If grandparents don't drive, their daughter could have paid for taxi or uber for them.

Why is the Dad relying on the Mom to know about all of his son's special events? Why isn't he having himself put onto communication lists or checking in regularly. OP blames the mom for telling them stuff 'last minute' all the time, but maybe she has her hands full? This kid needs the adults to get their act together and to start communicating and collaborating.

Personally, I would have taken him but made it clear the parents need to sort out their communication so this doesn't happen again. I'm not going to judge OP harshly though because she was being asked with little notice and might not have had enough time to way everything up. Poor communication caused this, and a child lost out. Chances are another football parent could have helped, it's normal to have back up plans, it's normal for step parents to be part of that - but people need to know in advance if possible.

If this was an important event, she would have told her child's father about it prior to the date of the event, rather than because she learned that she had to work late. She also could have offered to pay for a cab/Lyft/Uber so that her parents could have taken him to the event.

This is just a thing that happens. If there were more things the step mom did to neglect the step child then it might be something. I am all for parents getting their time to do their thing within reason, so they can be good parents. I feel like the real problem here is making it a bigger deal than it really is.

Maybe the grandparents who don’t drive, could take their grandson to his presentation by taxi or Uber.

The ss's presentation obviously was not a last minute thing. Why didn't everyone know about it ahead of time? If they shared his schedule with each other maybe he could have gone to this important event.

As a step mother myself, I would have skipped the gym and taken him. A child shouldn’t be the one to suffer because parents can’t get their act together.

Not her kid = not her problem. He has two fully functioning parents who could have planned better and chose not to. Sorry, squirt. OP owes you nothing if she already has plans. She's not a back up parent expected to drop everything because actual parents effed up.

This is why I don't like getting involved with men with kids. It is a dam if you do a dam if you don't situation. If you have to much to do with the kid you are the ...step mom, not enough .....wait until they are old enough to decide if they want a relationship with the parent new spouse....do not force relationships it makes everyone miserable. This is the parents responsibility, does it say anywhere in the parenting agreements about the step parent involvement? There are those that follow these agreements, but unless your parenting agreement outlines the step parent, it is not their responsibility. Don't pay your child support, and the parent will be the first to complain, but not following your parenting agreements. What is the difference?

I don't know the family dynamics here, but it sounds like the bio mom and stepmom have had some issues in the past. There are 4 parents in this situation. Why is nobody asking/ expecting bio mom's husband to pick up the slack?

I couldn't have done it, but I'm not selfish. It is okay to be that way. If you have to have you time, you have to have you time.

If the ex is constantly springing things on the father last minute and then making him feel bad because of her inability to communicate properly is NOT OPs fault or problem to fix maybe the ex needs to learn that other people have stuff they want to do other than running someone here and there all over town when they don't tell you about it until last minute

If her prioritizing was so important then why wasn’t the Stepmom invited to the event to begin with. Then when the parents couldn’t make it, she could of taken him with no problem , due to her already having been invited.

I'm so confused. Is the step mom not the one living with the dad? If that's the case, then it's not your problem, walk away, block them? If she is the reason for the marriage breakup, then pull on your big girl panties (which you should have kept up in the first place) take the monetary loss and take the kid.

When you marry someone you marry their children and extended family! But then again I love my bonus children. I would do anything for them I would do for my biological child But that's why they love me. Your ss as you call him will think of you as the selfish hag that his dad married and nothing more.

If it was so important, the ex should’ve taken time off, or arranged something with the father ahead of time. She’s the one with the screwed up priorities, not the step mom.

no I don't think she's the "AH" but when you choose to be involved with a partner who has kids an an ex, these are the types of issues that will come up. Yes I personally would have taken the stepson as he is your stepson as well not just some logistical 'thing' but that's just me.

she didn't has to be responsible if the ex needs to reorganize her time schedule,but if it happens singulary and she still has two other gymsessions to go, she should stop being b****y and take the kid to his important date, or help to organize it. The way you treat others they will treat you when you are in need.

I wish they would just use names. I don't know all these fkn acronyms