Entitled single mom demands coworker donate money for her kids' school activities, refuses to stop when coworker claims she's asking too much: 'She has a history of unhealthy boundaries'

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Nov 10, 2025 5:00 AM EST

When you were young, how aware were you of your parents' financial situation? 

Most parents don't want their kids to think or know if they are struggling financially, so they would do anything to ensure their kids never find out, even if it means spending more money than they actually have. But when they start asking for money from other people, it crosses a line. 

Take the single mom in the story below as an example. Wanting her kids to have it all is a valid wish, but not when you can't afford it. Asking coworkers for loans and donations might be a step too far, especially if you can cut expenses from elsewhere in your lifestyle. 

At first, when she started asking her coworker for donations for her kids' school activities, they complied and gave what they could. It wasn't long, however, until this mom started taking advantage of her coworker's generosity and began asking for loans. That is when the coworker realized they must draw a line.

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10573742848
    via JackF

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • When does asking for help become exploitive, and at what point would you have told this entitled mom she needs to stop? 

    Keep scrolling to read the full video, and let us know in the comments below!

  • 02

    My money is her money??

    A friend/coworker who I talk to often but never hang out with in person spends her money frivolously
    via summerof96again
  • 03
    She makes $24k per year more than me and gets bonuses and more paid time off.
    via summerof96again
  • 04
    But she has made some poor relationship decisions (had a baby with a convicted felon who has other children) and her other child's father doesn't contribute so she's a single mother.
    via summerof96again
  • 05
    I work for a government agency where lot of unstable people become upper management. Anyway, the list goes on: pays for a $20/month gym membership that she hasn't used in nearly 10 years (she's overweight and lives a sedentary lifestyle); gets bi-monthly mani and pedi and allows her 15 yr old daughter to get them consistently as well (nails are never not done); refuses to cut cable TV so her internet/cable bill is $300+ per month.
    via summerof96again
  • 06
    Meanwhile I cut cable years ago and am mindful of which streaming services I pay for.
    via summerof96again
  • 07
    She continuously asks for me to donate to the kids school activities. (walk-a-thon, etc) and at first I was happy but it became multiple times per year and the kids didn't stay with the sports/activities.
    via summerof96again
  • 08
    So I scaled back and stated I really could not as I was renovating parts of my home.
    via summerof96again
  • 09
    One time said I could donate $10, which I did and then she made a comment about how that was so low.
    via summerof96again
  • 10
    The teenager who attends a private school that she can barely afford, wanted to go on an international trip with her school.
    via summerof96again
  • 11
    It cost several thousand dollars, that my coworker/friend didn't have. When I was a kid and my parents didn't feel they could afford something, I just didn't get it.
    via summerof96again
  • 12
    They didn't ask people for money. She has a history of unhealthy boundaries and enabling. In a conversation I mentioned that the contractor wanted to charge me $4300 for a fence which was too expensive, and the very next day, it became apparent that she had taken note of what I could potentially afford for home renovations and jokingly said she knew I had funds allocated to my renovation but that she needed "a loan." I was put off even more and feel if I ever were to lend money it would be enabl
    via summerof96again
  • 13
    I ended up saying I was not in a position to give loans.
    via summerof96again
  • 14
    MrJackdaw Not your circus, not your monkeys. And do NOT lend her money! Give sparingly. You might want to, as an experiment, as HER for a loan and see what she says.
    via MrJackdaw
  • 15
    OP summerof96again Well she really does live paycheck to paycheck. I'm just going to keep it simple. Won't give or lend.
    via summerof96again
  • 16
    Clam Daddy99 That's actually a smart way to see where you stand. If she can never help you back, it shows the relationship is one-sided, and you don't owe her endless support.
    via ClamDaddy99
  • 17
    OP summerof96again I've thought about that. She can also never provide rides to and from the airport when I travel, for example, because she's bogged down with the kids, tired from being a single mother, or I'd feel bad that I'm using up her gas and then feel obligated to pay her gas money, which then may lead to her asking for more.
    via summerof96again
  • 18
    CheekyKraken90 Testing the dynamic might really open your eyes. If she refuses to help you even once, then you know she only comes around when she needs something.
    via CheekyKraken90
  • 19
    woman counting bills
    via Karola G

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 20
    OP summerof96again She is helpful with things that are not money related.
    via summerof96again
  • 21
    AncientButterfly9202 "Paycheck to paycheck" is vastly different from choosing to live above their means.
    via AncientButterfly9202
  • 22
    OP summerof96again Right. Oh and she lives in rental (townhome) and hires a house cleaner. I clean my own home but I also don't have young kids who don't clean up after themselves and multiple pets.
    via summerof96again
  • 23
    Tomj_Oad Why are you friends with this woman? I didn't hear one redeeming quality or thing she does for you.
    via Tomj_Oad
  • 24
    OP summerof96again Well she does have good qualities but I'm starting to feel we don't have much in common.
    via summerof96again
  • 25
    Piccololmpossible946 Don't give her a dime! And private school isn't a necessity nor all this other crp! I'm single no kids and I don't even get my nails done only a pedicure a cpl times a year. I also get $20 hair cuts at the beauty school. My condo is almost paid for and I have around $700k in investments. I can't believe the way some pple spend money. And she has no business commenting on your money.
    via Piccololmpossible946
  • 26
    OP summerof96again Yes!! And I'm starting to see she has an unhealthy case of FOMO and when it comes to her kids (not so much herself). She tries to keep up with what other 2 parent households can apparently afford (club soccer, international trips).
    via summerof96again
  • 27
    tronquinhos Ask her a small (2k) loan to help you on the renovation and see how it goes.
    via tronquinhos
  • 28
    TwixTwerk the moment you realize someone keeps score only when it benefits them, it's game over. no point wasting energy.
    via TwixTwerk
  • 29
    Miserys_Finest Simply put, why bother helping in the first place? Those kids ain't your priority. If she wanted them to have a better opportunity then she should pay for it.
    via Miserys_Finest

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aita entitled parents employee coworkers friends reddit story parenting loan workplace entitled Reddit mom money single mom entitled people
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