Hey I don’t even know if I’m looking for advice or just need to vent but I guess we’ll see where this goes I’m Alex I’m 27 and for the past few years i’ve been working as a full-time streamer it’s not something I really talk about with my family much mostly because they don’t understand it and honestly I prefer it that way but here’s the thing I make good money more than enough to live comfortably invest and up until recently support my family financially my parents were never rich and growing up things were all always a little tight my dad

Let’s call him Greg worked an average office job and always complained about how real jobs don’t pay enough my mom stayed home and my sister Emily well she’s a few years younger than me and still figuring life out I don’t blame her for that but what I do blame her for is what happened a few nights ago see ever since I started making real money my dad’s attitude toward me has been weird he’s never directly acknowledged my success never asked how I make a living and certainly never treated me like an adult who’s capable of taking

Care of himself and them instead he treats me like some loser who refuses to get a real job it used to just be I roll worthy comments like oh playing video games all day must be so exhausting or when are you going to do something productive with your life but recently it’s gotten worse last weekend I went over to my parents house for a family game night we don’t do them often but every once in a while my mom insists on quality time so I go along with it I figured it’ be a few rounds of vuno some light-hearted bickering and maybe a

Home-cooked meal if I was lucky instead it turned into a night of subtle and not so subtle Jabs at me it started small my dad making fun of how I sleep in all day I don’t I just work late then my sister chimed and about how I never really grew up eventually my mom started reminiscing about how I used to have such big dreams when I was younger you know as if I were some tragic disappointment I tried to brush it off the piece i’ve been dealing with this for years and honestly i’ve been over it but what I didn’t know was

That Emily had been recording parts of the night on her phone in two days later she posted the video I wasn’t even looking for it I was just scrolling through Instagram when I saw a notification that she had posted a story I tapped on it without thinking and there it was a shaky lowquality video of my dad sitting back in his chair drinking hand saying I swear Alex has the easiest life on Earth plays his little games talks to nerds all day and somehow pays rent he could be homeless in a year and not even see it coming

Then laughter my sisters my moms even my uncle was in the background chuckling I swiped through the next few clips and it was more the same my dad going on about how Alex thinks he’s some kind of businessman while my mom made a joke about how I should put that computer science degree to use and get a real job and my sister she was filming it like it was some hilarious ious behind the scenes moment at one point she turned the camera on herself and whispered between giggles this is why he never brings a girlfriend home like I said I

Knew they didn’t take my job seriously I knew they thought I was just wasting my life away in front of a screen but something about seeing them say it when they thought I wasn’t listening hearing the laughter the mockery the sheer lack of respect h!t me in a way I didn’t expect for years i’ve been helping them I’d covered bills when they were struggling I paid off my mom’s medical expenses when she needed surgery last year I even gave Emily money when she was short on rent for her apartment and yet here they were laughing at me like I

Was some pathetic loser they had to tolerate I closed Instagram sat there for a second just staring at my phone and then for the first time in years I felt something shift inside me because if that’s how they really saw me maybe it was time to stop helping them at first my brain tried to make excuses for them maybe they were just joking maybe this was one of those moments where people say stupid things for the sake of family bander maybe I was overreacting but the longer I thought about it the more I realized no this wasn’t just one

Off-hand joke this wasn’t some harmless teasing between family members this was contempt a group of people I’d been supporting in ways they probably didn’t even realize sitting around and laughing about how pathetic they thought I was and the worst part they meant it you can tell when someone is joking there’s a certain energy to it something light-hearted something affectionate but that video that wasn’t lighthearted that was my dad sitting there confidently tearing me down like it was the most natural thing in the world that was my

Sister recording it because she thought it was entertaining that was my mom chiming in not to defend me not to say hey maybe we shouldn’t be trashing Alex like this but to add to it I felt something tighten in my chest a dull simmering heat that wasn’t quite rage yet but close I wanted to text Emily right then and there ask her what the hell she was thinking demand an explanation but I stopped myself instead I opened my banking app I scrolled through my recent transactions just letting the numbers sink in $1,500 rent money for my parents house

$600 the last chunk of Emily’s car payment $3,200 a credit card bill my dad had forgotten to pay $250 groceries from when my mom called saying they were short last month line after line a quiet damning list of all the ways i’ve been helping them all the times they’d come to me with a small favor or an unexpected expense that they just couldn’t handle on their own and for years I’d said yes every single time because I wanted to help because they were my family because no matter how dismissive my dad was no matter how

Little respect they showed me I convinced myself that I was doing the right thing bet someday they’d see I wasn’t some lazy failure but now staring at that video at those transactions it h!t me they weren’t ever going to see me differently not unless I made them I took a breath then another and then finally I did something I should have done a long time ago I opened my group chat with my parents and my sister and I typed hey just saw Emily’s video didn’t realize you all thought so little of me three little dots appeared almost

Instantly my mom typing then they vanished then my sister started then stopped finally my dad replied oh you saw that come on don’t be so sensitive we were just joking around I stared at the screen joking right before I could respond Emily chimed in yeah it wasn’t serious lol you know how dad gets after a few drinks that heat in my chest burned a little hotter funny I don’t remember it being a joke when you needed money for rent last month another pause longer this time then dude seriously you’re mad over a stupid video I

Clenched my jaw this wasn’t just about the video it was about the years of disrespect the years of being treated like some kind of joke even while I was the one making sure they could pay rent keep the lights on buy groceries and they still didn’t get it so I typed one last message i’ll make this simple if you think my job is so embarrassing you won’t have to worry about it anymore don’t ask me for another scent then before they could respond I muted the chat and for the first time in years I felt something like relief of course I

Knew this wasn’t over not by a long shot because if I knew anything about my dad it was that he never handled losing control well and I’d just taken away his favorite safety net I had a feeling the real Fallout was about to begin the first few hours after I muted the chat were eerily quiet no messages no frantic apologies no desperate attempts to argue for a brief stupid moment I almost thought maybe they got the message maybe they finally understand then around 9:00 p.m.

My phone lit up Dad calling I let it ring a minute later a text pick up the damn phone then another don’t act like a child over a joke and another you really think you’re going to cut us off over this grow up Alex there it was that familiar tone that mix of anger and entitlement like he was ow to conversation like I was the one being unreasonable for finally setting a boundary I ignored him 2 minutes later Emily texted dude you’re being so dramatic dad’s pissed just talk to him it wasn’t even that serious I didn’t respond then my mom Alex honey please

Don’t do this you know your father didn’t mean any harm that one stung more than it should have not because I believed her but because of how automatic it was how predictable she always did this minimized his behavior swept things under the rck smooth things over just enough to keep the peace I could practically hear her voice in my head that tired exasperated sze she always used whenever I dared to push back you know how he is Alex just let it go but I was done letting it go I was done playing along so I put my phone on

Do not disturb shut my laptop and went live it was a good stream too pulled solid numbers had a great game even got a couple of big donations from some regulars and the whole time I kept thinking this is my real life not them this I should have felt free and in a way I did but I also knew my dad and I knew he wouldn’t just let this go I crashed around 3:00 a.m.

Completely exhausted and when I woke up the next morning the first thing I saw was my phone screen absolutely flooded with notifications 16 missed calls eight from Dad four from Mom two from Emily two from an unknown number and then at the very top the one notification that made my stomach drop my bank app I tapped it open already dreading what i’ see $600 withdrawal $150 withdrawal $350 withdrawal I stared at the screen my brain taking a second to process what I was looking at before the realization h!t me like a freight train they took

Money from me more specifically my parents had just drained my joint emergency savings account the account I had set up years ago the one I created back when they were struggling when I still thought I could trust them when I was naive enough to believe that helping them would make them appreciate me I barely used it now it was just a backup a safety net and they were emptying it my hands were shaking as I yanked my phone off the charger and immediately called my bank yeah I need to remove someone from my account I said barely

Able to keep my voice steady as the customer service rep greeted me they started asking for security details confirming my identity all that standard stuff but I could barely Focus my mind was racing a mix of anger and disbelief crashing Over Me In Waves they really thought they could do this they really thought they could steal from me and I just take it while the rep worked I pulled up my family group chat and without bothering to read any of the dozens of unread messages I sent one final text you just stole from me i’m

Done then I blocked all of them no more arguments no more justifications no more excuses I was done but deep down I knew this wasn’t over people like my dad they don’t just walk away when you take away their control and sure enough later that afternoon I heard it a loud angry knock at my door not the Casual kind not someone dropping by for a visit this was insistent demanding I already knew who it was before I even checked but still I looked through the peephole anyway just to confirm and there he was my father

Standing on my doorstep jaw clenched face red fist practically trembling at his sides he didn’t look angry he looked furious and I had a feeling this was about to get a lot worse I stood there staring through the peephole my heart pounding I wasn’t scared at least not in the way he wanted me to be but there was something about the way he stood there his whole body practically vibrating with anger that made my bl00d run cold he didn’t just look pissed he looked offended like I had done something to him like I was the one who had crossed

The line another knock louder this time Alex opened the damn door his voice was sharp clipped a voice I’d heard my entire life a voice that always expected to be obeyed he pounded his fist against the door again I know you’re in there I took a deep breath trying to decide what to do my first instinct was to ignore him let him rage out there until he got bored and left but I knew my dad that wasn’t going to happen he would stay he would yell he would escalate and I wasn’t about to have my neighbors calling the cops because my father

Didn’t know how to take no for an answer so I unlocked the door the second I cracked it open he shoved his way inside I had time to step back before he was already in my apartment standing in my living room like he owned the place what is wrong with you he demanded his voice low but seething his hands were clenched into fists at his sides his whole body tense like he was barely holding himself back you blocked your mother your sister after everything we’ve done for you I let out a sharp laugh everything they’ve

Done for me that was rich you stole from me I said my voice cold don’t act surprised that I’m cutting you off his face Twisted into something ugly a sneer curling at his lips stole from you don’t be dramatic that money was for the family I felt my fingers tighten into a fist at my side that was my money that I earned that I chose to share with you when I thought you actually needed it I took a step closer refusing to let him Tower over me like he used to when I was a kid but I’m done I’m not your damn ATM I’m not paying your bills I’m not

Bailing you out anymore he scoffed shaking his head so that’s it you’re just going to turn your back on us I felt something in me snap you turned your back on me I shot back my voice Rising you and Emily and Mom sat there and laughed at me you mocked me humiliated me and now that you’re losing my money now you suddenly care he rolled his eyes letting out an exasperated sigh like I was the one being ridiculous Jesus Alex it was a joke you’re really going to throw a tantrum over that I couldn’t help but laugh sharp bitter

Incredulous a joke it was always a joke when it suited them y funny how it wasn’t a joke when you were taking my money though funny how you never had a problem with my embarrassing career when it was paying your damn rent that was when something changed his expression flickered just for a second just long enough for me to see it uncertainty a crack in his armor like for the first time it was actually registering how serious I was but then just as quickly the anger was back he stepped closer jabbing a finger in my

Chest you wouldn’t have that money if it wasn’t for us he spat we raised you we supported you you wouldn’t be where you if we hadn’t busted our asses putting food on the table for you I let out of breath shaking my head and I paid you back 100 times over I took care of you I covered your bills I gave you everything I could and it was never enough for you I locked eyes with him my voice turning ice cold but I’m done you don’t get to insult me steal from me and then Walt’s in here acting like I owe you something

For the first time since he barged and he didn’t have a response he just stood there breathing hard his face Twisted in Rage but I could see something else beneath it realization Because deep down I think he finally knew I wasn’t bluffing then just when I thought he might actually leave his lips curled into a smirk you think you’re so damn successful huh his tone was mocking now dripping with condescension think you’re some big shot internet star I didn’t say anything I just crossed my arms and waited for him to get to his point he

Let out a short bitter laugh you think this streaming thing is going to last forever you think you’re set for life let me tell you something kid you’re nothing you’re a joke you think these people watching you online actually care about you the second you stop being entertaining the second some younger better streamer comes along you’ll be forgotten and when that happens he spread his arms wide giving me that patronizing self-satisfied grin that used to make my stomach churn as a kid you’ll come crawling back just like I

Knew you would I just stared at him for a long moment he really believed that he needed to believe that because the alternative that I was actually successful that I was actually better off without them was something his ego couldn’t handle so I smiled a slow knowing smile that made his smirk falter just slightly you really think that huh I said my voice almost amused you really think I need you I took a step closer looking him de@d in the eye you have no idea how much money I make and that was when I saw it that flicker of something

In his expression greed curiosity doubt for the first time he actually thought about it and that was when I knew he wasn’t here to argue he wasn’t here to make me feel guilty he was here because he thought he could still win but he was about to learn he had already lost for the first time in my life I saw something I never thought I’d see on my father’s face hesitation doubt he wanted to believe I was bluffing he needed to believe that I was was still the same kid he could manipulate that My Success was temporary that at any moment i’d

Come crawling back desperate for his approval but he wasn’t stupid he had never actually bothered to ask me about my career before but now standing in my apartment my nice apartment in a building he probably couldn’t afford to rent a closet in it was h!tting him I was doing better than him better than all of them and he hated it you think you’re too good for us now his voice had lost some of its bite but he was still trying to cling to the upper hand you think just because you got lucky playing video games on the internet you don’t

Need your family anymore I sighed shaking my head you don’t get it do you this isn’t about money it’s about respect I gestured around the room I worked my ass off for this and instead of being happy for me instead of being proud of me you sat there and laughed you treated me like a joke I took a step closer my voice cold but I’m the one laughing now his jaw clenched you think you’ll be laughing when this all falls apart because it will fall apart and when it does don’t come crying to us I tilted my head studying him that’s funny

Because I was about to say the same thing to you he scoffed but I saw the flash of uncertainty in his eyes I let the silence stretch between us before I finally spoke again you need me I said simply not the other way around his face turned red he opened his mouth to fire back some half-baked insult but then his phone bust he pulled it out glanced at the screen and his scal deepened I smirked that Mom asking if you got me to change my mind his grip on the phone tightened bingo I crossed my arms let me guess since I cut you off the bills are

Stacking up you’ve got debts maybe mom’s been hounding you because suddenly there’s no money coming in to save her from herself maybe Emily’s panicking because she lost her safety net I let my words sink in before I delivered the final blow how does it feel dad knowing that the embarrassing failure is the only reason you weren’t drowning his breathing was heavier now his whole body tense with rage but he had nothing to say because he knew I was right I walked to the door and opened it wide get out he didn’t move he just stood

There staring at me like he couldn’t quite believe this was happening like he still thought there was a way to turn this around you’re making a mistake Alex he finally said Voice Low family is all you’ve got I held his gaze that’s where you’re wrong for the first time in my life I wasn’t afraid of him I I wasn’t seeking his approval I didn’t care what he thought and that scared him more than anything he lingered for a few seconds longer maybe hoping I’d change my mind maybe waiting for some last minute guilt

Trip to land but I just stood there waiting and finally finally he turned and walked out I shut the door behind him and locked it then I took a deep breath I wasn’t angry anymore I wasn’t hurt I wasn’t even sad I just felt free I took a moment to just stand there letting the silence settle around me no more guilt no more obligations no more bending over backward for people who never cared about me in the first place it was over and for the first time in years I felt like I could finally breathe I knew they’d try to reach out

Again maybe not today maybe not tomorrow but eventually when the money ran out when things got tough when they needed me again but I wasn’t going to be there I had spent years supporting them hoping they’d see my worth but the truth was I never needed their validation I was successful without them I was happy without them and I wasn’t about to let them drag me down ever again so what do you guys think did I handle this the right way would you have cut them off too or would you have given them one last chance let me know because honestly

I’ve never felt more sure about a decision in my life