Pary’ce

Parent: CASSANDRA (57)

Adult Child: PARY’CE (23)

Location: BOWIE, MARYLAND

Pary’ce (pronounced Paris) is an entitled, self-centered young lady who wants the finer things in life without actually working for them. She has been spoiled most of her life by her mother and Godfather, and as a result, views life through an unrealistic scope, believing “the world owes me a living.” Although her father was partially involved in her life Pary’ce was mostly raised by a hard-working single mother, Cassandra. Having graduated high school in 2019, and opting out of attending college, Pary’ce should be well on her way to living on her own as an established adult.

While most young adults who decide not to go to college move out, start a career, a vocation, or a path forward, Pary’ce chose to do nothing except to live off the kindness and support of her mother, like a spoiled teenager without any direction or consequences for her actions. Today, Pary’ce lives at home without any clear life path or intention of moving out on her own. Cassandra does have an older daughter who lives close by and is independent and successful. She doesn’t understand why or how her little sister is stagnant and squandering her life (even though she is paying for her sister’s cell phone bill!)

Although she has had a string of low-paying jobs such as serving food at a nursing home or cleaning up at a salon, Pary’ce is not a fan of hard work or real work in general.  She doesn’t like working on her feet and earning only minimum wage doesn’t appeal to her. She had a job at Amazon but slept in one too many times so she was fired. Although she is broke, she somehow manages to travel quite often. Her social media is full of pictures of Pary’ce in tropical locations or various cities, partying and living it up! Where does she get money one might ask? She manipulates her Godfather and mother to give her money, in addition to whatever small money she has made from odd jobs.

Cassandra is at the end of her rope. Although she’s only charging Pary’ce $150 monthly rent, which doesn’t cover anything, Pary’ce either doesn’t pay or is forced to borrow money from her Godfather, Jerry. Jerry is Cassandra’s ex-boyfriend, who has been in Pary’ce’s life for 15 years. Since he has no children of his own, he has a soft spot for Pary’ce and can’t resist her requests when she begs him for money.  He says she is, “very manipulative” and somehow always gets her way. It hurts his feelings that she never calls to ask how he is, she only calls when she needs something.

Cassandra has tried to make life at home as inconvenient and uncomfortable for Pary’ce as possible, hoping that will trigger her to get a job and leave home. Cassandra has tried to change the locks on the door and add a combination lock so that Pary’ce is forced to ring the doorbell and have mom let her in and out of the house so that Pary’ce doesn’t develop a sense of freedom coming and going as she pleases. Cassandra has also tried to hide the television remote so that she isn’t glued to it all day, but unfortunately, Pary’ce figured out how to connect her phone to the cable. She even hides the laundry detergent to make it difficult for Pary’ce to wash clothes. In short, Cassandra has tried everything in her power to get Pary’ce out of the house. Pary’ce always finds a sneaky way to bypass or manipulate her mother, and the two are back at square one.

As if this entitled and infantile behavior wasn’t bad enough, the disrespect and arguments are the most hurtful to Cassandra.  If Cassandra asks Pary’ce to do the smallest thing around the house, just basic household tasks, she gets pushback and an argument from her daughter. The constant fights, arguments, and grumblings are too much for her. Cassandra has worked hard to raise her children; now she’s ready for much-needed peace and quiet in her home.

Cassandra has tried to ask her to leave, to get Pary’ce to fill out job applications, and is considering selling her home to get her out. If something doesn’t happen soon she worries that she’ll have an irrecoverable relationship with her daughter, or that Pary’ce’s life will continue to spiral downward into an even worse place. Cassandra as a single mom has devoted her life to her daughter, and at this point, needs autonomy to enjoy her own life and watch her child succeed. Cassandra needs help to lay down the law and get through to her entitled daughter.