It’s amazing how quickly love can turn into blame when guilt is the language a parent speaks best.

So, what would you do if every attempt to reconnect with your mother turned into another guilt trip where even a kind gesture somehow became proof that you’d done her wrong?

Would you keep trying to fix it? Or would you finally break and give her a piece of your mind?

In the following story, one son finds himself in this situation and doesn’t hold back.

Here’s how it all played out.

AITA for finally standing up to my mum after she turned a baby photo into a guilt trip and then unfriended me?

I (mid-20s male) have had a strained relationship with my mum for years. There has been emotional manipulation, denial, and a long history of her rewriting events.

For example, when I was younger, she took money from my pension and lied about it.

When I brought it up years later, she either justified it or flat-out denied it happened.

His mother has a way of making plans and then cancelling.

The last time we spoke was December 23rd. I visited her at work, we had a good chat, and she invited me, my wife, and our daughter over for a swim later that day.

While we were already on our way to her place, she messaged to say she was too tired and we should come the next day. It was not a big deal.

She had already said that year there would be no Christmas to make things easier for everyone, so we left it at that.

I tried texting and calling her multiple times in the months after that. No replies. Nothing.

After sending a photo, he received an odd message from his mother.

Recently, I sent her a photo of our daughter wearing a dressing gown she had bought. (She had not even given it to us directly; it came through my wife’s parents.) I thought it might be a nice, positive gesture.

She replied, “She is always in my heart and will always have my support. If your wife allows it, I will pick her up on Sunday and bring her to see the girls.”

I did not reply straight away. It was late, and I needed time to think.

When he responded, it probably wasn’t what she expected.

The next morning, she said, “Okay, I hear you loud and clear. For some fabricated reason, we do not belong in your life. I will never understand how saying I could not feed you on the 23rd of December could result in you completely dissolving the family, but I accept your decision and will not bother you again.”

I had not said anything. Just had not replied to one message. And now she is saying I dissolved the family?

So I finally responded. I reminded her I had not even seen the first message until the next day. I pointed out that her first message in months had been about giving me a poker table, not asking how I was or checking in on her granddaughter.

Suddenly, she really turned on him.

I told her this pattern of ignoring me for months and then twisting events is exactly why I needed space. I told her if she wanted a relationship with me or my daughter, it had to come from effort and honesty, not guilt and manipulation.

She responded, “I think you need genuine help… This is completely unfounded.” Followed by, “I believe something is seriously wrong with you… I gave up music so you could have the spotlight.”

Then she unfriended me on Facebook. I did not insult her. I just finally stood up for myself. But now I am second-guessing it.

AITA?

Yikes! His mother sounds exhausting.

Let’s see how the fine folks over at Reddit think he should handle this.

This person suggests he do more research about his relationship.

These are great questions.

For this reader, it doesn’t make sense.

Here’s someone who had a similar mother.

He should cut contact. She’s clearly the one with some sort of issue, so it’s best not to subject him or his family to this behavior.

If you liked that post, check this one about a guy who got revenge on his condo by making his own Christmas light rules.