didn't please the OP.

"It's been two hours now, and according to the kid's parents [Facebook], they're at a brewery," this user continued in a post that's tallied 7,900 upvotes.

"I'm livid. [Am I wrong] to tell these parents we're not their babysitter and to come get their kid? I feel bad because he's a good kid and friends with my son, but if a sick wife and unpredictable puking twins ain't a line in the sand, I don't know what is."

Relationships with the parents of your children's friends don't necessarily need to be close, but they should be, "Filled with respect, understood boundaries and open communication," according to The Children's Trust.

Redditors clearly didn't think that was going on in this case.

'Incredibly irresponsible'

Users flocked to the OP's thread to weigh in on his query, and essentially all of them came to his defense for wanting to be firm with the parents. Many, as a matter of fact, encouraged him to.

One such user replied: "Their lack of response while they're at a brewery is incredibly irresponsible. You're right to set boundaries, especially when your family is sick."

Another suggested: "Comment on their Facebook post, 'Hey, we told you this morning when you asked that your child could not stay over again tonight because our family is sick.

"'Come get him right now.' Public shame can go a long way."

An individual chipped in: "I've been dropped off alone at my house as a kid many a time and the parents of my friends never [cared] if no one was home, they just took off. You're a good person."

A fellow supporter felt the OP should go as far as to: "Text them your next call is to the cops and CPS [Child Protective Services] for abandonment."

They weren't alone on that front.

CPS urges those who suspect that a child is being abused or neglected to call 800-422-4453 "immediately."

The OP, despite being urged to go this route by some users, didn't feel as if their dilemma rose to that level, and in an update shared what he decided to do instead.

'Fighting a tear'

"I didn't lay out a specific time period, or third party involvement, I did make it very clear future engagements would be severely restricted going forward if the disrespect (from parents not kid) continued," the OP wrote.

"I was apologized to in person several times when they showed up.

"An excuse was coming, and I quickly interrupted stating, 'I like your kid, he's a good kid, don't take us away from him.'

'That must have struck a nerve with mom because I could see her fighting a tear.

"Hopefully that sinks in and we can go [forward] from this."

Newsweek has contacted triandlun for comment via Reddit.

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