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35-year-old's helicopter parents refuse to let him accept an offer that pays $23,000 more than his last job: 'They want me to turn this opportunity down [...] and keep looking for local jobs in Kansas'

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  • An adult son sits with his older father at the dinner table.
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  • "My controlling parents don't want me to move away"

    I'm 35, got fired from my last job right before the holidays with zero explanation. Two weeks later I got an offer in Denver for $83k ($23k more than my last job) but my parents yell saying
  • "It's too expensive! $83,000 isn't that much, not enough to live anywhere else but here." "It's too cold!"
  • "What are you going to do with your house??" "If you sell you'll never afford to buy another home!"
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  • "If you rent it out and the job doesn't work, you won't have a place to go back to!" "If you rent it out, whoever you rent to will destroy your property!"
  • "Where are you going to put your stuff if you rent it out??" They want me to turn this opportunity down (which means staying on unemployment until something else comes up or that runs out), stay put and keep looking for local jobs in Kansas.
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  • My dad sent me a job posting for an administrative assistant at a local university for $15k less than I was making at my last job. I've been a project manager for 7 years, an admin assistant job photocopying some old dude's documents, arranging his folders,
  • scheduling his meetings, sounds like a huge step back to me. That is a job I would hate and I am overqualified for. He shouted at me I was " applying for it. stupid" for not
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  • Meanwhile my sister is turning 38 and has never moved out of my parents' house and doesn't drive herself anywhere (mom drives her to AND from work every day) which they have no problem with.
  • Why aren't they questioning what is she doing with her life? They're so hands-off when it comes to her life choices.
  • What's crazier is their talk is making me second guess my new gig. I turned down a job in Boston two years because of this type of pressure, and looked what happened to me. I took a pay cut and then got fired. Now I'm thinking about to doing it again.
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  • There's no support for me whatsoever. They say I'm gonna fail and not have anything to come back to. I'm all torn up about their behavior and doubting.
  • An adult son and his older father sit on the stairs indoors at home looking at a tablet.
  • parkesc Starting now, don't tell them anything. Make all your preparations and leave as quietly as possible.
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  • PHLSchwarmer Take the job, shut everything down, and leave your family (and Kansas) behind. Your reward will start with the ever-decreasing view of all that nonsense in the rear- view mirror of your life. Good luck in Denver!
  • ThginkAccbeR Just go. Be the adult you are.
  • Initial-Shop-8863 Everyone gets 1 life in this world. Your parents get to control theirs. You get yours. They don't get to have or control your life too... unless you want them to.
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  • Live your life. Try to ignore their trying to control yours and use you as their local security blanket. Do what's right for you.
  • brianozm If you rent out your place, you still own it and could eventually move back into it, if you come back. Use a good property manager to manage it and don't let your parents near it.
  • Magdovus Ah well, looks like they're on an info diet from now. Live your life.
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  • committedlikethe... One of the things that's hardest to learn in life is not to share your good news with everyone. And in your case- especially your parents.
  • Keep putting those big girl pants on and take the job. Denver is an awesome city with lots of opportunities. You can't stay their little girl forever.
  • Why don't your parents still live with their parents? Because they had to be an adult at some point in their life and have responsibilities.
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  • An adult son and his older father sit on the stairs indoors at home looking at a tablet.

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