I feel abandoned by my parents.

The other night, my (22F) father’s (60M) boss held a party and a few important people were there as guest speakers. The party was taking place after I got back from work, and I came home late because of a work meeting. Before the day of the party, I tried asking my parents what the absolute latest time we could leave because I wanted to know how much time I would have to get ready before the party, but I didn’t get an answer from either of my parents until the day of. By then, I was already coming home late and had less than an hour to get myself ready. I asked my father why he didn’t know the time of the party in advance and he blew up at me, complaining how he “has to do everything” (though, I think if you’re bring your family to a party, you should know when to get there by).

As I’m getting ready, my mother (48F) keeps nagging at me, growing snappier each time, for me to get ready faster. Frustrated, I told her if the party’s so important she can leave without me, and I’ll just call a cab. I didn’t think she’d actually leave me behind but hearing this, she drives my father and sisters (both 19F) to the party venue, leaving me at home to finish getting ready.

I finished getting ready not even 5 minutes after my family left, and as I was about to leave, my mother returns home with my sisters, saying that they had to change their clothes because everyone was dressed more informally than they had thought. In the end, my mother was still able to drive me to the venue, but what really got to me was that the venue was only a five-minute drive away and that my mother and sisters were able to get back, change clothes, and drive back all before the party started.

For the rest of the party, I ignored my parents, glaring at them whenever they tried to talk to me. They even had the gall to ask why I was so upset, and they didn’t answer after asking what I meant to them, with mother telling my father I’m “not worth the time or effort”.The night ended with us yelling at each other after they criticized my behavior, and neither of them acknowledging how I felt after the fact, only talking about the party on the car ride home.

This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Last year around this time, I had to visit the ER because I’d been having severe stomach issues, and neither of my parents checked up on me because they had another work party to go to. Even when I had been in the ER for nearly 8 hours, I didn’t receive any calls or texst from them asking how everything was. Regarding my family, it also feels as if they prefer my sisters over me, as my father makes conversation with them after he comes home from work, but avoids talking to me. I know I can’t make them understand how I feel about it, but I can’t figure out how to cope with it. I’m also not in any financial position to move out, as I’ll be starting graduate school soon.

I think the reason this hits so hard is because from a very young age, my parents, especially my father, have drilled into me that nothing is above family and that without family, I have no one. Growing up, if my sisters were crying, it’d be my fault for not helping them or making them feel better or for hurting them, but if they stole my things or damaged my belongings, I would have to be the level-headed one and forgive them. Knowing my family values the concept of family so highly but then don’t hesitate to leave me behind really makes me doubt my place in this household.

How do I even go about my relationship with my parents after this? I can’t tell if I’m overreacting or not, but I want to try to get over this and figure out how to deal with these types of situations in the future.

TL;DR – My family left me behind as I was getting ready to go to a party after I got home late after work.