Sometimes, taking over a family legacy can feel like both a blessing and a curse.
What happens when you’re expected to leave behind the life you’ve built to uphold generations of tradition? Would you make the sacrifice? Or would you find another way to support your family?
In the following story, one daughter grapples with this very decision. Here’s the whole story…
AITA for not wanting to take over the family farm?
So, I (33 F) come from a family of farmers. We’ve worked on the same land for 12 generations.
I’m an only child but ended up moving to a nearby City for work. I have made a life for myself here, including a boyfriend, a good job, a great friend circle, and a flat I love.
Her family is pressuring her to move home.
My dad is getting older, however, and my parents are applying pressure on me to come back home and “Take over” to let him retire.
I worked on the farm for most of my childhood/teens/early 20s, so it’s realistically something I could do, but….I don’t want to.
She gave them another option.
This makes me feel guilty and awful, given the pressure they’re putting on me and how they don’t want to sell the land as it’s been with our family so long.
When I suggested bringing on a farm hand and that I’d even help out with paying them by sending some money every month, they acted as if I’d just insulted my ancestors and our family with the very idea of some stranger working on the farm.
I likely come off as selfish as I know plenty of people would love a business being handed to them like this, but the idea of moving back to the Countryside for our farm and leaving behind the life I’ve made here is suffocating me. I don’t know what to do.
AITA?
Eek. It’s easy to see both sides, but giving up your life is hard.
Let’s see what the folks over at Reddit have to say about it.
This person thinks they should keep the farm.
Alternatively, they think the farm should be sold.
Here are some great thoughts…
This person thinks they are messing with her emotions.
It’s definitely not a decision to take lightly because regretting this later would be terrible.
If you liked that story, read this one about grandparents who set up a college fund for their grandkid because his parents won’t, but then his parents want to use the money to cover sibling’s medical expenses.