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A year ago, I started family therapy with my dad and stepmom. Our therapist gave each of us a journal to record our thoughts and feelings each week, with the option to share them in therapy. I’ve chosen not to share what I write with my dad and stepmom, though I discuss it in individual sessions with the therapist.
AITA for Not Sharing My Family Therapy Journal with My Dad and Stepmom?
For context, my mom passed away when I was eight. Dad was dating my stepmom at the time, and they moved quickly with their relationship, bringing her into my life shortly after my mom’s death. I made it clear I didn’t want another mother figure, but my dad was adamant, and they eventually had several children together. Despite my resistance, they pushed for her to be my legal guardian and mandated “bonding time” to force a closer relationship.
In my journal, I’ve poured out feelings about missing my mom and imagining her in place of my stepmom during significant moments in my life. I often write about the emotional struggle of growing up without my mom and the difficulty of navigating adolescence without her. My therapist and I focus on these feelings and the emotional impact of mentally replacing my stepmom with my mom.
Recently, my dad and stepmom discovered my journal by rummaging through my belongings. They read it in its entirety and were furious. They confronted me, accusing me of being cruel and dismissive of the role my stepmom plays in my life. They argued that my journal entries should have been shared in therapy to address these issues directly.
Their anger didn’t stop there—they lashed out at the therapist, leading them to sever ties and seek a new one. Now, I’m left as the family’s scapegoat.
Was it wrong for me to keep my journal private and not share its contents with my dad and stepmom, or are their reactions revealing something deeper about our family dynamics?
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When my mom died when I was eight, my dad quickly introduced my stepmom into our lives. Despite my protests, they married, had multiple children, and my stepmom became my legal guardian. Now, a year into family therapy, we each have a journal to document our feelings.
I’ve used mine to explore my grief and the challenge of growing up without my mom, often imagining her in place of my stepmom. Though I discuss my entries with the therapist, I’ve kept them private from my dad and stepmom.
Recently, they found and read my journal without permission. They were enraged, accusing me of being ungrateful and dismissive of my stepmom’s role. Their fury led them to blame the therapist, resulting in us losing our counselor. Now, I’m left as the villain in this scenario.
Was I wrong to keep my journal private, or are their reactions revealing deeper issues in our family?
