Top 10 Most Annoying Things About Parents
Ever find yourself rolling your eyes so hard you swear you can see your brain? Yeah, we've been there. Parents gave us life, love, and a whole lot of because I said so. But let's be honest, sometimes our beloved moms and dads can be more frustrating than finding a parking spot in Manhattan on a Saturday night.
What are the most annoying things about parents? Is it their uncanny ability to morph into human lie detectors the moment you open your mouth? Or maybe it's their knack for turning the simplest conversation into a lecture on attitude adjustment?
Perhaps they're experts at the comparison game, always pitting you against the Jones' kids while conveniently forgetting that you're not, in fact, a Jones. And don't even get us started on the dreaded because I said so trump card.
This list is for every kid who's ever been told they're wrong, only to be proven spectacularly right (and still get in trouble). It's for every teen who's been grounded for an eye roll or compared to their straight-A cousin. And it's for every adult who still gets a lecture about their life choices every time they visit the folks.
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They think you're lying even when you're telling the truth
So my mom gives me 200 pesos a day for my allowance. That means 1000 a week. Sometimes she gives the whole 1000 to me on Monday, and other times only 400, then she gives me the rest on Wednesday. Last week (Actually, I'm not sure when), she gave me 400 on a Monday. I had a journalism contest then, so I took it like normal. The contest lasted until Wednesday.
That Wednesday morning, I was feeling depressed because I found out that I wasn't in the rankings, so I ate my breakfast quickly, took my allowance, and left for school to attend the awarding ceremony, which, by the way, totally sucked. But the thing is, the allowance I took was only 200 pesos. I didn't question it because in total, I had received 600 pesos, which was the norm for me in three days. The next day, Thursday, she didn't give me any, and I took it in stride because I still had some allowance that the school gave me from the contest I participated in. However, come Friday, and she still hadn't given me the rest of my allowance, I confronted her about it before I left the house.
Me: Hey, Mom. I need the rest of my allowance to last until Friday. I'm running short of money.
Mom: What are you saying? I gave the whole 600 to you last Wednesday.
Me: What? You only gave me 200 pesos last Wednesday.
Mom: No, I gave you a 500-peso bill and one 100. I gave it to you because you were participating in a contest, and I was afraid that you would run out of money.
Me: I didn't see any 500-peso bill on the table. I only saw a hundred and two fifty-peso bills.
Mom: I'm sure I gave you that 600. Where did you place it?
Me: I don't know because, as I said, I didn't receive it, if you even gave it to me.
Mom: I gave it to you.
Me: I don't remember you giving me any 500-peso bill.
Mom: Look, last Wednesday, I gave you 600, and gave your younger brother 200. (My brother and I have the same allowance.)
Then I suddenly felt suspicious of my brother.... read more
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They say you're getting an attitude when having an argument or just talking
I feel like parents say this when a kid brings up a good, valid point, so they just shut them down any way they can. That's how it feels for me, at least, and my brother says the same thing, which is one thing we actually agree on.
Usually, I'm talking to my father, but then he thinks I'm "debating" or "getting an attitude". My mother is the same way, but she's a little more aggressive. So anyway, today he thought I was debating, and she jumps in.
It was all because I had on pajamas, but I wasn't going anywhere, so why would I put on clothes? She jumped in and said, "Pajamas." I was already wearing some, so I was confused. She got mad at me because she thought I knew what they meant when I really didn't. I was trying to explain that he didn't specify at first, and he told me to stop talking. He was like, "If you know the answer, why are you still talking?"
Then they did something I really hate: talk at the same time. They both said, "If you don't want to wear it, stay upstairs!" Well, I'll be damned. At least I had the decency to wear a bra under my pajama shirt!
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They say "because I said so"
Me doing homework. The mom comes in. I look at her. She looks at the homework. "Do this part," she says. I tell her, "That's not homework." "DO IT," the mom says. "The teacher didn't say," I say. "But I said," Mom says. The argument goes on for a long time. Finally, I do it.
Before handing in the homework, I rub it out. The teacher reviews our homework. "Sam, come here," the teacher says. "You are not meant to do this part." He tells her, "Mom told me to." "Didn't you tell her?" the teacher asks. "I did," Sam says. "Are you sure?" I raise my hand. "That's what my mom said." "Really?" she says. "I rubbed it out before I handed it in," I say. "Okay, I will talk to your parents at the parent/teacher interview," she says. The interview is a long time away.
A homework assignment later, I get the homework. Mom looks at it. "Didn't you do this part?" I say, "No." She sees the note left by the teacher. "Okay, I understand," she says. The note says that parents shouldn't force what's on the homework because they are not up to speed. A few homework assignments later, Mom forgets the note.
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They compare you to other people, but when you say all the other kids are doing it or have it they tell you that you're not like other kids
Me, being a 15-year-old boy belonging to what feels like the worst family ever, can say a lot about it. I feel very bad saying that they are looking after me just because they want to use me. They think when I grow up, I'll become their puppet and continue his business.
All the hard work I do, and all the credit goes to my dad. My mom thinks that when I grow up, she will convince me, and then I will make her famous.
I have realized it, but what about my younger brother? They have made it out that I have understood their intentions, and that's why I am being tortured, and my younger brother is being supported. That is why my brother has forgotten all his manners and is now wicked. This happens with me every day, so I'm voting.
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They want you to be honest, but when you are they get angry
My dad recently joined a church these past 2-3 years and changed. He turned from getting angry and shouting all the time to being angry and then having sudden moments of smiling and niceness afterwards, which is harder to deal with and more confusing. This month, he started to have us have family meetings every Saturday to talk about rules. I don't like it but unwillingly agreed. Before that, we must listen to him pray before we review our household rules.
I'm 17 and I've been raised an atheist my whole life, besides going to church for Christmas and such days. We are an Asian family, so we're not allowed to talk back to parents no matter how wrong they seem to be. So, for the Saturday meetings, he said we can speak freely - whatever we want. I spoke honestly and told him I wasn't comfortable with him speaking about religion because I wasn't raised like that here and at school either, and then had a fit. I literally had a panic attack, but afterwards, both of my parents got angry and said I was disrespecting them.
They said I should listen to him because it's a sign of respect, even if the rest of my family is atheist. I understood, but they did tell me to be honest. Then they said I can be honest but it had to be reasonable.
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They get mad when you prove them wrong
My mom just sits in one corner and listens to stupid music. When I tell her she's not doing her job as a mother, she just says I play my computer games too much. Oh, really? I don't. And sometimes, when she sees something interesting on her phone, she smiles, and I try to be nice to her (It's hard to see her smiling when you're unhappy), but she just says, "Oh, I'm not smiling. Probably I did it by accident."
Then I say, "Can you please use your earplugs to listen to music, Mom? I don't like your music." Then she gets angry and says, "Then you cover your ears!" I mean, like what? Whose mom is as unreasonable as mine?!
She always tries to get on her smartphone to chat with friends or look up stuff, but then I sit in a corner, always doing my homework. Sometimes I get really fed up. What's more, when I complete my homework, I get no game time or free time.
I'm really angry, and it's luck I can post this here without my mom seeing I'm using the computer.
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They get mad over small mistakes
Story of half my life. My mother refuses to apologize for any of it, too. For example, I own a small speaker for my phone to listen to music. I'm in the basement, listening at a semi-quiet volume. Mind you, my mom is upstairs doing laundry, and you can't hear yourself think in there.
She supposedly yells at me three different times to help her. You CANNOT hear a thing between the upstairs and the basement. So instead of coming downstairs and simply asking for my help, she screams at my lazy stepdad to get me out of my room. So he yells at me because, instead of finding the facts first, they assume I'm ignoring them.
I tried to explain the problem and what really happened, but then they just sat there and ignored me. Even though all day, I cleaned the ENTIRE five-bedroom, three-bath house for them, and not even because I was told to. I did it to be nice. But they still tell me I'm being an arrogant prick because I couldn't hear my mom ONCE. I can't wait to find a job and leave. I'll finally be able to escape this firefight over the littlest of things.
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They call it arguing but you call it explaining
One time I went out with my mom to have lunch with some other mothers and their kids. I was sitting there being polite, barely talking, and when I did, I spoke quietly - in contrast with the loud voices of the other kids. I just sat there and ate for over an hour before I managed to get 20 minutes on my mother's phone. Ten minutes after, I started to get a headache. I told my mom and said I just wanted to lie down in the car. I even specifically stated that she could still stay. Just give me the car keys so I can lay down to rest.
Apparently, that was like telling her that I was picking on kids in school or something, because she turned very nasty then. She started rambling about how I was just trying to go home early (despite the fact I said she could stay) and started to blame the fact that I spent 20 minutes on her phone. Even though I've watched videos on smaller phones for 50 minutes before and did not get a single headache, she insisted it was because of the phone.
When I tried to calm her down and explain that it could possibly (probably) be the fact that I was in a small room stuck with like 15 kids screaming for over an hour (I've told her numerous times I get headaches from loud noises), she raised her tone and tried to embarrass me in front of the other adults (pretty sure she succeeded). Later, when I tried to bring up the issue, she claims that she apologized to me in the car. Pretty sure giving me an angry glare through the mirror does not count as an apology.
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They let your little siblings get away with more than you do
Oh yes. One time at my grandma's place, I was trying to turn something old into something new (it was an old sleigh). One day, I was working on it and suddenly felt the urge to go swimming with Taou (a 9-year-old, by the way). My grandma called Taou's mom, but he was out with some friends, so I went swimming by myself.
I came back early because I got bored. When my dad picked me up, I went into the shop and saw some garbage-looking nails on the sleigh. I told my dad, and I heard this excuse: "Oh, he's only 4. He just doesn't know any better." He didn't ruin my sleigh just once but twice!
The second time, I saw him and took the hammer away. He cried because he "wanted to help," and I heard my dad's excuse again. This time, I ended up with a wrecked sleigh covered in dozens of nails.
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They are liars
When my brother decided to study music as a major and a career, my mom was supportive of him. She said, "I'll let you chase your dreams" and that "I'll let my kids decide their future." Thus, I had a conversation about my aspirations, and it went like this:
Me: Mom, I want to be an artist. (I'm in tenth grade, by the way)
Mom: No. That'll never happen. You MUST become a dentist. Art will just be a hobby for you.
Me: Why?
Mom: You'll just starve and live as a beggar if you are an artist.
Me: But you let my brother pursue his dream of becoming a musician. Why won't you support my dreams? I don't want to become a dentist. I'm not interested in it. I love art, so I want to make it my career. Wouldn't it be great if my career would be something that I love to do? I have no interest in being a dentist.
Mom: Look. Dentists have high salaries. That's why you MUST become a dentist. Since you're my child, you have to listen to me. You won't have a choice. If you keep on complaining, I won't even let you draw anymore.
Me: (I ran into my room)
Yup. That's my life. I have no future. Well, my future is controlled by my parents. I have to do what they want me to do. They won't let me do what I want to do. Sometimes, I just think things are unfair. It's my life. I choose how I live. I don't want to spend the rest of my life being something I don't want to be. I just want to be myself. Is that too much to ask for?
My mom's such a hypocrite. She even told her friends and my friends' parents about how they should let their children decide their own future and career and be supportive of it, but she won't even support her own child's dream or decisions.
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They think that you think you know everything
The sheer amount of times I've heard my parents say to me, "You don't know everything!" I never said that!
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They want to make you do something but then they don't agree on it
Today my dad told me that I could stay at church for an hour and a half or go home with him in five minutes. I wanted to stay at church for the 1 1/2 hours to play on my phone.
I sat down with my friends for about 10 minutes, and then my brother came up to me and kicked me in the shin with his pointy church shoes, telling me to come on! I didn't listen because I thought he didn't know that I was staying. Then my dad came in, grabbed my phone, and yelled at me!
Apparently, my mom (who was going to take me home) told my dad to take me home, but he didn't TELL me. SOOOO ANNOYING!
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They always think they are right
Look, I know my parents might think they know everything because they're adults, but COME ON! Just the other day I was talking to my mom, and my dad comes storming into the kitchen yelling at me, "Rachel! You're supposed to be taking the garbage out! Not sitting around the house!" And then I realized it WAS garbage day, so I just went to go put the garbage near the road.
But that's when the problem began: I asked him what garbage had to go out, and he answered, saying the blue bin, the compost, and the garbage. I wasn't sure if that was correct because I looked outside, and everyone had their black bins and garbage out, so I looked it up on my tablet and told my dad it actually was the black bin and the garbage that had to go out. And guess what he did? He threw a fit right there on the spot! He kept on telling me, "No! You're wrong! It's the blue bin instead of the black bin, and blah, blah, blah." So of course, my response was to correct him, and he continued with his yelling. Ugh, parents.
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They never understand
Man, this is pretty true. My parents are so strict with things. When I make a little mistake, they get so mad at me! Also, I get very little freedom. Here's an example. One time when I got a candy cane from my teacher, my parents just let me eat a tiny slice of it and then they promised me that I could have some more the next day. Yet, when the next day comes, they throw it out! When I find out, they always say, "Oh sorry, I didn't know."
I tried talking it out with my parents, and they still act this way. They also never leave me alone. They need to understand that I'm an introvert and don't like being very social. They tell me to be social with others even after I tell them that. They also tell everyone they possibly can everything they find out about me. I find it really annoying.
I don't feel safe around them, and I think I'm getting depression from them. I feel abused, let down, and that the future is hopeless. And they don't even care. If you'd like to reach out to me, feel free to do so. I hate being treated like this and would really like some support.
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They won't chill out about a small problem
I'm a dancer, and my mom forgot to buy me new shoes for class because my dad and I painted the last pair black for a show. She lost it on me and said I was throwing a hissy fit when I was just sitting there while she was saying how horrible I am and how bad I was for not packing my shoes.
She kept yelling and gave me a panic attack. She has done this over and over again. When I was 9, I didn't like the taste of my birthday cake, so she started throwing a huge tantrum over how I was stupid and ungrateful. That cake tasted like sand (this was 5 years ago). Then she made me go to my room to think about what I had done. I, being 9, was just sitting there thinking, Dude, it's my birthday. Why are you acting like a child?
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They tell you to be quiet after asking you a question
"So, how was school today?" "Well, I learned about the human-" "Oh, that's great! Now let me quiz you on it! How many bones are in the body?" "Well, counting the femur, there are-" "You obviously didn't pay attention! Are you getting good grades?" "I got an 86 out of 100 on the test last week, but I was sick for half of-" "Oh, okay, but why didn't you get 100? Well, I missed three classes last-" "Sure, sure, okay. Well, I guess your phone, iPad, and all your other electronics are mine until you get your-" "But, Mom, I-" "DON'T INTERRUPT ME, YOUNG LADY!"
This is a big part of why I am such a quiet person. All through my upbringing, whenever I tried to say something, my parents and even others would tell me to be quiet or ignore me, so I eventually just stopped talking.
Then, as I got older, everyone would get annoyed or call me names because I didn't participate in their conversations, usually because I didn't have anything to say about whatever they were talking about, or because I didn't care about the topic.
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They think they hold your future
My parents are Christians, and they stand against secular music. I create beats, and I love to sing, too - both gospel music and secular music. My parents, especially my Dad, would forbid me to go audition for a secular show to be in the secular music industry so I can finally have a life to live and get out of my parents' home.
I made too many excuses for why I didn't do this sooner, but this time, this year, I'm going to go after my dreams, and I don't care what they have to say about anything. It's my life, and I'm going to live it.
My parents want me to be a musician, following their unreached childhood aspirations. They forced me to take piano lessons. They yell at me and insult me when I don't play well and say stuff like, if I disagree with them, I'll end up being poor without any way to earn income.
On the other side, I want to be a doctor. I want to help many others. I do well in school, and I have a lot of potential to be a doctor when I grow up. But they'll never see it because they keep forcing me to be what THEY want and not what I want.
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They demand control over your electronics
My parents took my phone because they said my grades didn't meet their expectations, and I got 94 percent and had the highest marks in my class. And after two months, they shaved my head completely without any reason, and they said my hair was matted, which it was not.
Then I argued with them, and they said they are older than me and know what to do. I'm 14, and I think I can make the decision to shave my head or not.
But no, they don't let me play games on my computer, which I bought myself with my hard-earned money. They also compare me with my friend, but my father got furious when I said that my friend's father's income is twice his.
When I was around 10, my friend told me about Discord, so I created an account and we started messaging each other. He invited me to a server with a couple of our other friends. My mom asked for my account information, so I told her. Then, I discovered she was looking at all of my messages. My friends found out, and they banned me from the server because my mom was also viewing their messages.
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They say "who are you texting?"
This is so true and annoying. Whenever I am seen on my phone or any electronic device, which I'm barely on, they snatch it from me, saying I'm on it too much. I'm always spending time with them, so when I get alone time, I try to text my friends, which is not that often.
I purposefully go to my room for a few moments just to text or go on the internet, but they either barge in and see me and take it away. They say I'm on electronics too much, but they just happen to catch me on them at those rare moments. It's really starting to get to me.
I honestly think that they enjoy seeing all the texts on our phones. I always chat with my friends in our group chat. Mom and Dad keep looking at my phone so they can know who I'm chatting with.
When my mom had to go to school to get my report card, she asked my class adviser if I have a boyfriend. I knew that from our class adviser before the last day of school. I mean, seriously? Just because I'm texting or chatting with someone doesn't mean I have a boyfriend! Really, gosh!
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They take your things regardless of your permission
Every time my family goes out to dinner, my dad expects me to give him a bite of my food. Sometimes my mom does that, and even my sisters. I don't ask them for their food because I don't want it, but why does everyone want bites of my food? One time at an amusement park, my mom took several bites of my ice cream, and I was mad. Guess what she did? She grounded me because I gave her "a dirty look."
I feel like I'm not even allowed to show the slightest bit of frustration if my parents have wronged me. One time, there was this guy in the house and my mom needed money. I had to give her 60 dollars to pay the guy when she could've used her own money. She said she'd pay me back, but she has yet to do it.
I just want to make a rule in my family where we only use and are responsible for our own stuff and to not interfere with other people's property.
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They make you feel like a horrible person because of your decisions
Like when you're 18 years old (senior year), and you finally find a guy you like, but they hate him immediately and don't even know him. They just judge him by his looks and his friends, and they let you know they don't like him every chance they get. Also, let me just point out I have never had a boyfriend either.
They also always tease me that I will be alone for the rest of my life if I don't find someone. Talk about confusing.
Every time I want to take a break from their judgmental remarks and from school, they always bother me. Then I tell them I want to stay in my room, and they ask, WHY?
And then I get stressed again because they don't understand that I like being alone sometimes.
It happens every single time, no matter what I tell them.
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They restrict your freedom
In terms of religion, this happened to me. I was forced to join the corrupt Roman Catholic Church instead of serving my Lord God and Lord Jesus Christ and following their Word. I was abused for saying no, and it was difficult growing up. Despite this, God looked at me with pity and my friend and mentor made a lot of great websites, such as Signs of the End Times.
I am 22 now and this happened about 10-11 years ago. But other than that, my parents gave (and still give) me tons of freedom. I've spent days alone at home since I was 11 playing Demon's Souls and they didn't even ask anything, except maybe to check on me every now and then.
It's so annoying. They don't let me get any social media. They let me get a Wattpad account, but I think they forgot about it. Last year, my friends wanted to go to another neighborhood for Halloween, and my mom didn't let me go because she wouldn't be there to watch. That pretty much ruined Halloween for me.
She hardly lets me out of her sight. Like, I'll be upstairs in my room minding my own business, and she just yells at me to come downstairs because she wants to see me. I'm not allowed to say words that are considered bad around her. Like once I said "it sucks," and she threatened to put "soup" in my mouth if I said it again. She got all worked up when I said "".
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They are overprotective
Sad story for parents and their children.
Helicopter parents who experienced emotional neglect or lack of supervision during their own childhood may overcompensate by becoming overprotective.
Adolescents and young adults can have anxiety and depression. Adult children with helicopter parents can have low self-confidence and competence, low self-esteem, and heightened anxiety and depression.
I know it sounds racist, but I have no control over my Asian parents' beliefs. Most are friendly and won't harm us, but they would still make me avoid them due to the stereotype of black people and the crime thing. My mom will obviously make me avoid:
- groups of black teen boys
- old homeless black men
There is one exception to this: I have a black friend who used to go to the same high school as me, and sometimes we see each other in public. I'm allowed to say hi to him.
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They don't value your choices
So, I live in California, and I'm a sophomore in high school. My dad wants to move our family to Tennessee. While Tennessee is a nice place and all, it doesn't feel like home. I'm a California person. I want the beach and the warm temperatures. Plus, my whole family and friends live in California. The reason my dad wants to move us over there is only because he is tired of being a teacher and wants to create a record pressing plant. Not to mention, all the places he wants to move to are at least a half hour away from the city. He isn't even considering me and my brother, or my mom. It's all for himself.
I wish that there was some other place that would fit both his needs and my own because if we do move, we are going to be lonely. I'm going to have to start off fresh in a new high school where I don't know a single person. Perhaps I will adjust to it and will eventually like it more than California, but it's going to be tough, no doubt, our first year there.
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They give you no privacy
My mom tries so hard to find out why I'm "acting funny." She actually went to school and asked my teachers, the principal, the vice principal, and the office what I have been talking about and doing there.
When I'm in my room reading a magazine or picking out and trying on school clothes, she'll either yell and say, "What are you doing?" and start yelling at me that I'm not doing the laundry, cleaning the kitchen or bathroom, or cleaning any other room in the house. Or she'll just walk in and ask the same things.
Uh, hello, all you ever do is try to see what I'm up to, and if I'm not doing what you want me to, you ask why I am not working. You always make a mess and throw a big fit that I should clean this and that. Well, excuse me, but aren't you supposed to do that, and I have chores to help you out? Is that too much to ask for? We have other things in mind that we'd like to do other than be your maid.
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They act like a 2-year-old when they are angry
Okay, one time my little sister pooped all over her big white teddy bear, and my dad yelled at her like a two-year-old. I could have said something to him, but I kept my mouth shut because I didn't want him to get mad at me. By the way, typing this was so funny!
Honestly, when I try to explain anything to my parents when they're angry, they just repeat the same thing over and over, just louder each time.
Nice job, guys. As if that makes what you're saying any more right.
Yes, that is my dad. He acts so stupid when he's mad, and that's like all the time.
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They deny half of what you say even when they know it is true
Yes, pretty much. They think they always know what's best, but they don't. I'm missing school tomorrow, and I don't want to do my homework. My mom thinks I need to for some nonexistent reason. I can turn it in next week without having it marked late. She won't listen, though.
Whenever I ask her why, she says, "Because I'll ground you if you don't." And also, "So you don't lose points." Hello? I already told her I wouldn't lose points. Then she told me it wasn't her fault if I didn't care about my grades.
It wasn't my fault that she was too busy planning out her next argument that she didn't listen, as she always is. She needs to actually listen to other people. It's really rude!