“All You Do Is Take,” My Father Said—So I Stopped Paying

bailouts, and the steady drip of smaller requests that arrived via text with the casual frequency of someone asking you to pass the salt.

Can you Venmo me for the groceries?

Can you cover the electric bill this month? Things are tight.

Mia lost her wallet in Cancún. Can you wire her some cash?

I paid everything. I never said no. And not once—not a single continue reading …