Daughter Rages Over Mom’s Strict Conditions To Let Her Move Back Into The House

A mom’s quest to save her daughter from herself.

Jesse

• Published in Interesting
• June 11, 2024

Raising a teenager is a bit like trying to tame a wild stallion—any parent can tell you that. Throw in a divorce, and the drama is pumped up to the climax.

Our narrator (Original Poster’s) struggles were real after splitting from her ex-husband when their daughter, Maria, was just 10. She got the house, but as a stay-at-home mom transitioning back into the workforce, making ends meet was a juggling act of budgeting and penny-pinching. 

Meanwhile, her ex, who was free from financial worries, went on a spoiling spree with Maria. And as Maria grew up, their relationship took a hit. 

OP would tell Maria she couldn’t afford a $1000 laptop, and she’d retort with how Dad could. Ouch. All attempts to instill responsibility by encouraging her to get a job were met with more conflict, and at 17, she finally made the rash decision to drop out of high school. 

Another blazing row ensued, which ended with her moving in with her father permanently and cutting OP off completely. But you see, Karma has a funny way of striking back. 

Dad soon remarried and kicked Maria to the curb at 21, and she came running back to OP like a lost puppy. Oh, but OP wasn’t going to fold so easily; she laid out a few conditions: get a GED, work at least 25+ hours a week, ditch the party lifestyle, and basically focus on getting her life together.

Maria wasn’t thrilled. She called OP a "crazy jerk" and stormed out, then sent a torrent of angry texts. Was OP a lousy mom for simply trying to steer her daughter off the path of self-destruction?

The story in detail

OP’s daughter was 10 years old when she and her husband got divorced. Although she got to keep the house, she couldn't make ends meet due to not having a job.

OP’s ex-husband was financially stable and could afford to buy her daughter expensive things. When OP could not afford things, her daughter would compare her to her father which caused a rift between them.

To maintain the expensive lifestyle, OP’s daughter went to live with her father, however, her father remarried and kicked her out. With nowhere else to go, OP’s daughter requested to return home which made her mother lay down ultimatums for her return.

We gathered the highest upvoted comments from Reddit community:

“What you are asking for in exchange for a roof over her head is not too much. She just doesn’t want to do it.”

“Don’t block her, but do ignore her texts. That kind of behavior doesn’t deserve a response.”

“She got her free ride as a kid and wasted it. Now it's time to join the real world.”

“Her dad spoiled her, and now you have to pick up the pieces. Tough love - she will know you were right eventually.”

“Stick to your plan, OP - it will be best for her in the long term.“

“Legal responsibility stops at 18, something she was very ready to take advantage of because it’s “her life”. This is also YOUR life to do what you want with.”

“I'd block her texts for a week or so and see if she calms down and accepts reality. If not, don't back down-she needs a serious reality check.”

Parenting isn’t for the faint of heart, especially when the lines between tough love and perceived tyranny blur.

For the Redditors, OP was well within her rights to demand everything on the list and even more. Tough love? Maybe. But she’s holding out the line for a better future for Maria.

Do you agree with this verdict? Let us know in the comments.

Jesse