My nephew used to live with me; I've posted about him before. I took him in under guardianship while…

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My nephew used to live with me; I've posted about him before. I took him in under guardianship while I was completing my parenting training and processing his paperwork. He was 14 and had a history of issues: he'd shoplifted 7 times in the neighborhood, and his mother used to beat him for it. When my sister passed away, we didn't speak for three years. A friend brought her son to me, and we took him in without a second thought, even though my husband had doubts, knowing his past behavior and genetics. He had a paternal grandmother and an aunt on his mother's side who wouldn't have been able to take him due to health issues. Even his own mother hadn't contacted us for 7 months, calling rarely. My sister died in November 2025. Winter and spring were incredibly tough for us and the family – adjusting to a new person in the house and everything else. He was an only child to his mom, and my kids sometimes made him uncomfortable; he didn't hide it, always telling my youngest to leave the room. I'm a patient and understanding person. We took him to a water park; he had never been before. My kids took him out to play and to the computer club. We had to change our routines and furniture to make him feel comfortable. I was afraid to say too much, as he had lost everything; I felt so sorry for him. I started waking up an hour earlier to make breakfast before school and gave him some spending money. Just as I got his paperwork finalized, the store manager called to say my nephew had stolen something. It was June 2nd, and it turned out it wasn't the first time. 🙈 When he came home, I asked him why he did it, what he was lacking. 😒 He said he wanted a drink, but he also grabbed gum, chips, and other things with his water (even though I bought these things, just not very often). When my husband found out, he said he was against it and didn't want him living with us anymore. Everything combined, according to my husband – his attitude towards us and the stealing. My husband gave me an ultimatum: him or me. I cried for a day. My husband said I'd just keep tolerating it, especially since he's always at work, and my nephew wouldn't stop. Long story short: I called his grandmother and explained the situation. She told me that her son, my nephew's father, had spent his whole life in prison for theft. 🤦️ I told her my husband didn't want him to stay with us. She said his goddaughter, who is 24 and has two kids of her own, would take him. We took him over and gave him everything I had bought for him. I felt physically lighter, but I'm still struggling emotionally. It's almost been a year since my sister passed. My nephew has never written or called me, but I understand. I'm beating myself up for how we treated him. I feel awful, please throw soft slippers at me. 😭 I don't call them; I can't bring myself to. The relatives who took him in have never called me, nor did they call before when he was with me, showing no interest in him. Now, his school performance is poor, I see it in the portal, and he's still out late (which wasn't allowed when he was with me). We had a strict bedtime of 9 PM, lights out, phones handed in, and homework checked. I wanted what was best for him, but my husband keeps saying he did it for me. People don't change, life goes on, and we didn't get to live for ourselves. He should be grateful we offered a helping hand, even if it was temporary. My sister has many brothers, but we were the ones who took him in. How do I get rid of this guilt?
My daughter turns 9 in December! We usually celebrated birthdays somewhere else, like an aqua park o…
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Shashkova Anna
If a child was stealing, they wouldn't change overnight; it takes work. If they stole, they need to make amends. But what's done is done.
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Tanya
Well, in reality, the guy was neglected his whole life. No one ever needed him. Yes, and your family pushed him away at the first sign of trouble. There's no point in grieving. How he lived before is how he'll continue to live on his own.
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Umida Kozhevnikova
Did you have temporary custody?

Did you go through the SPR together with your husband?
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Kseniya
If your conscience is bothering you (perhaps for good reason), it means you internally understand that you should have acted differently.
But, judging by your question, you just want to "forget" as if nothing happened and stop thinking about it. You've already done all you can, and you can't undo it. Just accept it as a fact. That this was the situation, and you acted the way you did.
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Elena
Umida Kozhevnikova First, a temporary one for 3 months, and then they made it permanent. My husband didn't go through it because he was working.
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Abramova Yuliya
So I didn't understand, who picked him up? His godmother?
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Elena
Kseniya Of course, I understand everything and I'm not hiding it 🤷️ The point is, how to move forward?
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Tatyana Rubtsova
Poor guy, his life is kicking him around, and he has no one close to trust… First his mom neglected him (kids don't steal for no reason), then his aunt gave him hope but quickly crushed it and passed him on…
If you feel guilty, it means you are guilty, right? So either change something or forget about it and move on 🤷️
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Elena
Abramova Yuliya His godmother didn't want the goddaughter herself.
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Elena
Tatyana Rubtsova Of course, I'm here and writing about it.
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Kseniya
Kseniya You must have had a reason for getting rid of it. Now you just need to convince yourself it was the right decision.
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Abramova Yuliya
Abramova Yuliya In my opinion, the godmother should have been the first to offer help and suggest moving in with her. You're someone he barely communicated with and isn't close to. Don't worry, you tried, and the guy himself didn't want to.
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sveta bebi-bo
You don't owe anyone anything
Tried it - it didn't work
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Kseniya
Looks like her husband was against it from the start, based on the post.
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Elena
Abramova Yuliya His godmother told me when she called that her husband, upon learning of his mother's death, strictly forbade taking the boy, as he knew his father well and feared the genes would come out.
In any case, thank you for your words of support 🌹
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Guzel
You did everything right.
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Umida Kozhevnikova
Umida Kozhevnikova From experience, if a man hasn't been through therapy, it's often the first sign (not always, but most of the time) that you're not on the same page. The outcome is usually either a breakup or the woman being left alone with the child.

The first six months are generally about getting used to each other, when everyone stops pretending and shows their true selves.

It sounds like you're right at the peak of that.
Have you considered talking to therapists at child protective services?





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Elena
Thank you for understanding and support 🌹 In any case, writing here, I understand that no one will wear my shoes or walk my path 😢 My husband had cancer 2 years ago and still has health problems (
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Elena
Who called me and offered help? He's not a stranger to them.
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Elena
Life happens! Maybe check your dirty laundry again? 🩲
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Elena
Guzel God only knows I want everything to work out for him.
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Elena
This is his dad's sister, his aunt. )I'm not going to argue with you, spit out your venom, and God grant that you never find yourself in my situation)
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Elmira
OMG, I wanted to understand the author, but with a husband like that 🤔, the problems probably aren't with the nephew.
Honestly, no one's stopping you from calling the kid or helping him out with money. Besides, he's already 14, I was already working part-time at that age.
But I'd never refuse help though))).
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