18-Year-Old Cuts Off Adoptive Parents Who Missed Her Graduation for a $350 Labubu Doll for Her Sister

Why did the adoptive parents prioritize a toy over graduation, and what does this reveal about their family dynamics?

Imagine working hard for years, earning your high school diploma, and expecting your family to cheer you on at your graduation.

Now picture them missing it to buy a toy for your sibling. This is the reality for one 18-year-old, whose story has sparked heated discussions online.

What happened, and why did it lead to such a drastic decision?

A Family Divided by Favoritism

An 18-year-old woman, adopted as a baby, shared her story on Reddit. Her adoptive parents struggled with fertility before adopting her. Years later, they welcomed a biological daughter, whom the teen calls “Princess,” now 10 years old.

The arrival of Princess changed everything. The younger sister became the clear favorite, receiving more attention, gifts, and leniency. If the teen got one toy, Princess got five. When the teen expressed jealousy, she was scolded, while Princess faced no consequences for breaking things or acting out.

The 18-year-old said, “Princess was spoiled and clearly the favorite. She never got in trouble, was always right, got WHATEVER she wanted and acted HOWEVER she wanted.”

The teen found ways to cope. She excelled in school, joined clubs, and spent time with friends and relatives to stay away from home. She built a support system, including a boyfriend whose family welcomed her.

She explained, “Now I have a car and a boyfriend (since sophomore year). I stay with him a lot and his family loves me so I’m barely home, maybe 24 hours at most weekly. My parents didn’t care and this was my normal so I stopped caring too.”

By her senior year, she was rarely home, spending most of her time with her boyfriend’s family. But she hoped her parents would show up for one key moment: her high school graduation.

Adoptive Parents Prioritize Toy Over Graduation

Graduation day was a big deal for the teen. It was one of the few times she asked her parents to be there. They seemed excited, and other relatives attended too. But Princess had other plans. She’s obsessed with Labubu dolls, small plush keychains that have become a global craze.

On the day of the graduation, Princess found a rare Labubu for sale in their city. Instead of waiting to buy it later, the parents left to get it, spending $350 on the toy.

She wrote on Reddit, “See her current obsession are these doll plush keychains called Labubus, she collects them and that specific day, she found this super rare one for sale in our city. Now instead of contacting the seller and buying it the next day, my parents went to go get it.”

They arrived at the graduation so late that the ceremony was over, and students were tossing their caps.

The teen was heartbroken. Her graduation gift? Just $150, less than half the cost of the doll. Feeling ignored and undervalued, she left with her boyfriend and has since moved in with his family.

She added “My parents called, texted, apologized, even came over and begged me to forgive them, worst part of it all, they think it’s the money and sent me another hundred dollars. I refused to talk to them.”

But for the teen, it was about years of being sidelined. The situation escalated when her parents threatened to report her as a runaway or contact her future college if she didn’t return home.

A Community’s Response and Advice

The teen’s Reddit post went viral, earning over 15,000 upvotes. Many users supported her, criticizing her parents for favoring Princess. “Sibling favoritism is unfair,” one commenter wrote, pointing out that the parents’ actions showed where their priorities lay.

Others noted that, at 18, she’s a legal adult and can choose to leave. They advised her to contact her college and the local police to explain the situation, preventing her parents from causing trouble.

This story highlights the pain of feeling overlooked in a family. The teen’s decision to cut contact reflects years of hurt, not just one missed event. It also raises questions about parenting, fairness, and the impact of collectible crazes like Labubu. For now, the teen is building a new life, supported by those who value her.

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