Toxic Parents Dangle Future Inheritance To Manipulate A Soon-To-Be-Wed Couple Into Having Children

The fruit fell far from the poisoned tree

Chelsi

• Published in Interesting
• April 22, 2023

The status quo used to be: earn a degree, land a good job, get married, and have children. That is no longer a sustainable life plan for young adults in this generation.

The older generation hasn't caught up to this "new age agenda" just yet. They cannot fathom that a couple can get married and remain fulfilled despite having no children.

This clash of beliefs causes tension between parents and their adult children. A soon-to-be-married couple never thought they would experience this kind of pressure from their parents, but they were sorely mistaken.

OP and his girlfriend of 10 years decided years ago not to become parents. They got used to being asked about marriage and children in their decade-long relationship, but the engagement dialed up the pressure.

Their antics annoyed the couple, but they managed to deflect the relentless baby crusade. Their ulterior motive colors every interaction OP has with them.

His instincts proved true when his parents invited him and his fiancé to lunch at their house. His fiancé's parents would also be in attendance which frayed OP's nerves even more.

OP and his fiancé arrived early enough to help with cooking and other preparations. The lunch went well enough that OP started to believe his suspicions were unfounded.

They gathered around the coffee table after lunch when the parents launched into their usual "we want grandchildren" spiel

Both of their parents were talking about how much they invested on OP's and his fiancé's future and emphasized the value of family

OP's suspicions came rushing back just as their parents revealed their new strategy

The parents have an agreement to exclude OP and his wife from their wills if they decide to follow through with their child-free life

They have two reasons: First, OP's brother is gay and has no plans to have kids. Second, OP's fiancé is the eldest daughter and must set an example for her younger sister by giving birth.

OP was shocked by the length their parents would go to just to manipulate them into having kids

OP said that neither he nor his fiancé are interested in the inheritance and they have decided to cut contact with their parents which means they are no longer invited to the wedding

OP also clarified their reasons for being child-free which are more than understandable

Walking away from a deal that comes with a trap is the best move OP and his fiancé could have done. They took their parents only weapon, justifiably so.

Their obsession over having grandchildren is pathetic to witness

They really thought they could make the couple cave by holding their inheritance hostage. They need to look for new puppets to control.

Having kids is a commitment that's not for everyone. If you aren't 100% sure you are fit to be a parents, you shouldn't become one because it's the kid that will suffer.

Having a child to earn your parents' approval is the most selfish move

A month later, OP is back with an update more incredulous than the last

OP and his fiancé had to move their wedding a year later because of Covid-19 restrictions

One day, they got a call from the venue administrator asking why they were cancelling their reservation

His fiancé's parents called the venue and tried to cancel the reservation on their behalf

They almost lost their venue, the date, and their deposit if the venue administrator fell for the parents' ruse

OP's fiancé is fuming while his brother paid their parents a visit to give them a piece of his mind. Their resolve to cut ties with both parents just got stronger.

OP's regularly calm brother unleashed hell on the parents which disturbed them and amused OP

OP was in awe of their audacity since neither set of parents were paying for the wedding expenses. OP was finally done dealing with the exhausting adults in their lives.

OP has to remember this moment if their parents try to insert themselves into their lives in the future

What got into their parents' heads that convinced them they had any say over other people's lives? OP and his fiancé are better off without these four manipulating them every which way.

It must have felt incredible standing up against your parents who do not have your best interest at heart. Having children does not add or diminish the value of a person — a lesson lost on people like this couple's parents.

Chelsi