Should I Help My Parents After Moving Back Home?
AITA for refusing to help my parents post-breakup due to childhood favoritism? Resentment lingers, impacting family dynamics.
A 28-year-old woman moved back in with her parents after a breakup, and what should have been a simple reset quickly turned into a family standoff.
Her parents were happy to have her home, but old resentment came rushing back because she says they favored her younger sister growing up, especially when it came to school and support. Now they expect her to help around the house, and she is struggling to separate present-day expectations from childhood hurt.
One fake work emergency later, the tension is worse, and her sister is telling her to move on. Was she wrong to hold back, or is this family conflict bigger than chores? Read on.
Original Post
I (28F) recently moved back home to save money after a tough breakup. My parents (late 50s) were thrilled to have me back, offering help and support.
However, growing up, they favored my younger sister over me due to her academic achievements. This led to bitterness on my end.
Now that I'm back, my parents expect me to help out around the house, but I find myself holding onto resentment. I've been avoiding tasks they ask me to do, claiming I'm too tired from work, when in reality, I'm still upset about the past.
Last week, they needed assistance with some heavy lifting, and I refused, citing a fictional work emergency. This caused tension at home.
My sister called me, saying I should let go of the past and help out. I exploded, telling her it's not that easy for me.
I feel conflicted about being asked to help when I received less support growing up due to their bias. While I understand I should contribute since I'm living rent-free, my resentment is clouding my judgment.
I know I should move past this and be a supportive daughter, but I can't shake off the hurt from my childhood. AITA?
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This also reminds me of the person who refused their partner’s exotic pet adoption without discussion.
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What do you think about this situation? Let us know in the comments.
For another family showdown, read about a dad torn between his daughter’s piano recital and his son’s baseball game.
