AITA for labeling all the bottles in the house because my adult children are idiots?

There comes a time in every parent’s life when they realize their children, no matter how old, still act like they have the common sense of a raccoon raiding a trash can. It’s an unavoidable fact. They eat your food, use your Wi-Fi, and sometimes—just for fun, apparently—they decide to ignore basic household rules that should be common sense.

That’s exactly what happened to one frustrated parent whose only request was that their kids stop flipping an expensive bottle of prescription shampoo upside down. When words failed, they took matters into their own hands—with 500 very obvious stickers. What followed was embarrassment, hilarious revenge, and a lesson in respecting other people’s stuff.

‘AITA for labeling all the bottles in the house because my adult children are idiots?’

Expert Analysis:

Why Can’t They Just Listen?

At first glance, this situation may seem like nothing more than household annoyance, but it actually highlights a deeper psychological issue: the tendency for people to disregard boundaries—especially within families.

Dr. Lindsay Gibson, a clinical psychologist and expert on family dynamics, states that “when children grow up in a household where their parents handle most problems for them, they often struggle with recognizing the importance of respecting personal boundaries as adults.”

In this case, OP’s kids may not have intentionally been malicious, but their repeated disregard for a simple request suggests they didn’t truly respect the consequences of their actions—until those actions had social repercussions.

Embarrassment as a Learning Tool

Studies in behavioral psychology suggest that embarrassment can be a powerful motivator for change. According to research published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, when individuals face mild public embarrassment due to their actions, they are more likely to correct their behavior to avoid future discomfort.

By labeling everything in sight, OP created a humorous but effective form of behavioral correction. The embarrassment of explaining the situation to friends likely had a stronger impact than any previous discussion.

Respecting Personal Property: More Than Just Shampoo

Beyond embarrassment, this incident also ties into a larger issue: the struggle between independence and entitlement in adult children still living at home. A survey conducted by Pew Research found that nearly 52% of young adults live with their parents, and many conflicts arise over respect for shared living spaces and personal belongings.

This situation is a classic example—when people aren’t financially responsible for something, they don’t always value it as much.

Here’s what Redditors had to say about OP’s creative revenge:

Many users praised OP’s commitment to pettiness, with some suggesting even more extreme labeling tactics. Others pointed out that embarrassment was a justifiable consequence for adult children who failed to respect boundaries.

At the end of the day, this wasn’t about shampoo—it was about respect, accountability, and the power of creative problem-solving. OP’s kids might not like the labels, but they sure do understand the message now.

What do you think? Was OP’s method justified, or was it a step too far? Let us know in the comments!