After Mom Leaves Note on “Disrespectful” Son’s Door, It Goes Viral
Most grown-ups understand that the challenges of adulthood often seem deceptively simple when viewed through the eyes of an inexperienced child.
A comfortable home is available, featuring food on the table and unlimited internet access. However, the way these comforts are provided isn’t nearly as straightforward as a child might think.
One mother, aiming to teach her disrespectful son that “nothing comes for free,” discovered a hilarious way to confront her 13-year-old who wasn’t ready for adult responsibilities. Keep reading to learn how this mom used a “real-world” lesson to discipline her son!
Back in 2015, Heidi Johnson was dealing with her defiant 13-year-old son Aaron, whom she described as someone who “wants the perks of growing up without the responsibility that comes with it.”
At that time, Aaron was earning a “tiny bit of money” as a YouTuber and refused to follow his mom’s instructions about completing his homework. The young rebel stormed out of her room, declaring he was “a free person” because he was “making money.”
Reacting to his behavior, the single mother penned a tough-love letter to Aaron and shared it on Facebook—a post that, nearly ten years later, has gone viral again.
“Since you appear to have forgotten that you’re only 13, that I’m the parent, and that you won’t be controlled, I suppose you need a lesson in independence,” Johnson begins in the “roommate contract.” “As you mentioned that you’re making money now, it will be easier to buy back all the items I’ve provided for you in the past.”
She continues, “If you would like your lamps/light bulbs or access to the internet, you will need to pay your portion of the costs.”
The terms in the letter required Aaron to pay for rent and utilities, as well as to cook his own meals and routinely clean around the house.
Johnson concludes the letter with, “Love, Mom.”
Repossession
The mother, who lives in Venice, Italy, said that when her son saw the note on his door, he crumpled it up, tossed it on the floor, and stormed out of the apartment.
He just needed some time to reflect, and she needed time to reclaim some of the items in his room.
“After he had time to consider his actions, he asked what he could do to start re-earning privileges,” she said, adding that he later collected items from his room that she hadn’t taken and, after giving them to her, asked how he could begin earning them back.
“It was never truly about having him pay me back; it was to help him appreciate what things cost. He quickly realized that he couldn’t afford rent, utilities, or food,” she explains.
Online users flocked to the comments section of her post, praising her creative disciplining.
One commenter writes, “Great job. Nothing in the agreement is cruel punishment but will teach him a lesson he will carry through life.”
“I know you are not looking for praise nor disapproval, but I have to let you know, as a fellow mom, that I think you are amazing. You gave your son the opportunity to learn and grow,” shares another.
“Bravo to you for acting like a parent instead of a maid,” writes a third.
‘Real world’
Responding to a few users who accused her of publicly shaming her son, Johnson shared another post explaining that she is “not ashamed” of what she wrote.
“A teenager is going to push their limits,” she begins. “They are in that developmental stage where one foot is starting to cross into adulthood, while the other is still firmly planted in childhood… I cannot send this child into college or the workforce with the attitude of ‘I’ll get to it when I get to it’ when a superior tells him to get a job done. That is the real world.”
Johnson adds, “Nothing comes free. Someone is making a sacrifice somewhere down the line.”
What are your thoughts on this mom’s creative parenting style? Please share your opinions with us, and then share this story so we can hear what others have to say!
