The Internet Showed Its Support for a parent who decided to introduce animal products into her children’s diet after her ex put them on a strict vegan diet.

Reddit user you/ThrownRA-Vegan876 shared their story in the popular thread “Am I the A*****?” where their post quickly gained traction, garnering 5,200 upvotes.

In the post, they explained that they and their ex-partner, Venus, were together for over 10 years, starting when they were 15. During this time, they both pursued a romantic relationship. vegan lifestyle and agreed to raise their children, Mercury, 11, Jupiter, 9, and Mars, 7, as vegans, a practice Venus had also been raised with.

“About 3 months ago, I slowly started reintroducing meat into my diet, and since then I’ve felt so much better. I haven’t had to buy a lot of vitamins or carefully plan my diet to ensured I had all the necessary amino acids or avoided deficiencies, and my food bill went down,” they wrote.

They began research and discovered that children raised vegan could sometimes experience slower growth and need supplemental nutrients like B12, calcium and iron.

“Neither of my boys have started puberty yet, which may not be a big deal, but since I hit puberty around age 9, it made me worry about Mercury,” they added, referring to their concerns about children’s growth.

The children were all in the 5th to 15th percentile for height and weight, prompting them to seek medical attention. After consulting a doctor, the parent was advised to try reintroducing animal products into their children’s diet to see if it would have a positive impact on their growth.

After informing their ex of the change, tensions rose. Venus, apparently furious, threatened to sue them to gain full custody of the children.

“She calls me cruel and she tells our boys they should refuse to eat animal products and say I’m forcing them. When that’s not true and every time they’re done, they loved trying new foods like real milk, eggs, etc. Some they don’t like, which is fair,” they shared, ending their post with the question “AITA?”

Expert advice

Psychologist Caitlin Slavens offered her expertise to News weeknoting the complex emotions involved.

“There seems to be a lot of emotion and personal history involved in this situation, which is not surprising given that it involves big changes in the children’s diet and in the beliefs that both parents have for years.”

She encouraged a focus on “creating a supportive and informed environment for children” and suggested parents work together to reduce tensions.

Slavens emphasized that while it is responsible to consult a doctor, it is also essential to involve both parents in decisions affecting their children’s established lifestyle, especially an essential one like diet.

“One way to approach this is to suggest a joint meeting with the GP,” she advised, allowing both parents to hear the recommendations directly and collaborate on a plan.

A joint approach, she stressed, could help reduce the risk of children feeling torn between their parents.

Caitlin recognized that Venus’ reaction might come from a feeling of blindness. By allowing Venus to openly express her point of view, the parent could potentially prevent conflict from affecting her children.

“Finally, if direct communication tends to lead to conflict, consider bringing in a family therapist or mediator who can help create a structured conversation,” recommends Slavens, emphasizing the importance of supporting children’s health and the feeling of family unity.

Reddit reacts

Editors were quick to back the parent, showing support for their approach.

“NTA. I would recommend obtaining medical documentation for the inevitable custody battle that awaits you. It’s bizarre that only she can decide her diet, and I really don’t see any court imposing her diet on others “, commented Redditor. Remote Passenger7880.

“NTA. You also have the right to choose what to feed the children. When my children are with their father, they will probably have more unhealthy things, but I feed them a well-balanced diet. I keep my mouth shut because he is struggling and he’s doing his best,” another user added, echoing the importance of balance and perspective in co-parenting decisions.

News week I contacted you/ThrownRA-Vegan876 for comment. We have not been able to verify the details of the case.

“What should I do?” » from Newsweek offers expert advice to readers. If you have a personal dilemma, let us know via [email protected]. We can seek advice from experts on relationships, family, friends, money and work and your story could be featured on WSID at Newsweek.