Hello, lovelies! It’s Roger here, coming at you from the fabulous desks of HotTakes — where we serve the latest dish on life’s juiciest dilemmas, with a side of sass, of course. Now, gather ’round because I’ve stumbled upon a Reddit story that’s so good, it makes my morning espresso seem bland in comparison. And believe me, that’s saying something. We’re diving deep into the saga of a person who’s put their parents on the no-fly list… of their own home. Oh yes, it’s *that* juicy. Strap in, my dears, because you’re in for a ride, and remember, this tale comes straight from a real person’s life. Scandalous, isn’t it? Let’s dissect, shall we?
Picture this: Our protagonist, fresh out of college, spreads their wings and claims a slice of the independence pie by moving into their own place. Marvelous, right? Wrong, according to their parents. You see, handing over a spare key to Papa dearest, in case of emergencies, somehow got translated into ‘please barge in whenever you fancy.’ From unauthorized brother drop-offs (surprise! You’re babysitting) to unasked-for groceries and not-so-stealthy cleaning raids by Mom, it was clear boundaries were as foreign to them as the notion of privacy in a high school locker room.
Fed up, our hero reclaims their key, changes the locks, and eventually upgrades to a fortress in a gated community — essentially the adult version of a treehouse with a ‘No Parents Allowed’ sign. But, does this deter the familial invaders? Alas, they’re like telemarketers; always finding new ways to bypass the ‘Do Not Disturb.’ Now, equipped with a security system that would make Fort Knox blush, our protagonist finally enjoys the peace and quiet they’ve longed for. That is until the parental units demand access codes to the kingdom.
Here’s where you lean in, folks. The accusations fly like arrows in a medieval siege. Words like ‘untrustworthy’ and ‘thieves’ are tossed into the fray, and suddenly, it’s a full-blown family feud over who gets the all-access pass to Casa de Protagonist.
But wait, there’s a twist! Despite the familial hoopla, our homeowner stands their ground, championing the radical notion that *gasp* adults can actually decide who enters their home. Shocking, I know. And while the parents lament the cruel injustice of having to — wait for it — ask permission before visiting, our protagonist relishes in the sweet silence of a boundary-respected existence.
Now, darlings, gather closer for Roger’s Hot Take: This isn’t just about keys, codes, or even surprise brother drop-offs. It’s a glittering showcase of setting boundaries and the chaotic dance of respecting them. To the parents caught in the headlights of modern autonomy, it’s time to realize adulthood means redefining relationships. And to our intrepid homeowner? Bravo, my dear, bravo! You’ve turned the lock on the door to self-respect, showing us all that sometimes, love means letting someone buzz you in.
So, to answer the burning question — Are they the jerk for setting boundaries firmer than my quads after squats week? Heck, no! In the grand theater of life, they’re not gatekeeping; they’re simply ensuring the cast respects the show’s running time. And on that note, I’ll leave you with this: Boundaries are not barriers; they’re the guidelines that allow relationships to flourish, like a well-tended garden or, in this case, a well-gated community.
Until next time, keep your gates locked and your takes hot. Roger, out.
Original story
I love my parents and my little brother. I am not going low/no contact with them. They just have a problem understanding boundaries and that I have my own life now.
After college I moved out from my parents house and into an apartment. It was great. I gave my dad a key for emergencies. My parents used it for non emergency situations. They once dropped off my brother without asking because they had other family in town and needed the space.
I told them repeatedly that this was not acceptable behaviour and I took my key back. They had made copies and it happened again. I had the locks changed. That caused a problem. But it was “A” problem not “MY” problem.
I have been saving up and decided to pull the trigger on my first home purchase. I make a great living so I found a gated community I liked that has a security officer at the front gate 24/7. I’m dating but my boyfriend doesn’t live with me. I like the safety of my neighborhood.
I did not give my parents a key. I also didn’t put them on the approved visitors list. My boyfriend has a key and is on the list. Security doesn’t need to call me to see if he can come in.
So they cannot just pop by. They can’t just drop off some groceries for me. My mom can’t come do some cleaning. My dad can’t come do maintenance.
Well they can do all these things. They just need my permission first. And they hate it.
They keep asking me for a key and to be put on the list. I just remind them that they have proven to be untrustworthy in the past. This sets them off. They start saying that they aren’t thieves and yadda yadda. I’m not going to change my mind but they are adamant that I am treating them poorly.
AITA?