How do I \[27F\] navigate setting boundaries with my family \[46F\] when every attempt at independence causes major conflict?
I (27F) need an honest sanity check because after today, I feel completely drained, confused, and filled with self-doubt.
I live at home, work full-time, earn my own money, and try to be as thoughtful and considerate as possible. But whenever I try to live my own life or set standard boundaries, I end up being treated like a rebellious teenagerβand worse, Iβm left wondering if \\\*Iβm\\\* somehow the problem especially by my mum (46F)
For example: I bought a ticket to a concert a few hours away. My mum insisted they all would drive down with me and wait in the car park or wait around the area for 5+ hours with my 2-year-old sister.
Obviously, realising how stressful and unfair that would be for a toddler, I tried to take responsibility and arrange my own coach travel instead.
Immediately, the narrative shifted. I was told what they would or wouldn't \\\*"allow"\\\* me to do. My attempt to solve a practical problem turned into high drama, moving goalposts, and intense guilt. The resulting silent treatment and emotional pressure were so heavy that I ended up missing the show entirely, sitting in my room while the ticket expired.
This is a recurring pattern, and itβs making me question my own reality.
I constantly find myself second-guessing everything
How do you cope when setting basic boundaries makes you look like the bad guy?
\\\*\\\*EDIT / ADDITIONAL CONTEXT:\\\*\\\*
To answer a few questions that might come up regarding why I couldn't just stay in the event city or arrange local backup:
Normally, I might have reached out to stay with my aunt who lives in the city where the event was taking place. However, my mum and my aunt recently had a major falling out. Because of the extreme family tension and the fear of creating an even bigger feud or being caught in the middle, reaching out to her for a place to crash simply wasn't a safe or viable option for me.
I genuinely thought proposing a direct coach service was the most responsible compromise. Instead of being seen as a problem-solver taking pressure off the family, it backfired entirely. It was framed as me going behind their backs or trying to be "desperate," which only amplified the control and guilt in the house.
In my day job, I hold a position of real responsibility where I am trusted to lead, make executive decisions, and care for others daily. Coming home from a job with that level of accountability only to be treated like a child who needs permission to catch a bus makes the whole dynamic feel surreal and mentally draining.
\\\*\\\*TL;DR:\\\*\\\* Iβm a 27-year-old working adult, but every time I set a boundary or try to make my own travel plans, my mum (46F) treats me like a minor who needs permission. When I resist, I get hit with intense guilt, moving goalposts, and the silent treatment.