We all go through different phases in our life. If we have children, we see that they often follow the same path that we followed as youngsters as well. This would include times when they were dependent on their parents and needed them for everything from advice to helping to tie their shoes. When we hit our teenage years, however, we begin to desire a little more independence and sometimes, we may even go overboard in our enthusiasm.
One mother experienced this with her 13-year-old son. She decided to do something about it, so she wrote him a letter. She wanted him to know a little more about being independent and living by his own rules. When she first posted the letter, it was only meant to be shared with family and close friends but it wasn’t long before the letter went viral. It had many parents around the world applauding her for her parenting skills.
The 13-year-old boy is only known by his first name, Aaron. She told her son in the letter that there were “greater consequences” for treating his mother like a doormat.
She informed him that, if he did not start acting more like a son, he would soon have more responsibilities put on him. She was obviously fed up and let him know that he would soon be footing the bill for his part of everything from the rent and food to the maid service she provided.
Here is part of what the letter to the 13-year-old son said:
Dear Aaron,
Since you seem to have forgotten that you are only 13 and I’m the parent, and that you won’t be controlled, I guess you will need to learn a lesson in independence. Also, as you threw in my face that you are making money now, it will be easier to buy back all the items I bought for you in the past.
If you would like your lamp/lightbulbs or access to the internet, you will need to pay your share of costs:
Rent: $430
Electricity: $116
Internet: $21
Food: $150
Also, you will need to empty the trash Mon, Wed & Friday as well as sweep and vacuum those days. You will need to keep your bathroom clean weekly, prepare your own meals and clean up after yourself. If you fail to do so I will charge you a $30 maid fee for every day I have to do it.
If you decide you would rather be MY CHILD again instead of a roommate, we can negotiate terms.
Love,
Mom
It wasn’t long before her letter went viral and received more than 80,000 likes on Facebook. It was also shared over 160,000 times. She followed up with a second letter that explained why she wrote the note to her 13-year-old son.
“Why publicly shame him? I’m not. It was an accident. I meant to post to just family and friends; and yesterday I couldn’t figure out why I had over 100 friend requests. I actually thought maybe my account got hacked or something. Yes, I could take it down, but so many people have already read and seen it at this point.”
Many people were applauding her for her skills at parenting but others thought she was too harsh. In the end, it seems to have worked and they established a contract with rules for Aaron to follow.
“I’m not a bully dictator trying to ‘control’ my child. I’m a parent to has every RIGHT to have rules, expectations, and consequences for my child.”