Entitled Parents Guilt-Trip Son For Cutting Down Their Allowance To Focus On His Own Family Obligations
Family ties are supposed to be unbreakable, but when one man found himself crushed under the weight of family devotion, he chose to take a stand.
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Our narrator (Original Poster) had a few words that could be used to describe his parents: overbearing, suffocating, and extremely narcissistic.
When OP’s parents tried to enforce their skewered lifestyle on his wife, he decided it was time to cut ties—all the better to escape from their suffocating grip.
Despite maintaining a self-imposed no-contact status for the past 1.5 years, he faithfully continued his monthly ritual of sending financial support to his retired parents.
Why? Well, these were the people who raised him; you could say he felt obligated. This ritual wasn’t a recent development, though; from the moment OP landed a job post-college, he set aside a percentage of his income for his parents’ upkeep.
As OP’s career progressed over the years, the amount steadily increased. It currently stood at $1000 for each parent.
Fast forward to the present, and OP was now a husband and father. A new addition to the family equaled more financial obligations. They had college funds to think about now, and his wife’s medical bills also weren’t cheap.
Something had to give—and OP’s parent’s allowance was the only option. He decided to cut it down to $300 each, then sent his parents a detailed email informing them and explaining his reasons.
What followed was a response filled with all shades of gaslighting, which reminded OP why he went no contact in the first place.
OP’s parents made it clear he had a debt to pay after years of upbringing. But still, was it wrong for him to prioritize his wife and child?
The story in detail
![The story in detail](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/34714c1f5d943d40966bc6cfac290375_27928_700.jpg)
OP went NC with his parents years ago. But he has been sending money to them and paying their bills nonetheless
![OP went NC with his parents years ago. But he has been sending money to them and paying their bills nonetheless](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/ca68a39ecf59ef241fb67e96c3189602_27928_700.jpg)
Apparently, OP went NC with them due to their narcissistic ideology
![Apparently, OP went NC with them due to their narcissistic ideology](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/26161c38ee28179b1eebac22760858d6_27928_700.jpg)
With the birth of OP’s child, he was forced to reduce the money he was sending to his parents, as managing two homes was getting pretty expensive
![With the birth of OP’s child, he was forced to reduce the money he was sending to his parents, as managing two homes was getting pretty expensive](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/e367f30fa4c5f374e2882d54cb4194a2_27928_700.jpg)
OP emailed his parents, informing them that he would be reducing their monthly allowance and gave them a detailed explanation why
![OP emailed his parents, informing them that he would be reducing their monthly allowance and gave them a detailed explanation why](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/c5f7f62a684e4c6e73a09677c29aa3e0_27928_700.jpg)
The email conversation was not pretty, as his dad resorted to guilt-tripping
![The email conversation was not pretty, as his dad resorted to guilt-tripping](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/cb1c2b2b6537b21230982d8cf34fe565_27928_700.jpg)
Here’s how the Reddit community reacted to the story:
“What debt?! THEY chose to have children. So THEY of course had to provide for you.”
![“What debt?! THEY chose to have children. So THEY of course had to provide for you.”](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/1428e23317b6bb500fcfbb7cf8a85843_27928_700.jpg)
“Your parents chose to have children, you do not owe them that debt. Having children is not a financial investment.”
![“Your parents chose to have children, you do not owe them that debt. Having children is not a financial investment.”](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/a78134c5089d71c85e9398ddea3d789e_27928_700.jpg)
“What do you owe parents who obviously traumatized you during your adolescence?”
![“What do you owe parents who obviously traumatized you during your adolescence?”](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/33993cf57d6347a421e95fa1dd3e71b7_27928_700.jpg)
“You came into the world owing them nothing, and you will leave it owing them nothing.”
![“You came into the world owing them nothing, and you will leave it owing them nothing.”](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/fa586eafa002bd51783763fe42e07899_27928_700.jpg)
OP came back with an update
![OP came back with an update](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/70b6e0f59971e2ca7eb21c8a6d659934_27928_700.jpg)
In a chorus of support, Redditors resoundingly declare, “NTA.” They emphasized how having kids wasn’t a retirement plan.
No one forced OP’s parents to have kids, and now his responsibility was to his own child and family.
The consensus? Cease the financial lifeline, reject guilt-inducing calls, and bravely redefine family boundaries
What do you think about this story? Share your in the comments.