Redditor Calls Out Their Entitled Mom For Taking All Of Their Money For Two Whole Decades, Devices A Means To Outsmart Her

Some families keep score, but this Redditor’s mom kept receipts in her own favor. For two decades, she would pocket their money without even telling them what it was, then act like that was just how things worked.

It gets extra messy because the OP’s setup was not a one-time “oops,” it was a long-running pattern. While commenters were shocked at the lack of transparency, the OP revealed how normal it felt to them at 17, paying their mom’s rent and groceries, until it finally clicked that they had a choice.

And just wait until the OP describes the way they tried to outsmart her.

Here is the story's title

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OP's mother would pocket the money without even telling them how much it was

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Comments poured in, in their hundreds, and here are a bunch of them below

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That’s when the comments started flooding in, because everyone could see how the mom’s “pocketing” became a family routine, not a mistake.

This story illustrates the intricate dynamics that can arise in families, particularly when entitlement becomes a dominant theme. The Redditor’s experience sheds light on how a lack of boundaries can lead to significant emotional and financial strain. Over two decades, the mother’s behavior has not only exploited her child's resources but also undermined their autonomy.

In such environments, children often develop a skewed perception of family resources, believing they are entitled to them without consideration for their own needs. This can lead to profound conflicts in adult relationships, as seen in the Redditor's struggle to reclaim their financial independence. The narrative serves as a poignant reminder of how unaddressed familial issues can perpetuate cycles of exploitation and hinder personal growth.

This Redditor has a short story to share

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Another Redditor shares a similar story, and here it is

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This Redditor's daughter also sells art to make the money she spends

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Then the OP dropped the real gut-punch, saying they were paying mom’s rent and groceries at 17, while their stepbrother only started paying when he turned 18.

This creates a toxic cycle where the child feels obligated to comply with unreasonable demands, often leading to resentment and further entrenchment of the entitled behavior.

The OP revealed this piece of information in the comments

My stepbrother had to start paying rent when he turned 18. (He lived with his mom.) I, on the other hand, was paying my mom's rent and groceries when I was 17, and it never really occurred to me that I had a choice.

It’s a lot like an AITA poster refusing to bail out their mother-in-law after her shopping addiction.

The OP revealed that they took care of the mom as a teenager

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Another story comes right up from this Redditor

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It seems so many Redditors have been through this type of situation

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After that, the thread turned into a whole pattern of kids feeling obligated, like the Redditor’s daughter selling art just to cover what her mom demanded.

Practical Solutions for Boundary Setting

Utilizing strategies such as assertive communication can help individuals express their needs without guilt or fear of conflict.

Another Redditor revealing that their mom opened their birthday cards

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The OP was clearly used by the mom as a cash cow

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There's definitely a lot of stories, and here is one more

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Finally, the OP explained they had a plan to outsmart her, because after 20 years of silence and stolen money, “asking nicely” wasn’t going to cut it.

Breaking this cycle involves gradually taking back control by making independent financial decisions and seeking external support when necessary.

"I wasn't being punished for anything. She had just gotten into the habit of taking all of my money since I was five. Since she was more than double my weight when I was in high school, I continued to let her," the OP revealed in the comments section.

The original poster has clearly been milked all along, and you can share your thoughts about this story in the comments section below.

Finally, it’s important to recognize the role of emotional intelligence in navigating these complex situations.

The intricate dynamics of entitlement within families reveal how deeply early life experiences shape adult behavior.

Nobody should have to work for free for 20 straight years just to fund their own mom’s lifestyle.

Still dealing with an “entitled” mother-in-law, see how one AITA poster handled her get-rich-quick loan request: refusing to lend money to the scheme.