Hi everyone,

I’m 28 and have spent my entire life stuck in the middle of my parents’ constant arguments. I’m an only child, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve been used as a messenger or a mouthpiece between the two of them. It’s been emotionally draining and over the years, I’ve grown more and more resentful about it.

Fast forward to now — my parents are in the middle of a divorce (which my mum initiated). I finally put my foot down and told my mum how I was feeling. I told her how exhausting it’s been to be caught in the middle for 28 years, and that I didn’t want to be used like that anymore.

Instead of understanding, she completely denied it, saying she’s never done that, and started turning it around on me. Things got a bit heated, and I ended up calling her behaviour “bitchy.” She didn’t take that well at all, told me I don’t appreciate her, and said she’s now going to “draw a clean line” between us — basically telling me to stay out of her life and blaming me for her making that decision.

Now I’m left feeling guilty for how the conversation went, even though I know I had every right to set boundaries. Part of me wonders if I was out of line for calling her out so directly, or if I should’ve handled it differently.

So — AITA for telling my mum I’m tired of being caught in the middle and calling her behaviour bitchy when she flipped it back on me?