I’ve been my parents’ unpaid supporter for years—paying their bills, covering groceries, and lending a helping hand whenever I could. But when I hit a crisis and lost my job, I asked them for help… and they refused, saying they were drowning in their own expenses.
What shattered me wasn’t their refusal—it was what I later discovered. My parents had taken a substantial amount from my ex just to fund their dream vacation. They’d quietly focused on paying him back while declining to help me, their child, in my moment of need.
This felt like a betrayal on every level. Not only did they prioritize someone who was no longer in my life, they hid it from me—and now expected me to bail them out again by helping them recover from that getaway loan.
The emotional sting cuts deep: years of financial and emotional support rendered invisible by a secretive decision that broke trust. A relationship built on love suddenly feels transactional, and being sidelined like that hurts more than I expected.
I’m wrestling with anger, disappointment, and deep emotional exhaustion. Setting boundaries feels essential now, but also heartbreaking. This isn’t just about money—it’s about fairness, loyalty, and being seen as their child—not their ATM.
