Daughter Asks if She's a Jerk for Breaking Teenager Promise She Made to Her Parents

Hell hath no fury like mom and dads scorned.

That’s how the saying goes, right? Or something close to that?

Anyway, a man shared his story on Reddit’s “Am I the *sshole?” page about a promise he made his parents when he was only 18-years-old…let’s see what went down.

AITA for breaking a promise my parents made me do when I was 18?

“A bit of background information: My (25f) parents immigrated to France before I was born to be able to offer a better life for their children.

I am the oldest of 5 and had a strict childhood growing up, looked after my siblings, always had good grades, behaved and listened mostly etc. My main motivation was knowing that I can live my life how I wanted once I became an adult.

Fast forward to me turning 18 and choosing which university I should go to. My parents told me that I should pick a town in France that was maximum a 3hrs drive away. I secretly apply to British universities, because I want to study English and got accepted.

My parents said: ‘Fine, you can go since you got accepted, but you have to promise to come back home after your studies.’ Being 18 years old, I just did what they told me to so I could go without thinking too much about the consequences.

Fast forward to now: After completing a degree in English and Education which took 5 years, I found a job as a teacher in the UK and stayed. This is now my 2nd year of teaching. I have a boyfriend of 5 years, pay for my own apartment and have not relied on my parents (financially) for years now.

My mum demands that I come back home, start living in their house and find a job in France. She wants me to throw my life in the UK away, because of a promise I made when I was 18.

I just want to live my life how I want instead. They make me feel guilty for not keeping that promise and even set an ultimatum (it has to happen now or never). My mum thinks that I will never come back if I do not come back home this summer. This pressure/guilt I feel has strained our relationship.

By the way: my parents are healthy and well and do not need me in France. Of course, I would be with them if they needed support. The way I see it they are upset that their oldest child left the nest and has no intention of coming back any time soon.

AITA for not keeping the promise I made when I was 18?”

Let’s see how folks on Reddit responded to this man’s story.

This reader said that it’s pretty simple: the guy needs to live his own life and his parents need to stay out of it.

Photo Credit: Reddit

Another person pointed out that this man was only 18 when he made his “promise”…and he was pretty much manipulated into it.

Photo Credit: Reddit

This person pointed out the obvious. This is this man’s life! Not his mom and dad’s!

Photo Credit: Reddit

This Reddit user said that just because a loved one lives far away, that doesn’t mean they’re out of your life in any way.

Photo Credit: Reddit

Finally, this person said that this really wasn’t a promise, but rather something that the man was pressured into when he was young. I couldn’t agree more…