Stepmom Doesn’t Like How Her Stepdaughter Slouches, Forces Her to Wear a Steel Brace

After hearing that her ex-husband and his new wife had made their daughter wear a back brace, one woman became infuriated and took to the internet to try and find out what she should do about the situation.

A woman who shared custody of her nine-year-old daughter with her ex-husband and his new wife found out they had done something that made her and her daughter uncomfortable.

The woman learned that her ex made her daughter a back brace out of steel, which he and his wife forced her to wear when she was with them at their house each alternate week.

After her daughter complained of a sore back and tingling arm, the woman became concerned and called a doctor, all the while trying to remain calm about the state of her daughter's health.

Why Did the Man and His New Wife Make the Girl Wear A Back Brace?

The woman said that as she waited for her daughter's doctor's appointment, she contacted her ex-husband to ask why he had made their daughter wear a homemade back brace when she was there.

Her ex-husband sent back one text message to tell her they had given the girl a back brace because his new wife didn't like how she slouched at the dinner table. This infuriated the woman.

The woman clarified that neither her husband nor his new wife were doctors, and she knew there was nothing wrong with her daughter to warrant the little girl wearing a brace. She wanted to know if there was a way to get a fast court judgment to prevent her daughter from going back to her father's house.

What Steps Did the Woman Take Next?

Shortly after the woman posted her initial Reddit request for help, she learned that one of her co-workers' husbands was a lawyer and knew someone who could help her file the paperwork to bar her daughter from seeing her father.

They went to court, but the girl's father pretended he knew nothing. Regardless, his visitation was reduced, only allowing to see his daughter if he was supervised by someone else.

Some months later, after the man had taken a parenting class and told the judge that he had learned his lesson and knew better, his original custody terms were restored despite the girl's mother fighting against it.

The girl began going back to her father every week, but her mother bought her a phone this time so they could be in constant contact should the little girl need her for anything urgently.

The second time she returned to her dad's house, the little girl was made to wear the brace again, only this time it was made of fabric and steel. They also took her phone away so she couldn't tell her mother.

The little girl took her chance when her father and stepmother weren't watching and ran up the street to a neighbor she knew was a cop. The neighbor called the paramedics and some other cops to the scene.

When the authorities arrived, they had to cut the brace off the girl. The man and his wife were arrested and charged, and their infant was placed with CPS. The man also lost visitation rights for his daughter.

The poor little girl's shoulder was dislocated due to the brace, and her arm was still numb and tingling. She also needed surgery and was still recovering by the time the woman updated her post.

The girl's doctor said that although she had been a sporty child who had also taken dance, he didn't know if she would ever lift her arm again. Meanwhile, the woman made sure her ex-husband would never see her daughter again. She shared:

"Right now, I'm focusing on my daughter while my lawyer takes care of things. That's my update."

Some Online Comments

While this mom did everything she could to ensure the child never saw her father again, one father did everything he could to ensure he could have full custody of his children. You can read the full story here.