'Comfort destroyed me': 22-year-old Reddit user's urgent message for parents has the internet divided

In an age where “gentle parenting” is celebrated and pressure is seen as a villain, one 22-year-old’s emotional confession on Reddit is striking a nerve across the internet. In a heartfelt post, the young user opens up about how too much freedom, too little structure, and years of indecision left him feeling lost, empty, and unprepared for the real world. His story is not just about his own struggle — it’s a wake-up call for parents who believe that letting their children “figure it out” on their own is always the right answer.

Growing up, the user says he was never pushed toward a specific path. His parents gave him everything — food, comfort, love — but no structure, no deadlines, and no tough decisions. They wanted him to take his time, find his passion, and go at his own pace. But as he now reflects, that freedom quickly turned into a trap.

At 22, while his peers are studying, working, building careers, or chasing dreams, he finds himself stuck. No job, no clear direction, and no real motivation. He’s considered starting a momo stall — not out of passion, but desperation. He says he wasted his teenage years overthinking, procrastinating, and waiting for clarity that never came.

In the post, he pleads with parents: “Please don’t let your kids sit at home doing nothing after 10th or 12th. Don’t think ‘they’ll figure it out.’ Most don’t.” His message is clear — children need structure, they need deadlines, and sometimes, they need pressure. Too much comfort too early, he warns, creates a false sense of security that leaves young adults unprepared for life’s challenges.

He also highlights the dangers of overthinking, which only leads to more confusion and delay. His advice is blunt but sincere: Parents must push their kids to act, even if it’s small. Get them to start, to struggle, to build something. Action, he says, is always better than sitting lost in thought.

Now, at 22, he feels like it’s too late. He doubts whether he’ll ever build a successful career or find pride in his journey. But if sharing his story helps even one other teenager avoid the same fate, he says it’ll be worth it.