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The original was posted on /r/AmItheAsshole by /u/Tiny_Field_7479 on 2023-08-06 15:57:05.
I (25m) am a single dad to my 5 year old son and daughter. Their mom is alive, but left me and I have full custody.
Yesterday I had to buy groceries so I had my kids next to me. An older guy was behind me in line and started asking me about them and I should have just said that I was watching them or something but I told him that they’re my kids. I don’t look old at all, so of course he started judging me like people love doing.
He ended up asking where their mom was and i almost just said at home or something, but I’m tired of being judged, so I made up a lie and said that their mom died (she might as well be dead to me). He looked horrified and mumbled something and walked away. Thankfully my kids didn’t know what was happening so I finished and left.
This morning I was on the phone with my sister and I told her about it and she got mad at me and told me that I went too far and I got a reaction out of him for no reason. I can understand that, but I’m really tired of being judged for being a young parent. But maybe my judgment is clouded. Am I the asshole?