Parenting a confident and disrespectful teenager is quite challenging, and different parents adopt various strategies to encourage better behavior.
Heidi Johnson, a mother, penned a handwritten letter to her son, Aaron, and posted it on Facebook. She never expected the post to gain widespread attention and initially meant it for a private audience of friends. However, she stands by her decision to share it publicly.
In her letter to her 13-year-old son, Johnson expressed her frustration about him treating her like a “roommate.” She then provided him with a detailed bill for expenses like rent and food, amounting to over $700. If he wanted to treat her as a roommate rather than his mother, she would respond in kind.
Johnson signed the note, “Love Mom,” reflecting her genuine affection for her son. She later posted again to provide context about the situation. In response to critics, she assured parents, “I am not going to put my 13-year-old on the street if he can’t pay his half of the rent. I don’t want him to pay anything. My goal is for him to take pride in his home, his space, and to appreciate the gifts and blessings we have.”
She clarified that she never expected Aaron to cover any bills. Instead, her intention was for him to “understand the value of money.” The note was meant to help her son grasp “what life would be like if I were not his ‘parent,’ but just a ‘roommate.’ It was a lesson in gratitude and respect from the start.”
Johnson also mentioned that prior to writing the note, her son had lied about completing his homework. When she threatened to limit his internet access, he replied, “Well, I am making money now.” She explained that the income he mentioned was from his YouTube channel, which was not nearly enough to cover food and rent.
The public note has not damaged Johnson’s relationship with her son. She stated, “He and I still communicate as openly as ever. He has apologized multiple times.”
Johnson has received inquiries from parents seeking her guidance since she shared the note to her son. She states, “My post appears to have created an opportunity for others, allowing them to approach me for advice, express their feelings, or simply have someone listen and share their own experiences in return.”
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