Teenager Tells Her Mom To Stop Giving Her Food Away To Her Friends, Calls Her Out Online And Redditors React
"I don’t know if you guys have to deal with parents like this"
Some people don’t recognize a favor, they treat it like a habit. In this Reddit post, a teenager is fed up with her mom’s routine of giving away her food, even though it’s coming from a government program meant to support the family.
OP says her mom gets paid for her, but the older she gets, the less her mom seems to care. The breaking point comes when her mom cooks food and shares it with a friend, then OP finds out she ate some too, leaving OP upset and feeling disrespected in her own home.
It turns out this wasn’t a one-time “oops,” it was the kind of pattern that makes a kid snap, then post about it online.
The OP kicks off her story
Reddit/Kpopstan27OP's mom gets paid money for her from the government but she stopped caring for her ever since she started getting older
Reddit/Kpopstan27OP's mom cooked it and gave some to her friend, and she also ate some, which upset the OP
Reddit/Kpopstan27
OP’s mom sharing the cooked food with her friend is what finally pushes OP from simmering to straight-up calling her out.
The dynamics between parents and teenagers are often fraught with tension, especially when deeper issues like substance abuse come into play. In this article, the teenager's plea for her mother to stop giving food away serves as a poignant reminder of how parental actions can deeply affect a child's sense of worth and autonomy. The teenager's frustration is not just about food; it symbolizes her struggle for independence and the respect she feels she deserves within the family. When a parent prioritizes their own needs, perhaps driven by their own issues, it can inadvertently lead to feelings of neglect and resentment in their children. This situation highlights a critical moment in the adolescent's journey toward asserting her identity amidst the complexities of family challenges.
OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the AH:
I feel like I might be the a-hole for being so harsh, but I also feel like I am not the asshole because my mother has done this my whole life. She would not want to do anything with me or help me because she would be too busy with her friends and never had time for family.
And the comments from other Redditors roll in...
Reddit/Kpopstan27
Learning how to hide your assets and money from your mother
Reddit/Kpopstan27
It can be difficult to try and draw the line
Reddit/Kpopstan27
The part that really stings is that OP says her mom would not help her or spend time with her, but somehow always has time for friends.
This is similar to a friend who mismanaged finances and asked again.
Studies published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence suggest that adolescents often develop their identities in response to parental expectations.
When parents fail to recognize their child's individuality, it can lead to emotional conflicts and rebellious behavior.
This highlights the importance of recognizing and valuing children's autonomy in family dynamics.
The OP owes it to herself to report her mom to the appropriate authorities
Reddit/Kpopstan27
Contacting the state and letting them know she's misusing the money
Reddit/Kpopstan27
All that money is for the OP's support, and she shouldn't have to work
Reddit/Kpopstan27
Redditors jump in with wild takes, like “hide your assets and money,” after OP goes public about the food situation.
Social media can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy and comparison among adolescents.
OP's mom now sees her as a meal ticket
Reddit/Kpopstan27
The OP should open a bank account and start saving to get out
Reddit/Kpopstan27
She's not getting groceries with them anyway
Reddit/Kpopstan27
And when the comments start suggesting OP “owes it to herself” to report her mom, the family dinner drama gets way bigger than groceries.
Therapists recommend fostering open dialogue about social interactions and expectations.
Encouraging adolescents to express their feelings about parental actions can help bridge gaps in understanding.
Creating a supportive environment where teenagers feel heard can strengthen family bonds and improve communication.
OP's mom doesn't have to reach "rock bottom" to receive assistance if she has an alcohol problem. A parent-child bond, however, is special, but it seems the OP lacks that with her mom.
Although the OP might be concerned that bringing up her mother's shortcomings will make her angry, ignoring it will eventually worsen their relationship. She was ultimately declared not the AH.
The relationship between parents and adolescents is inherently complex, often requiring a delicate balance of understanding and communication.
The family dinner did not end well, and now OP’s mom has Reddit on her plate too.
For more boundary drama, read about a struggling friend who kept asking for money.