Many times, parents unknowingly impact their children’s lives by being extremely nosy and trying to control everything. I understand that they love them. However, shouldn’t they consider their kids’ long-term growth over their own selfish desire to have a hold on every aspect of their lives?

Even this couple babied their adult daughter a lot and also expected their elder son to do the same, as he worked at her college. He was reluctant about it, but one incident triggered the parents so much that they went dramatic and got on his nerves! Here’s what happened…

More info: Reddit

From controlling to careless, parents can come with all sorts of attitudes

Young woman relaxing on bed with phone and laptop, illustrating frustration of son asked to spy on reckless sister.

Young woman relaxing on bed with phone and laptop, illustrating frustration of son asked to spy on reckless sister. - 1

The poster worked as IT support at a university, where his younger sister was also studying, so their parents wanted him to keep tabs on her

Text excerpt from a frustrated son explaining nosy parents wanting him to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister living away at university.

Text excerpt from a frustrated son explaining nosy parents wanting him to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister living away at university. - 2

Text discussing nosy parents wanting their son to spy on their reckless 20-year-old sister due to concerns about her behavior.

Text discussing nosy parents wanting their son to spy on their reckless 20-year-old sister due to concerns about her behavior. - 3

Text conversation expressing frustration about nosy parents asking a son to spy on his reckless 20-year-old sister.

Text conversation expressing frustration about nosy parents asking a son to spy on his reckless 20-year-old sister. - 4

Text excerpt discussing a frustrated son monitoring his reckless 20-year-old sister for nosy parents.

Text excerpt discussing a frustrated son monitoring his reckless 20-year-old sister for nosy parents. - 5

Young woman inspecting homemade dessert in kitchen, reflecting on nosy parents asking son to spy on reckless 20yo sis.

Young woman inspecting homemade dessert in kitchen, reflecting on nosy parents asking son to spy on reckless 20yo sis. - 6

He flat-out refused to spy on her, as he wanted her to learn how to be responsible, but one day, she had a close call with a fire incident

Text excerpt about a son frustrated with nosy parents asking him to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister.

Text excerpt about a son frustrated with nosy parents asking him to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister. - 7

Text explaining son’s frustration as nosy parents want him to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister and take her in.

Text explaining son’s frustration as nosy parents want him to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister and take her in. - 8

Text on screen describing minor house damage being covered by insurance and a deposit.

Text on screen describing minor house damage being covered by insurance and a deposit. - 9

Text excerpt about a frustrated son helping his “reckless” 20-year-old sister with nosy parents asking him to spy.

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Text excerpt discussing parents distrusting their reckless 20-year-old daughter and asking son to monitor her.

Text excerpt discussing parents distrusting their reckless 20-year-old daughter and asking son to monitor her. - 11

Flames rising from a pan on a modern kitchen stove, symbolizing frustration with nosy parents spying on sister.

Flames rising from a pan on a modern kitchen stove, symbolizing frustration with nosy parents spying on sister. - 12

Their parents grew so anxious that they told him to house her immediately, but he refused, as he had a pregnant fiancée

Text showing frustration about nosy parents wanting son to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister and take her in.

Text showing frustration about nosy parents wanting son to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister and take her in. - 13

Alt text: Frustrated son dealing with nosy parents asking him to spy on and take care of reckless 20-year-old sister.

Alt text: Frustrated son dealing with nosy parents asking him to spy on and take care of reckless 20-year-old sister. - 14

Text discussing frustration of son being asked by nosy parents to spy on reckless adult sister and take care of her.

Text discussing frustration of son being asked by nosy parents to spy on reckless adult sister and take care of her. - 15

They started accusing him of not performing his “duty” as a big brother, but still, he refused to parent or baby her

In today’s story, the original poster (OP) tells us how he tried to actually help out his 20-year-old sister against their helicopter parents, who had babied her a lot. He was working as IT support for a university where she was studying. This was pretty far away from their house, so the couple wanted their son to keep tabs on everything she was doing.

Obviously, he refused to be their spy, but checked on her occasionally. He mentioned that she acted a little immature for her age, but things were going fine with her. However, the tables turned when she tried to start a TikTok-based cookie business. The cookies caught fire in the oven while she slept, and after she removed them, there was some damage.

Although firefighters were involved, it was not very serious, but OP did everything he could to comfort her. In fact, he even spoke to her landlord and made sure that everything was okay. However, when their parents found out about it, they simply exploded. They were concerned that she would repeat something similar, so they insisted that the poster let her live with him.

Well, he had a spare room in his house, but refused straightaway. His fiancée was also pregnant, so it would have been difficult to look after another person. Despite how hard he tried to explain, his parents weren’t able to understand his perspective. They kept insisting that since he was her elder brother, he had to protect her. While the argument escalated, he just refused to parent her.

Young man looking frustrated while talking on phone, dealing with nosy parents spying on reckless sister.

Young man looking frustrated while talking on phone, dealing with nosy parents spying on reckless sister. - 16

After he vented online, netizens instantly sided with him and blamed the controlling parents for everything. Data shows that more than four-in-ten parents (45%) say they tend to be overprotective, while stats reveal that 38% of Americans report having controlling parents. That’s a huge amount, but it’s sad that mothers and fathers don’t realize the damage they cause.

Experts also stress that managing emotions and behavior are fundamental skills that all children need to learn, and controlling parenting can limit those opportunities. They further elaborate that kids with helicopter parents may be less able to deal with the challenging demands of growing up. No wonder the poster’s sister acts immaturely even after turning 20.

Seems like her brother was the only one trying to actually help her, as he was teaching her how to be responsible. Also, it was highly selfish of his parents to demand that he house her immediately. They completely disregarded his pregnant fiancée and didn’t even think about how burdensome it would be for the poor woman. After all, pregnancy is no joke.

Netizens agreed with him that the babied daughter needed to learn how to be independent away from their helicopter parents

Alt text: Frustrated son dealing with nosy parents who want him to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister and take her in.

Alt text: Frustrated son dealing with nosy parents who want him to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister and take her in. - 17

Forum user expressing frustration over nosy parents asking their son to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister.

Forum user expressing frustration over nosy parents asking their son to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister. - 18

Screenshot of a forum comment where a user advises a frustrated son against spying on his reckless 20-year-old sister at parents’ request.

Screenshot of a forum comment where a user advises a frustrated son against spying on his reckless 20-year-old sister at parents’ request. - 19

Reddit comment highlighting son’s frustration as nosy parents want him to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister.

Reddit comment highlighting son’s frustration as nosy parents want him to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister. - 20

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing nosy parents wanting a son to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister frustrations.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing nosy parents wanting a son to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister frustrations. - 21

Reddit comment discussing frustration with nosy parents wanting son to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister.

Reddit comment discussing frustration with nosy parents wanting son to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister. - 22

Screenshot of an online comment expressing frustration about nosy parents asking their son to spy on his reckless 20-year-old sister.

Screenshot of an online comment expressing frustration about nosy parents asking their son to spy on his reckless 20-year-old sister. - 23

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing frustration over nosy parents wanting a son to spy on his reckless 20-year-old sister.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing frustration over nosy parents wanting a son to spy on his reckless 20-year-old sister. - 24

Text post from user Sugar_Mama76 expressing frustration about nosy parents wanting her son to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister.

Text post from user Sugar_Mama76 expressing frustration about nosy parents wanting her son to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister. - 25

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing frustration with nosy parents and the son being asked to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing frustration with nosy parents and the son being asked to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister. - 26

Screenshot of an online comment where a user advises a son frustrated by nosy parents wanting him to spy on his reckless 20-year-old sister.

Screenshot of an online comment where a user advises a son frustrated by nosy parents wanting him to spy on his reckless 20-year-old sister. - 27

Screenshot of an online comment discussing frustration with nosy parents asking son to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister.

Screenshot of an online comment discussing frustration with nosy parents asking son to spy on reckless 20-year-old sister. - 28

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