Selfishly, I'm a little relieved to find out just how many others have a similar financial history with their mom.

I started working in high school. I was underage, so my checking account was joint with my mom. Whenever she would overdraft her account or need money, she started transferring it directly from my (our) account to hers. The first time it happened, it was hundreds of dollars. I confronted her and she started crying, saying she would of course pay me back.

That began a many years long situation where it got easier and easier for my mom to take my money. I was the one who had to track all of it. She would give me money back sometimes, but sometimes she'd buy me food or something and tell me to take that out of what she owed me. Prepaid visa gift cards, too. I had to constantly remind her if there was any chance she'd pay me back.

As soon as I could, at 18, I got my own account at a new bank. I have never given my mother anything since then. My relationship with her is rather strained due in large part to the way she treated me during those years. My focus on good personal finance skills is due to what I learned not to do from her.