It’s a tale as old as time. A parent dreams of stability for their child, but their child only wants to pursue their dreams. Practical expectations versus personal ambition so often seem deeply at odds with one another…

How would you handle your child not taking the direction in life that you envisioned for them? One woman recently sought perspective on this exact situation. Here’s what she asked.

My daughter is 25 and she graduated from college around 3 years ago.

When she went to college, I was very firm that she needed to pick a major that would make her money and not a major that was her dream.

It was a big argument at the time and she made it clear that she was going to go for theater.

I told her it was a horrible idea and to do somehting that would actually have her be able to support herself.

There was likely no other way around that at the time.

I knew she wasn’t the next broadway actor.

I didn’t pay for any of my kids college.

They took out loans.

We didn’t have the money.

Her daughter didn’t listen.

She went into theater and took out loans.

She is now working as a server for an interactive dining experience.

She doesn’t make much and lives with two other roommates.

In theory, this is a fantastic gesture.

My mother recently passed away and she left me with a sizeable inheritance.

I am putting it towards my retirement and going on a vacation (I am paying for the whole family to go).

I told everyone over family dinner and was excited to take them out the country for the first time.

She daughter didn’t like the vacation idea at all.

My daughter was quite and after dinner asked me to use the money to pay off her student loans.

I told her no.

We got into a fight about it and I told her this is her own fault.

That I will not pay off her loans and it isn’t fair to her siblings.

She didn’t take that well.

She is angry and told me she isn’t going on the trip.

She is upset I bascially told her I told you so and thinks I am punishing her now.

My point is that this was her decision and it is unfair to the other kids.

This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. Let’s see if the Reddit comments could help mediate.

This person doesn’t think the loans are the problem.

And that the mother’s attitude was the primary issue.

One person asked the important questions.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a sister with a bad history who found herself staying in a hotel instead of with family.

But someone else pointed out the obvious.

And a few chose the contrarian view.

Her mom owes her a huge apology…with interest.