Our family planned an expensive overseas vacation, but it ended in chaos before it even began. I invited my 16-year-old stepson to join under one condition: he had to babysit our 3-year-old daughter. He refused, storming out after I told him, “You’re not coming with us then!”

The morning of the flight, I was shocked to find our daughter’s clothes scattered, and the suitcases unpacked. I confronted my stepson, who angrily yelled that we only prioritized his stepsiblings and didn’t care about him. Despite trying to reason with him, the tension escalated.

In the rush to repack, we missed the flight. Rebooking was not only costly but added to the stress, turning what should have been a joyful experience into a disaster.

Since then, my husband and I have been stuck in arguments, unsure how to move forward. I keep questioning, “Did I push him too far, or was his behavior unjustified?”

I’m torn between my love for my stepson and disappointment in his actions. I want to repair our relationship and restore peace in our family, but I don’t know where to begin. How can I address these hurt feelings and heal the growing divide?