Dear Prudence

I need this nightmare to end.

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Nov 04, 2026 6:00 AM

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Dear Prudence is Slate’s advice column. Submit questions here .

Dear Prudence,

My biological mother, “Kris,” walked out on my dad and me when I was 4. The next time I saw her, I was 12, and she made a scene because I didn’t recognize her and called my stepmother Mom. She literally showed up on our porch on a random weekend. She never paid child support or tried for custody in over 20 years.…