Social Question

dogkittycat's avatar

Am I overreacting?

Asked by dogkittycat (916points) January 7th, 2014 from iPhone

My parents are driving me insane, I am 20 years old and pay for my own college education w/o help and even help my parents out financially or by coming home to do home repairs. They refuse to hand over my passport(which I paid for) my ssn card, birth certificate and won’t allow me to get my license. They also believe they have the right to dictate where I can and can go for medical school, and believe that I can be dropped off and picked up from med school by my dad. I am sorry but this is ridiculous, I have never given my parents a reason to not trust me and I do value family a lot but they are holding me back and violating my rights as a legal adult. They also demand that while I am at school ( I live on campus but its less than an hour away from home) that I text them at least twice a day. I am getting so fed up with them, I certainly don’t want to break ties with my family as I don’t really have anyone else family wise but things are only getting worse. I still can’t hang out with friends unless my mom has their parents numbers to check. I don’t think I am overreacting but I would love some feedback and perhaps some ideas of what I can do. Keep in mind it’s nearly impossible to have a conversation with my parents unless you are agreeing with them. I stood up to them once and my existence was ignored for two weeks.

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

36 Answers

bolwerk's avatar

Few questions this long warrant a one word answer, but: no. You’re not overreacting. Your parents are overbearing and nuts.

You can order new copies of your your vitals quickly here. Passport is more of a pain in the ass. https://www.vitalchek.com/

zenvelo's avatar

You are an adult. You can make your own choices, and you have one big one to make right away: either start living as an adult (get your license, get a new passport stop checking in with your parents) or put up with it continuing.

I don’t mean to be harsh, but you will not get your parents respect or your freedom until you set the boundaries and tell your parents they cannot interfere with your life, or they will lose you, and it will be their fault!

You are not overreacting; if anything you have been under reacting for too long. All the documentation is yours, not your parents, but it can all be replaced. Get a replacement birth certificate. Get a license on your own. Go to the post office and get a replacement passport. Call Social Security and tell them you need a replacement social security card.

And you will feel much better about yourself when you do it all for yourself. And start by not texting them tomorrow. They can text you first. And don’t tell them when you are with your friends; tell them you are busy doing something private.

Seek's avatar

Yeah.

You are definitely under-reacting.

From someone who has escaped: Do it. Do it now. You’ve never felt so good.

To expand on what @zenvelo said – do not text them. And when they text you, do not answer right away. Wait a day or even two. Turn your phone off. When you have a reason to contact them, tell them that you were busy. Do not apologise. Never apologise.

There is no good reason a 20 year old should need Mommy’s permission to see their friends. That’s utter crazy talk.

Follow the above posters’ advice regarding replacement identification documents.

Don’t worry so much about the “not having anyone else” if they pull their “support” from you. They are not actually supportive. They are the reason you feel like you have no one else.

You will find your own people. Find your freedom. Find yourself.

Judi's avatar

Call the hall of records in the place where you were born and request a copy of your birth certificate. Have it mailed to your address on campus.
Report your passport lost and request a new one sent to your campus address. When you have your birth certificate go into Social Security and request a duplicate card.
If you don’t rely on them for support you need to break free.
Helicopter patents like this really need a clean break.
Once you have everything you need (proper ID) let them know that you love them and you want them in your life but if they don’t realize you’re an adult then you might have to cut them out of your life for a while.
The real question is, ARE you man enough to stand up to them? When you get married I feel sorry for your wife if you don’t get this under control now.

hearkat's avatar

As a parent of a young adult, I can not fathom why they would be so controlling.

Of course they’ll claim they’re trying to “protect” you, but you need protection from their co-dependent neuroses. If they feel that you are incapable of handling the world as an adult, it only further verifies that they were lousy parents.

I strongly agree that you should obtain your own records and separate yourself from them.

dxs's avatar

They are holding me back and violating my rights as a legal adult.
Exactly, so leave. You’re an adult, so they can’t tell you to do anything anymore.
I’m at college, too. If you’re paying you’re own tuition (like me), then it will be easier to gain freedom from your parents since you’re not financially dependent. But first, you should talk to them and tell them what you think. Say that you are an adult and demand to be treated like one. Tell them exactly what you explained to us and why it is wrong.

dogkittycat's avatar

@Judi thanks, I am a female though haha. My dad is hopeless with home repairs I have to take care of things. I understand the confusion though. :)

Judi's avatar

Oops. I always get genders mixed up here.
Are you by chance from a culture where the children are expected to contribute to the family into adulthood?

dogkittycat's avatar

@Judi No I am not, I live in a normal suburb outside of Philly. My mother has always been very controlling and old fashioned and my dad agrees with whatever she says. They are in their 50’s and have relied on me to do things around the house since I was 7. My younger brother who is 11 does nothing, my little sister who is 16 does nothing. My parents rely heavily on me for a lot and its just always been that way. It’s frustrating I want some freedom to be a normal college student and adult but don’t want to ruin the family at the same time.

Judi's avatar

I hate to break it to you but your family is already kind of ruined aka dysfunctional.
Do you want to do what’s needed to make things better or do you want to protect the status quo?
You’re not responsible for their happiness.

snowberry's avatar

Aaand, you teach people how to treat you. So start teaching them already! Good luck, and let us know how it goes. Come back if you need support. We’ll be here.

ibstubro's avatar

I’m 52 years old, @dogkittycat, and my mother has still not given me my SSN card, my HS diploma, or my birth certificate.

Conversely, I have not spoken to my mother in 30 years.

Please feel free to share my life experience with your parents.

I urge you to begin immediately on @Judi‘s advice:

“Call the hall of records in the place where you were born and request a copy of your birth certificate. Have it mailed to your address on campus.
Report your passport lost and request a new one sent to your campus address. When you have your birth certificate go into Social Security and request a duplicate card.”

augustlan's avatar

My first thought was that you came from a culture where this was the norm. Even then, I’d have said the same thing: You’re not overreacting. You’re an adult, and it’s time to make your parents plainly aware of that fact. Best of luck!

livelaughlove21's avatar

You’re not overreacting, you’re underreacting. That’s just crazy. You’re an adult – they’re going to have to cut the cord eventually. Personally, I’d cut it for them, even if it meant severing all ties. You obviously have stronger “family values” than I do. I don’t think being related to someone makes you obligated to like them or have a relationship with them. You need to take it upon yourself to take a stand and not back down.

mowens's avatar

At 20 years old, I’d call a lawyer over this kind of thing.

GoldieAV16's avatar

Can you pick up your passport, etc., while you’re home next time doing repairs, or do they keep them under lock and key somewhere?

Do you have your own car? If not, it makes sense for your dad to drop you off and pick you up, unless you make other arrangements.

Why are you providing your mom your friend’s names and phone numbers, so she can check with their parents before you hang out? Stop doing that.

Texting twice a day? No biggie. Just shoot off the texts if it keeps the peace.

Sounds like your parents are overly dominant, and you are overly submissive. It’s the perfect storm of bullying behavior. They won’t stand down, so you need to stand up. You say they ignored you for two weeks the last time that happened. THIS IS A GOOD THING.

Don’t blink, and don’t back down. They either want a relationship with their adult child, or they want to keep you a child child. Since the latter is unacceptable, you will have to insist on a relationship as an adult. It’s non-negotiable. If your school has counseling available to help you become less submissive in this relationship, take advantage of it.

You can’t change someone else, but you can change yourself. Don’t let anyone ever force you into submissive behavior as a means of appeasing them.

ibstubro's avatar

^^ “They refuse to hand over my passport (which I paid for) my ssn card, birth certificate and won’t allow me to get my license.

Seek's avatar

To the OP:

If you would like to talk privately about the challenges involved in distancing yourself from an emotionally abusive family, please feel free to PM me, or hook up with me on Facebook. A link to my FB is in my profile – just click my name here.

Judi's avatar

I would suggest you really take @Seek_Kolinahr up on her offer. She really knows what she’s talking about. She’s been where you are.

CWOTUS's avatar

I am astonished that you have managed to cope as well as you have for as long as you have and to the degree that you have, especially with all of the restrictions that you’ve faced. Well done on all of that, and on wanting your emancipation – and taking your first steps.

To add to the chorus above: No, you are definitely not overreacting. Overreacting, the way some people do it, might involve drugs, risky sex and other associations with dangerous people, or simply running away (or worse, suicide attempts, and worst of all, murder-suicide – those are overreactions). “Not wanting to be controlled” when one is as obviously capable as you describe is perfectly, wonderfully normal. Welcome to adulthood.

As others have explained, you can obtain your own identity documents, and you should have those. If your parents still have access to the places where you might store those for now (such as your college dorm room), or if they can gain access, then it might be wise to rent a safety deposit box at a local bank where you can keep these things perfectly safe from anyone (including college roommates, for example).

Start with your birth certificate, since that will be required to obtain a driver’s license, which can then serve as your primary identification to obtain replacement Social Security card (do you know your SS Number?) and passport.

These mechanical / administrative things are not so difficult. Where you will certainly face difficulty is with your family. Obviously, your mother will be dead set against your steps to emancipate yourself, your father will follow along to get along with her, and your siblings will participate because they have to. So do not underestimate the resistance you will face in trying to break free of these emotional and familial shackles.

I hope that this doesn’t break up your family, dysfunctional as it may be, because after all, it is your family, the only one you have known up to now. But you need to prepare yourself for the possibility that this may, indeed, wreck not only your own relationship with your parents, and with your siblings, but it may put strains on their internal relationships that you hadn’t even considered until now. So be aware that the family could come apart – and be willing to free yourself regardless. Just because the family might split – and I suspect that most of us are in agreement that it might just as well, considering what has already been done to you! – doesn’t mean that you can’t retain or re-establish relationships with anyone you want to (and on your terms!) afterward. But between “now” and “then” you are in for some rough sledding.

I agree that @Seek_Kolinahr can give you some valuable firsthand insight into what you need to do now, and she’s a resource you can definitely use. You might also know some current or former Amish people in southeast Pennsylvania who can describe the “shunning” process that some of them have faced for leaving the flock. That’s the kind of thing that you’re likely to face now.

Good luck to you.

Dutchess_III's avatar

What everyone said. And PLEASE keep us updated.

I wonder if calling the police might even be an option. They are withholding property that is yours.

Also, you might be surprised at how they actually react. It’s not always the way we think it’s going to be.

janbb's avatar

What culture do you come from? I wonder if that is a factor in this seemingly abnormal behavior.

Judi's avatar

@janbb, I asked that already and she answered. ^^^

janbb's avatar

@Judi Oops – missed that. I did skim but din’t see that.

In that case, take charge of your life and get the hell out of Dodge.

Judi's avatar

I hope she comes back with an update!

Katniss's avatar

Great advice here! I have nothing to add other than please do it soon.
Good luck!!

Dutchess_III's avatar

Out of curiosity, are your parents uber-religious? Or did somebody already ask that?

dogkittycat's avatar

A long over due update. I received some of my documentation but issues persist. Still at home and working through school myself.

Dutchess_III's avatar

Thanks for the update. Continue to let us know, please.

dxs's avatar

I hope you won’t have to burn too many bridges, but know your freedoms. I’ll wish for the best!

dogkittycat's avatar

I have a lot to consider with the numerous issues of home life; but I would like to thank everyone here for their support. One of the many issues I have with my parents aside from them still maintaining possession of some of my documents is their old fashioned attitude. My one relative I threatened to press charges against a while back(he molested me for many years and my parents did nothing because he is family). The only reason I got the courage to threaten him was because he indirectly threatened my younger siblings when I refused to have sex with him.

This past spring he tried coming around again and I wanted to do something legally but backed out since he does not have access to children, and after a huge argument my mother agreed to not let him around(my siblings are the youngest in the family). I could never let anything happen to them (growing up I never left my relative alone with anyone often at my own expense but it was my job to protect them). Well my mother broke that promise and had that relative over….it made me sick to see his face after 3years. He behaved luckily aside from grabbing me and asking me if I wanted him. That’s just one point of contention with my parents.

I was also dating someone and he did not take no for an answer…my parents found out much later and have been awful. My mother calls me a whore and that I need to be careful of how I dress or a I will attract the wrong kind of attention “like last time”. I was presenting research at a symposium (a moment most parents would’ve proud of) not my mother….she demands to know if I am going stripping and calls me slut. This entire summer aside from my lab research I have not been allowed to leave the house. Coming home for the summer my mother ignored me for 3 weeks unless it was to throw things at me or yell at me.(I made myself scarce by cleaning and doing work/repairs around the house). Upon being taken home I was told to consider myself lucky to still have a home,that I was an embarrassment and needed to make amends.

This week I finally get to move back to school and anytime I go to pack my mother starts screaming at me. Saying how I am an awful daughter who can’t wait to leave her…with how my summer went noI can’t wait to leave. I feel awful saying this but I hate her so much. She has been on my case this whole summer about how I have lost weight and tries to make me eat impossibly large portions and when I have trouble eating it I have her screaming at me calling me anorexic. Then other times are okay and she muses about living with me when I am married and raising my kids while I am at work….I have NO intention of allowing her anywhere near my kids unless she seeks counseling and changes. With how I grew up I would never subject another person to that. This aside it is a daily struggle to navigate this relationship as my dad will simply not fill out information I need for financial aid if I am not on decent terms with my mother. I never argue with her….I normally just take her insults and say nothing. I am struggling with difficulties of my own regarding both recent and past events and this home situation does not help at all. Any advice on this precarious situation would be appreciated and again thanks to those who have already given previous responses, advice and support.

Judi's avatar

Well, I have to tell you that if any of your siblings are also girls chances are pretty good that your uncle is also messing with them.
You are dealing with mental illness and this isn’t normal.
If you can’t get away, since your an adult, you might want to consider a battered woman’s shelter. They can help you collect the documents you need to be free of them.
Heaven help your siblings.

dogkittycat's avatar

@Judi When my siblings were young I always told them to stay away from him, and that it hey should never be alone with him no matter what he offered and that I would give them double what he would for staying away. This worked and I was almost always with them at family parties which is the only time he ever had access. They thought he was creepy and ran to get me if he just started talking to them.(mostly so they could get whatever from me candy or quarters for the toy machines in stores) They are older now and I have asked and I think they were okay. At parties my parents would go off and socialize so managing my younger siblings was my job. If they acted out I got in trouble so I stayed on top of them. He is sick and has a type….I am the only blonde of my siblings. This summer was the first time he had been around in3 years and thus far it has been the one. The idea of leaving my siblings without anyone scares me. My brother is 13 and my sister is 17, my parents are the hardest on me…. But my parents are rough on them still and I try to help.

Dutchess_III's avatar

@dogkittycat…..wow Any way you turn it’s hell, isn’t it. I am so sorry, but you’ve come out with a good head on your shoulders. Many of our Jellies have come out of hell. I have nothing but respect for you, and for them.

One question I have: In the details you say that you ”...pay for my own college education w/o help…” yet one of your problems is getting your father to fill out the FASFA (or whatever) forms. To that I’d suggest you see the courts about getting emancipated so you can fill out your own forms.

CWOTUS's avatar

Given the heavy nature of some of the legal issues that you’ve raised now, I think that @mowens was right in that answer from the day after you first posted this issue: You need to contact an attorney.

An attorney can help you to negotiate some of the issues that you absolutely need to deal with: a restraining order (at least!) against a sexually abusive relative, for starters. It may be necessary to have formal charges brought against that person to keep him away from your siblings, and the attorney can help you navigate the police, prosecutor’s and court systems if that is necessary. (Before you bring this up with an attorney and name names, you may want to raise the issue as a hypothetical first: “If I tell you about a relative who has illegally demanded sex from me and may do the same of my sister, are you required to inform the police of the person’s name?” If the attorney is bound by his code of ethics or Pennsylvania law to report the crime, then you should know that before you get down to names, dates and events.)

I think that given the more and more severe nature of the issues that you’ve been raising, the advice you get on Fluther, while well-intentioned and possibly helpful, is going to be far short of what you need in person on the ground and in your corner. An attorney in your area should also be aware of additional social resources, again, “local and in person”, to assist you on an ongoing basis until your own emancipated legal status can be realized, your family situation hopefully more stabilized and sane, and in particular ongoing or potential criminal assaults permanently ended.

Answer this question

Login

or

Join

to answer.
Your answer will be saved while you login or join.

Have a question? Ask Fluther!

What do you know more about?
or
Knowledge Networking @ Fluther