Do parents truly think that just because they decided to have and raise kids, their kids owe them anything in return as they get older? The funny thing is, if parents don't act like they are entitled to anything from their kids, and simply raise their kids with love and compassion, then the kids would grow up feeling like they want to help their parents when they are older, which is much better than feeling like they have to . But once parents act and talk to their kids as if their entire purpo…

Focusing on your kids' schooling and future is important, but it's easy to lose sight of the little things and moments along the way that are also important. Failing to nurture their unique skills and interests may cost them the chance to do something that they feel is fulfilling and rewarding and what they deem to be the success of their own lives. Also, pushing them too hard to be successful may be counterproductive and drive them into burnout, which takes years to recover from. Plus, we've s…

Learning boundaries is important, even if it means being disappointed—not everything is always going to go your way. Sure, when you're one year old, something you were interested in suddenly disappearing might be the worst thing that's ever happened to you, but it's important to learn that lesson now because once you're older, learning that same lesson gets a lot more inappropriate and embarrassing. There's a big difference between a 12-year-old throwing a public tantrum because they didn't get…

Meals are undoubtedly one of the most important daily chores, along with sleep. Being properly fed is one of the things that everything else in a successful and happy life stems from. But providing healthy meals for your family isn't cheap… Have you seen the price of groceries these days? And the time it takes to cook and clean for an entire family can't be understated. So, undoubtedly, the combination of those two things, the time and the price of the actual food, would be supremely valuable.…

We're often taught that you have an obligation to love your family and that “blood is thicker than water” and all of that

Everyone's been embarrassed by their parents at some point growing up. More often than not, we accept these embarrassing moments as a part of the adolescent experience. Rarely do we see children grow up harboring a desire to recreate said embarrassing moments but with the roles reversed. Here, we have a playful and wholesome moment when a now 38-year-old Redditor decided to get even with her mother by telling her how much she loves her in a public setting, something her mother used to do when t…

Doing favors for people generally would be met with some sort of reciprocation or thanks, and you would generally expect to be compensated for any of your own resources you might spend helping them. Say, something like paying someone for gas when they've given you a ride or picked you up from the airport. It's not an equal transaction because you're not compensating them for their time or for the service they've provided you, but you're at least saving them from bearing the most direct financia…

Let's face it: a lot of us were miserable about stuff when we were kids and teenagers that we would later go on to regret. Even if you have the most positive home environment, it's a confusing and difficult time in your development. Even still, I know there were times when I caused a stink about something only to go on to have the best day, leaving me with lifelong regret for making it difficult for my parents in the first place. But, when you're a teen , there's a high likelihood that you're g…

Enforcing “no children” policies at weddings can be treacherous territory, on one hand you want to manifest the ideal you've bee

Doing chores and contributing to the household is just a part of being a member of the household, especially as you get older. The harsh reality is that when you're a teenager, soon the gloves are going to come off, and you're going to be faced with the harsh reality that surviving day to day as an adult requires 10x as much effort just to maintain functional normality as you anticipate when you're a kid at home. Plus, your parents are doing these things daily just to keep the family (what ofte…

There's a whole lot going on in this post that's really difficult to un- pack (hah, get it) and that I really just can't quite wrap my head around. So, let's start here: Why on earth does a 13-year-old need FIFTY backpacks? With a single bag alone costing $500. And why in the heck does a 13-year-old have their own influencer account?.. And where in the heck are they storing all of these backpacks? At the risk of sounding very “old man yelling at clouds here,”… what in the heck is going on with…

Everyone likes to think that they're the exception to a rule, usually because they're so certain that they're so much better and smarter than everybody. The reality of the situation couldn't be further from the truth, and the truth is this: If you think you're the exception, the rule exists for you. This couldn't be truer than when it comes to parents who think that their kids should be an exception to “child-free” events, either bringing them anyway without saying anything or making some drama…

Family is difficult, perhaps even one of the most difficult things. Even when the relationships are fairly "traditional" and straightforward, let's be honest: what is straightforward? Is there even really a straightforward when it comes to family? The reality is that there hardly ever is, and the families that try and act like things are straightforward are the most likely to be hiding something. When families are more complex, mixed, or “blended” things get even further from simple. And who is…

Scam calls are nothing new, but in recent years, scammers have been getting more creative with their tactics... and creepier. One scam that's been on the rise involves someone pretending to be a family member in trouble, often a child or grandchild, needing urgent financial help. With AI now able to mimic voices, it's become even more unsettling. But for this childless man, who's been receiving the same scam call twice a year for the past seven years, it's less of a scare and more of a chance t…

Finders keepers! It's a rule that can be the best or the worst, depending on if you're the finder or the person who lost something valuable. Finding a $20 bill on the ground is amazing, because there's no way of proving who really lost it. But being the person who went to do laundry and suddenly realized that $20 bill had flown out of their pocket makes you really dislike the “finders keepers” rule. This 8-year-old found themselves on both sides of the rule, starting with a standoff with their…

Family dynamics are always tough, even in the best of circumstances… Parenting teenagers is difficult enough when they're your own flesh and blood or they're otherwise your sole charge and are obligated to follow your direction. It gets infinitely more difficult when you have another adult who is influential in your life—especially one of their parents who is undermining you and just generally poisoning the well and encouraging them to be toxic towards you at every possible chance. You'd think…