Estranged mother admits to intercepting her son's college acceptance letters 15 years ago and lying that he did not get into any colleges: 'She didn't want me to succeed at something before my brother did'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Mar 24, 2025 8:00 PM EDT

Parents can easily sabotage their children. They live with and take care of them for at least the first 18 years of their life, and in that time, they can control what they eat, where they go to school, and if they're allowed to have any friends. We all knew one of those kids whose parents shaved their heads, much to their horror, after getting lice, even if they could've easily cured it with lice shampoo. Taking away a kid's hair for something they didn't do is sickening. If your parents were mostly normal, albeit with a few quirks, it might be hard to conceptualize how messed up your life could've been if your parents had not acted in your best interest. It can be difficult to see children as a marginalized group that needs protection in the way that other marginalized groups are, but it's clear they are far from free and equal members of our society. 

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  • The man in this story is the victim of a sabotaging family. His mother and brother threw away his college acceptance letters back in 2007 and lied that he didn't get into any colleges. Fifteen years later, he took to the internet to mourn the life he could have had. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10485266432
    via JSB Co. (Unsplash+)

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

  • 02

    My mother admitted something to me that really bothered me

    When I was in high school I applied to a bunch of colleges, this was back in 2007, when colleges sent acceptance letters through the mail.
    via u/a-jackofalltrades379
  • 03
    My relationship with my family has always been problematic as they both preferred my older brother, mainly because he wanted to be a doctor while I wanted to write and direct movies. My older brother never
    via u/a-jackofalltrades379
  • 04
    had the grades of attitude to be anything, let alone a doctor. He always threw tantrums when things didn't go his way and he built a reputation in school of being a cry baby momma's boy.
    via u/a-jackofalltrades379
  • 05
    I never got accepted anywhere and ended up getting thrown out by my dad who called me an idiot. I spent a year sleeping on a friends couch before I got a stable job in line painting. I had to break up with my high school sweetheart as well, as the stress got to me and she got into college, and we grew apart.
    via u/a-jackofalltrades379
  • 06
    Now it's been 18 years since all of that, and I own a line painting company and an asphalt repair company. It wasn't easy and I did get hurt a bunch of times on the job, so now I have shoulder issues and lower back issues.
    via u/a-jackofalltrades379
  • 07
    My mother reached out to me recently and we met up to talk. My dad was their. I haven't seen them in years.
    via u/a-jackofalltrades379
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    She revealed that my brother still lives at home and flunked out of college, and refuses to get a job. He spends all day sleeping. He also got into trouble in the past for assaulting his barber. My brother is bald by the way.
    via u/a-jackofalltrades379
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    Cheezburger Image 10485275392
    via Gustavo Sánchez

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

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    She then tells me that I actually had gotten accepted into a bunch of different colleges and shows me a stack of old mail back from 2007. It turns out that both she and my brother were intercepting the acceptance letters from the mailbox, because she didn't want me to succeed at something before my brother did.
    via u/a-jackofalltrades379
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    A
    via Ronni Kurtz

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

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    They both said they were sorry for everything and wants to start over with me. I haven't forgotten the terrible way they made me feel in the past, and now I'm not entirely sure what to do
    via u/a-jackofalltrades379
  • 13
    SnooRecipes9891 Start over before you've even had a chance to process the betrayal? Highly dysfunctional family dynamics were in play here. Meaning generational trauma. You do not need to have them in your life when they treat you so terribly.
    via u/SnooRecipes9891
  • 14
    lavender_gooms 129 Also how could someone stand by for 18 years and watch the damage they done take a toll on someone they care about and love? This story is so disturbing and upsetting. I'm so sorry op.
    via u/lavender_gooms129
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    lazyFer Because they don't care about OP. This has got to be about them wanting money from OP or a promise to take care of the brother.
    via u/lazyFer
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    monday_throwaway_ok Sadly, this is probably the case. What are we going to do?! Rotten Jr. won't get out of bed and work, and we're going to retire soon! Omg...! know! Jack! We'll tell him we believe in him now! He'll take care of all of us! Their behavior is beyond sickening. My mother engaged a huge betrayal as well, and she messages me once a year because she wants to "move on." Which means, she wants to pretend it never happened and she doesn't want to talk about it.
    via u/monday_throwaway_ok
  • 17
    There's enabling, and then there's THAT. OP, if you want to meet with your parents, that's fine. But always meet with them in a public place, and never agree to lend or give them money, and never agree to let your brother work for you or provide him with housing. If he or they show up at your door, don't open it. Just keep insisting you don't feel comfortable opening the door, and call the police if they won't leave. They all need help for mental health issues. And you need the injustice affirme
    via u/monday_throwaway_ok
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    Personal-Teacher8287 Sounds like "start over" is a lead in to "ask our successful son for financial assistance!" I can't fathom doing something so hateful and damaging to my own child! Hard pass!
    via u/Personal-Teacher8287
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    MaryK007 This is it exactly. At the least, they want him to take over 'care' of his older brother. Maybe hire him. How awful of them.
    via u/MaryK007
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    NutshellOfChaos That has to be the hands down thing I have heard of in quite some time. I am so sorry that they sandbagged your life. I would never see them again. Done.
    via u/NutshellOfChaos
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    Catinthemirror I have an ex-bf who intercepted a job offer letter for a dream job I really wanted. I assumed I'd been ghosted. I found out about it a year later (along with some other sh*tty stuff he'd done). He was de d to me at that point.
    via u/Catinthemirror
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    Grace Alcock I am going to be haunted By this story. I would certainly never speak to them again.
    via u/Grace_Alcock
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    Empress_De_Sangre I read the first few lines and I knew where it was going, my heart sank. This betrayal is unfathomable. I would probably catch a charge due to how upset i'd be if this happened to me. As a mom this hurts my heart. I can't imagine doing this to any of my children. OP, they do not deserve to have you in their lives.
    via u/Empress_De_Sangre
  • 24
    obedient53214 Until they pay you for a full 4 years of college tutition... then, maybe, you'll acknowledge them.
    via u/obedient53214
  • 25
    Briaboo2008 Sounds like felony mail tampering. I would very tempted to get a lawyer.
    via u/Briaboo2008
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    Glinda-The-Witch I think what you should do is thank your mother for being honest with you and then tell her that you have never been so disappointed in anyone in your entire life. Tell her that it appears that karma has stepped in to ensure both her and your brother suffer for their egregious actions and then tell her you never ever want to speak to her or him ever again. Then walk away and block them on all forms of social media and on your phone if you. Hopefully if you are able to keep your
    via u/Glinda-The-Witch

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family drama brother mother crazy things parents say bad parenting bad parents parenting family mom Parenting Fail college Parenting FAILS reddit story reddit thread Reddit
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