It really is a terrible feeling to want something so badly, but for it to always be out of reach for reasons outside of your control. Still, there is a cost to everything, and sometimes even when we have the ability to decide things ourselves, we still must make a choice. So, there will inevitably be sacrifices, since often two things are mutually exclusive and can't be had or achieved at the same time. Failing to commit to anything, stopping short of reaching out to pluck that fig off the vine,  may leave you with nothing at all, and years down the road, you'll be staring at a bunch of withered fruit, wondering just what the heck happened.

The opportunity to have kids is important to a lot of people, and can be a dealbreaker in any relationship. It's understandable that, at some point in their relationship, the opportunity to have children of their own, or the loss of that chance, might be considered to be a breaking point. But that point should probably come before you make lifelong commitments to each other, and if you truly love someone, you won't regard them as simple opportunities or consolation prizes.

When this now teen's mother married her new husband, he seemingly had accepted the fact that his new wife was unable to have any more children, meaning that he would have no biological children of his own. He had taken consolation in the fact that she had a 10-year-old daughter and that she might one day come to see him as her father, except that day never came.

Despite no troubling grievances or incidents of note, the feelings that the teen felt needed to come along with the title of "father" never developed, as the teen felt that she had had, and lost, one father already. So, despite her stepfather's efforts and attempts to grant himself that place in her life, the "fatherhood" remained a river without a bridge to be crossed.

Seemingly, though, the entire issue here may have been the approach of both parties from the outset. Desiring to be a father in name, the stepfather might have sought to be one in name only, not putting in the intangible extra efforts that foster the unconditional love of parenthood. Similarly, it doesn't seem that the teen ever made an effort to reciprocate or include him in her life.

But the stepfather was singularly focused on achieving the role of father, and the teen was concerned about whether or not he deserved to "replace" her biological father, and this was a lose-lose game for both of them. There is no replacing a previous relationship of any kind, especially when it's replacing someone dear to you who has been lost. Seeking to do so will only leave you disappointed and upset. You need to approach the issue in a different way, seeking to add something new to each other's lives. 

Still, claiming that his stepdaughter's refusal to accept him as a father is reasonable grounds for divorce is a measly attempt at an excuse, and there were likely other issues, acknowledged or not, in the parents' relationship.  All said and done, it's hard to say whether there is any fault or not in this divorce, but it certainly isn't the fault of the child, and it never is.

Spending an afternoon at the museum can be a great way to break out of your usual monotonous routine. When was the last time you went to one? Depending on where you live, there may be tons of art museums, history museums, or kid-focused museums. It's not for everyone — some people find them boring — but you're sure to see things you've never seen before, and maybe broaden your horizons. Plus, in some places, if you're a resident, you can get into that museum for free or for like, a dollar using the pay-what-you-wish system. Especially if you've got kids and a long summer's afternoon to fill, it's the spot to go.  

While you're at that spot, though, you'll still have to deal with the hoi polloi who are also wandering the same halls as you. Maybe you planned on a peaceful afternoon wandering the art museum hallways and browsing the paintings, but there are a bunch of kids who can't stop laughing their faces off at the lifelike sculptures. Or, have you ever toured a museum at the same exact time as a school field trip full of kids who are either chatty or very bored and can't wait to leave? Instead of a relaxing visit, you're now surrounded by grouchy teens who just want to be on their phones. 

In some people's cases, folks were confused about the art itself! As you can see below, one person mistook an ancient bowl for a trash can… yikes! There are all kinds of ways an afternoon at the museum can totally go south, so keep scrolling to see which museum fail is your fave. 

Next up, read about the unfortunate dating prospects of the 27-year-old dude who tried to chat up a 34-year-old woman using AI: "Is he using ChatGPT to talk to me?"