AITAH for refusing my mom’s help
Okay, here’s a story. I (26f) coming from a good family, where everyone is either in Academia or running a business.
I was given everything except emotional support or choice (starting from hair to whom to talk to and what and where to study)
I was living on my own through hard times (my fiancé passed away in 2021) and I never felt any drop of support from my family. After a year went my mom just said “why aren’t u over yet. you can only cry”
Due to being in depressive state and having a couple of attempts at leaving this earth for good I accumulated debt and I’m not proud of it.
This year I took a dog as an emotional support and a friend. My mom made a scene, told me I’m not her daughter anymore because I didn’t listen to her (and many other things)
This year debt went out of hand a bit due to work problems and I couldn’t pay rent anymore
She called and said like “Oh come home sweetie we will help you dear even with financial problems”
And for the first time I felt like finally they are showing support. I thought great, I will live with them for a while and pay off my debt in 6-8 months
BUT NO.
Now as we started discussing more her plan is to pay off my debt, force me into masters degree and force me to emigrate, leave my career that just really started hitting off, leave my friends, and give up my dog, whom I really love and I can’t give him up. And I have to do everything she says again. From what to wear to whom to talk, how much to weigh.
No I can’t just return home and do as I planned to. I only can do it her way otherwise I can just not come at all.
I feel very depressed writing all of this.
One the one hand it’s a great opportunity yes to get a masters. But on the other hand it feels wrong to me. The help is conditional and controlling.
I know my refusal will cause a scene and I honestly don’t feel stable enough to handle the convo right because every time I talk to her I end up hysterical and in tears
I still have an opportunity to rent a cheaper apartment, go from office to remote job and just pay it off
AITA or not? :(
Posted Aug 12, 2026, 8:15 PM UTC