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Teen Faces Dilemma After Mother’s Last-Minute Change of Plans

A teenage boy has come forward on Reddit, sharing his frustration over a situation where his mother initially granted him permission to visit a theme park with friends but later revoked it without providing a clear reason. In his post, titled “AITA [Am I the a——] for leaving home when told not to?”, the 18-year-old detailed his experience living with his very religious 60-year-old mother.

Upon requesting her consent for the trip, the mother originally agreed, stipulating that he must attend church that coming Sunday. However, the situation took a turn when, just a day before the outing, she withdrew her approval, stating that he “didn’t deserve it.”

The original poster (OP) elaborated on his situation, mentioning that he is not only a college student maintaining straight A’s but also works 30 hours weekly. When he inquired about the abrupt change in his mother’s decision, she replied, “I didn’t say you did anything wrong, you just don’t get everything you want.”

Frustrated, the OP shared that friends and other family members suggested he should go ahead with his plans regardless of his mother’s wishes, citing the need to assert his independence. This led him to pose the question to Reddit users, asking if he would be in the wrong for choosing to go to the theme park anyway.

The majority of the responses from Redditors leaned towards supporting the OP, with many affirming that he was not at fault in this situation. One user noted, “NTA [not the a——]. You’re 18 and sound pretty responsible (straight As, full time college AND 30h work). That’s incredible! You should be allowed to just go out when you want to.”

Another commenter encouraged him to stop seeking permission, suggesting that he should assert his autonomy as a young adult. However, some Redditors cautioned that disregarding his mother’s wishes might lead to undesirable repercussions.

One highlighted that the OP lives at home, which could place him in a precarious situation should his mother choose to retaliate by kicking him out, emphasizing the uncertainty of his ability to live independently. Another suggested that, given his reliance on his mother’s financial support, it might be reasonable for him to adhere to her rules regardless of personal disagreements.

A Redditor reflected on their experiences living at home, noting that while they were not charged rent and were supported by their parents, they were expected to follow household rules and communicate their plans. They remarked, “If you live at home and don’t pay rent, it doesn’t matter your age; your parents are still an authority in your life.”

Another user echoed this sentiment, stating, “If you’re still living at home and relying on her financial support, you are giving her some authority over you.” This raised the notion of authority between parents and their children even as they transition into adulthood.

Source
people.com