32-year-old woman's elderly parents demand she cover their rent and hospital bills, woman refuses because of their actions years earlier: ‘They left me when I needed help’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Feb 19, 2025 10:00 AM EST

When you're coming up to retirement age, you might be hoping for two things: 1) You saved up enough money to live comfortably without rejoining the workforce and 2) You have family members who will look after you in case anything goes wrong. If you didn't play your cards correctly, you might be in for an upsetting awakening once you reach the golden age of 65.

Some folks don't believe in karma until it happens to them… Then, when they get the unlucky surprise, they try to rewrite history—but it's written in stone. Folks can forgive but they don't have to forget, and such is the case with the woman in this next story.

The woman explains that she wanted to go to school for art and her parents refused to support her. So, worked through college and paid her way without her parents' help. Now, in her parents' retirement age, they demand that she shell out money for their retirement… Nice try. Scroll to read the entire story below.

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement

  • People make mistakes. It's what makes us human! However, a parent forcing their daughter to pay her way through school because she didn't want to study what they wanted her to study is not a mistake. In actuality, they're just putting a time limit on their relationship with her. Without respect and trust, a relationship cannot continue to flourish. So, the woman in this story made a life for herself without her parents' help, but she refuses to give them the life they claim they “deserve” out of principle. Trust should not be trivial.

  • Cheezburger Image 10469325056
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • "AITA for refusing to take care of my parents?"

    My household was negative to say the least. And my parents were strict and controlling and wanted me to be doctor or
    via A_Bean_Like_No_Other
  • lawyer but I only wanted to do art. I remember showing my parents' my art and them telling me some sarcastic remarks.
    via A_Bean_Like_No_Other
  • I told them I was going to college for art and asked them to help support. Don't really know why though since I knew they wouldn't unless it was for something they want me to do.
    via A_Bean_Like_No_Other
  • Anyways they refused saying that it was 'my choice, my responsibility.' So I worked as a broke college student barley
    via A_Bean_Like_No_Other
  • making ends meet whilst juggling working 2-3 part time jobs and keeping up my grades and now own a small art program.
    via A_Bean_Like_No_Other
  • A year into my degree and I meet my now husband in a small coffee shop turns out he was a student to and wanted to make friends. By friends he
    via A_Bean_Like_No_Other
  • meant a girlfriend, and asked for my number and I agreed since he was cute and now I have 2 kids with him.
    via A_Bean_Like_No_Other
  • So now I (32) And my hubby (34) have a happy family, my husband's family became my second family they helped me through college and weren't monster in laws or anything like that crop.
    via A_Bean_Like_No_Other
  • My mom, (66) And dad, (69) reached out with their demands, Demand 1, Meet their grand kids. Demand 2, Move in with us or cover their rent. Demand 3, Pay for hospital/medical bills.
    via A_Bean_Like_No_Other
  • 100 140 160 90 20 Medical Billing Statemen Adrsion Date: August 19, 2018 Disc rge Date: August 28 2018 Serve Date 8- 18 8-20 8-20-18 8-21-18 8-21-18 8-21-18 22-18 8-23-18 8-22-18 8-23-18 Cars
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+
  • Their reasons? They "did so much for me and deserve their happy ending to." I told them of saying it was their bad choices their responsibility
    via A_Bean_Like_No_Other
  • and they needed to work like I did to get by since I wasn't gonna help some stuck up pieces of work. I feel like I did the right thing since they left me
    via A_Bean_Like_No_Other
  • when I needed help but some of the family thinks I'm being unfair to them since they did work for me so I could eat etc etc, but I don't know part of me
    via A_Bean_Like_No_Other
  • doesn't wanna expose my kids nor myself to their toxicity but I want some unbiased outside opinions before I make up my mind.
    via A_Bean_Like_No_Other
  • MerlinBiggs NTA. You don't owe them anything. Put it this way: your 2 kids - are you raising them because you expect payback someday? Your parents didn't respect who you are and cut you off
    via MerlinBiggs
  • when they could no longer control you. Do you want people like that around your kids? They're only contacting you because they want something. Leave them out of your life. Concentrate on the fmily you have now.
    via MerlinBiggs
  • czndra67 NTA. You reap what you sow. You owe them nothing. Tell the flying monkeys it's not your job to care for such bad parents.
    via czndra67
  • Ghost2386B I would say you have every right not to do as they ask. They have you and raise you. That is what parents do. demand that you take care of them is bull just because they took care of you. That was their job .the
    via Ghost2386B
  • only responsibility you have is to your kids and husband. You made your own family. They treated you wrong and you didn't deserve to be let down by them. Be strong hold your ground THEY CANT MAKE YOU DO ANYTHING FOR THEM !! .. not to get in details but I relate to your situation alot.
    via Ghost2386B
  • Separate Match... NTA. And don't let anyone guilt trip you by using the excuse that they fed and took care of you until you were an adult. They're legally required to do that and they committed to that when they decided to have a kid.
    via Separate_Match_918
  • They aren't legally required to love you for who you are and support you and the life you want to live. And it sounds like they didn't want to commit to that fully. Sow and reap or something like that.
    via Separate_Match_918

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

aita entitled parents entitlement AITAH reddit story parenting entitled people karma dad entitled reddit thread daughter Reddit mom Parenting Fail karma parents entitled people Parenting FAILS
Scroll Down For The Next Article