Nadia’s strict vegan rules in her blended family led to a crisis when her 15-year-old stepdaughter, feeling unheard, brought a chocolate cake with peanuts into their home. Nadia’s seven-year-old son, allergic to peanuts, had a reaction, prompting Nadia to treat him with an EpiPen and accuse her stepdaughter of malicious intent.
Her husband tried mediating, suggesting the teen likely didn’t grasp the danger, but Nadia demanded she leave the house, refusing to compromise or acknowledge the teen’s frustration.
This rigid approach alienated her stepdaughter, deepening the family divide. While safety was crucial, Nadia’s lack of understanding turned a potential teaching moment into a missed opportunity for healing and growth. What would you have done?
