Entitled dad expects daughter not to invite anyone else while parents visit, sparks debate

It's difficult to convince some people that they can't always be the center of attention, especially when a family member expects first-class treatment. Sometimes, the only option is a reality check. Reddit user u/Reasonable_Bit_6499 experienced this when her dad expected his preferences to take priority, even when he showed up unannounced. While her mom was okay with the daughter's plans, the dad assumed he could still call the shots, despite his daughter being an adult.

The daughter began her post by explaining that she only visits her parents a few times a year since they live eight hours away. Recently, her mom invited herself to stay at her daughter's place during two conferences in August. "I already had plans to petsit and a friend stayed with her dog while Mom came for the first visit. No biggie, we have plenty of space because she would rather stay with us than the hotel work pays for," the daughter explained. The home was filled with people and pets throughout her mother's stay yet there wasn't much problem about it. But when her dad decided to join her mom during the second conference, he was not happy about the other guests in the home.

"Dad had a 'serious talk' with me about how it was rude for me to invite all of these people and dogs over when I have Mom as company," the daughter pointed out. Believing that he still had control over his adult daughter, he said, "You will not be inviting every dog and person in the neighborhood over when I stay there." But the daughter made it clear that it was her house and that she was an adult who didn't need to be told what to do. Since she had made her pet-sitting plans and invited her friend over way before her parents invited themselves to her house, she wasn't deviating from her plans for her dad's sake.

"Dad, you don't get to dictate who and what is at my home," the daughter emphasized. "I think it is hilarious that my dad feels so entitled at my home," she added. While her mom loved the company of pets and the daughter's friends, her dad proved a point by not visiting again as he wouldn't "tolerate" those guests. "I'm not annoyed at him. I just think it is ridiculous. I just think it is super funny that he thinks he is in control at someone else’s home," the daughter concluded. People in the comments sided with the daughter's perspective.

"Dear Dad, you get to set the rules for your house and I get to set the rules for my house. There are lots of hotels in the area if you would prefer," said u/GardenGood2Grow. "If you don't like who I invite to my house, remember you were not invited, you declared yourself visiting. You can declare yourself elsewhere instead," chimed in u/Ok_Airline_9031. "Exactly! They have an open invite to my home, but that doesn't mean I don't have other things happening when they come unexpectedly," the daughter responded to the comment. "Let Dad know that you had plans already when he decided to come visit, and you will not be changing them for him," added u/Vicious_Lilliputian.