[UPDATE] I[24M] caught my sister[26F] trying to steal a watch of mine, and now my mother[51F] wants me to apologize to her?

After going through all the comments (thanks for the advice!), I decided to send my mother an email, letting her know that I will absolutely not be paying for the new place she planned to move into, and that I will stop paying her rent altogether.

I told her that she clearly does not respect me or the work I put in to be in a position to support her financially. Because of that, I will no longer be responsible for her in any way. A few hours after I sent the email, my phone started blowing up with calls—one after another, all from my mom. I ignored all of them because I really didn’t want to talk to her.

For those who want to read the previous part: I[24M] caught my sister[26F] trying to steal a watch of mine, and now my mother[51F] wants me to apologize to her?

‘ [UPDATE] I[24M] caught my sister[26F] trying to steal a watch of mine, and now my mother[51F] wants me to apologize to her?’

To get a professional perspective, I reached out to Dr. Sarah Reynolds, a licensed psychologist specializing in narcissistic family dynamics. Here’s what she had to say: “What you’re experiencing is a classic example of parental financial abuse and emotional manipulation. Your mother is attempting to weaponize guilt to control and exploit you financially. Many toxic parents use phrases like ‘I gave up everything for you’ to justify lifelong debt and obligation, but children do not owe their parents for raising them.

By standing your ground, you are setting a necessary boundary, even if it feels harsh. It is crucial that you maintain this boundary and not give in, as it could lead to a continued cycle of financial dependency and emotional abuse.

Additionally, be prepared for extinction bursts—a psychological term referring to how manipulators often escalate their behavior when their control is threatened. This could mean more harassment, emotional outbursts, or even threats. If her behavior worsens, consider involving law enforcement or seeking legal counsel to protect yourself.”

Check out how the community responded:

The general consensus among commenters is strongly in favor of the original poster (OP). Many believe that the mother’s behavior is manipulative and entitled, and they support OP’s decision to cut financial support.

Several users caution OP to take legal and security measures, such as blocking his mother from his home and workplace, monitoring his credit, and possibly consulting a lawyer to prevent further complications. Others suggest seeking therapy to process the emotional damage caused by his mother’s words and actions.

Overall, the community agrees that a child does not owe their parent financial support simply because they were born, and OP has already done far more than what was expected of him.