Husband Weirded Out Wife’s Parents Track Her Location, She Turns It Off And Causes Family Drama

It isn’t uncommon to hear about parents lacking respect for their adult children’s boundaries. They’re the ones who treat their grown-up kids like six-year-olds, seeking involvement in every facet of their lives. 

This woman is struggling with this issue because she blocked her parents from accessing her location through a tracking app. Her actions didn’t sit well with her dad, who retaliated and created further drama against her and her brother. 

Since the situation blew way out of control, the woman has turned to the AITAH Reddit community to seek answers. 

Some parents don’t respect their children’s boundaries

Woman looking stressed with her hand on her face, symbolizing frustration over phone tracking and location privacy issues.

Image credits: MarishkaTR/Envato (not the actual photo)

This woman removed her parents’ access to her location, causing major family drama

Person using a smartphone to disable phone tracking app, concerned about parents seeing their location without permission.

Text excerpt about removing phone tracking app to stop parents from seeing location and related family privacy issues.

Text excerpt from AITA for removing phone tracking from my parents, discussing parents' comfort and safety in knowing location.

Text describing parents using phone tracking to see location and the removal of phone tracking by the user.

Text discussing removing phone tracking from parents who keep using it to see location and family privacy concerns.

Elderly couple smiling while using a smartphone, symbolizing phone tracking and location sharing with parents.

Image credits: gstockstudio/Envato (not the actual photo)

She later realized that her parents’ actions weren’t normal

Text message expressing gratitude for advice about parents using phone tracking to see location and concerns over privacy.

Text discussing paying for personal streaming services and the context of parents using phone tracking to see location.

Text excerpt about turning off location and phone tracking to avoid parents seeing location, discussing phone tracking removal concerns.

Image credits: Diz_Savvy

Parents who disrespect boundaries may have experienced emotional neglect

Elderly couple walking on a city sidewalk, illustrating phone tracking concerns with parents monitoring location.

Image credits: Sasha Matveeva/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Disrespecting boundaries by seeking control over adult children may be a sign of deep-seated issues. According to psychotherapist Sean Grover, LCSW, such behavior could be a result of childhood emotional neglect projected later in life. 

“In an attempt to resolve those gaps in their development, parents may affix their yearning for unconditional love to their children,” Grover wrote in an article for Psychology Today, adding that it is their way to seek adoration, affection, and approval from their child.  

Grover further explained that these parents feel “nourished” during their child’s younger years, when they are most dependent on them. But as their kid grows older and finds their individuality, they perceive it as a threat. 

As a response, they become overly critical, or, like what happened in the story, start guilt-tripping. 

Ultimately, the child bears the brunt of such treatment. According to Grover, they tend to feel ashamed for having their own needs, as they also deal with self-doubt and difficulties trusting others. 

It is better to avoid conflict with parents who lack respect for your boundaries

Young woman leaning on a stone column outside, reflecting on removing phone tracking used by her parents to see location.

Image credits: Meg/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Parents who don’t respect boundaries likely engage in other toxic behaviors. According to licensed social worker and clinical trauma professional Silvi Saxena, it may even be a result of a narcissistic personality disorder. 

As she explained in an article for Choosing Therapy, it is mainly about protecting your peace and rebuilding a relationship with them. At the same time, clear communication is crucial for conveying the message effectively. 

“Toxic parents will use vague and incomplete information or communicate against you to manipulate or guilt-trip you into conforming however they expect you to be,” Saxena wrote.  

Based on the story, the author seems to have parents who likely won’t change their ways. Saxena says accepting that fact can help in moving forward, but cutting them off may be necessary if they continue to violate limits. 

As she noted, tolerating these behaviors would only enable them and perpetuate the cycle. 

The author is married and living her own life. She may be better off limiting contact with her parents to protect her peace and well-being. 

Most people didn’t think she did anything wrong

Reddit comment explaining adult rights after removing phone tracking used by parents to see location without consent.

Reddit comment discussing removing phone tracking by parents who misuse location access, highlighting adult independence and privacy.

Reddit comment discussing phone tracking removal and parental control in a family location privacy dispute.

Reddit comment discussing phone tracking removal from parents due to privacy and control concerns about location monitoring.

Comment discussing removing phone tracking due to parents constantly seeing location of their grown adult daughter.

Comment from a parent about removing phone tracking due to privacy and location sharing concerns with their child.

Comment discussing removing phone tracking app from parents who keep using it to see location, asserting independence and privacy.

Screenshot of an online comment discussing parents using phone tracking to see location and controlling a grown adult.

Comment discussing removing phone tracking from parents who misuse location access for privacy control and personal boundaries.

User comment on a forum discussing removing phone tracking used by parents to check location without permission.

Comment about removing phone tracking from parents who use it to see location, asserting personal privacy and control over location info.

User comment about removing phone tracking to prevent parents from seeing location, discussing family privacy issues.

Reddit user explains choice to share location with divorced parents versus concerns over phone tracking by parents.

Screenshot of an online comment expressing frustration related to phone tracking and location monitoring by parents.

Screenshot of an online comment discussing removing phone tracking and parental monitoring of location.

Text post from user YasQueenies stating NTA and advising to keep phone location off to prevent parents using tracking.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing removing phone tracking from parents who monitor location without consent.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing phone tracking removal from parents who keep using it to see location privacy concerns.

Comment discussing phone tracking and location sharing consent between adults and family members on social media platform.

Reddit comment discussing phone tracking and location sharing boundaries between family members and the use of phone tracking.

Screenshot of an online comment discussing parents using phone tracking and advice on removing phone tracking for privacy.

Screenshot of a forum comment discussing removing phone tracking from parents who monitor location, with a casual tone.

Reddit comment discussing phone tracking removal by parents to monitor location and privacy boundaries in family relationships.

Comment discussing removing phone tracking due to parents using it to see location and privacy concerns.

Reddit comment discussing removing phone tracking app from parents who use it to see location, addressing adult boundaries.

Those who faulted her blamed her for acting like a “dependent child”

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing removing phone tracking from parents monitoring location without consent.

Comment on AITA forum discussing removing phone tracking from parents who monitor location repeatedly.

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