Parents keep treating me like a child

I’m in my 30s, pay my own bills, and own a house—but when I visit my parents, they still talk to me like I’m 15.

They question every decision I make. Why did I buy that car? Shouldn’t I be married by now? Why don’t I dress more “mature”? It’s like they can’t see me as an adult, even when I’m literally paying their phone bill.

I finally told them, “If you want a relationship with me as an adult, you need to stop parenting me like a teenager.” It wasn’t a fun talk, but it helped. Things aren’t perfect, but they’ve backed off—mostly.

Sometimes you have to reintroduce yourself to your own parents. And yeah, they might not like it. But you’re not living for their approval anymore.