When our children are little, we teach them all the lessons our parents instilled in us. Look both ways, eat your veggies, and “when I say bedtime, I mean it,” are just a few of many rules that become ingrained.
Then comes teenagehood. Every generation looks different than the last – leaving parents to struggle with the hurdles of, well…parenting. And nowadays with things like the internet, cell phones, and social media, we’ve got our work cut out for us!
One single mom reached her breaking point after her teenage son lied and was disrespectful. Sure, that’s not too surprising, as a lot of teenagers “have their moments.” But instead of just grounding her son and taking his phone – she decided to teach him a very big lesson in a unique way.
Heidi Johnson discovered her 13-year-old son, Aaron, had been fibbing about his homework.
In return, the mom tried to restrict his internet usage, which got him upset. Aaron responded with tons of attitude and brought up how he “made his own money” (as a YouTuber). He then stormed out of the room.
So, frustrated Heidi picked up a pen and paper and wrote her 13-year-old son a letter. But it wasn’t just an ordinary letter – it was actually more of a bill!
Below is what it said:
“Dear Aaron, Since you seem to have forgotten you are only 13, and I’m the parent, and that you won’t be controlled, I guess you will need 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.”
She continued:
“If you would like your lamp/lightbulbs or access to the internet, you will need to pay your share of costs.
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Rent – $430
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Electricity – $116
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Internet – $21
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Food – $150″
That’s not all. Heidi then explained all of her other expectations as well.
“Also, you will need to empty the trash Mon, Wed, + Friday, as well as sweep + vaccum 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.”
Aaron had an option though…
“If you decide you would rather be my child again, instead of roommate, we can renegotiate terms. Love, Mom”
It’s a letter that spread across the internet.
Before giving her son his “bill,” Heidi snapped a photo and shared it on Facebook, only intending for friends and family to see it. She never expected the letter to go viral.
Her caption explained that on top of putting the letter on Aaron’s door, she was also going to strip his mattress and confiscate the clothes and toys she bought. She wrote:
“He will have three options.. Buy his own, rent his clothes at $3 a day, or renegotiate his terms of being a child. Mama’s done playing games and being a doormat.”
Hey Folks! If you are even the least bit curious about the background of this letter, here is a link to what lead up to…
Posted by Heidi Johnson on Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Heidi’s note giving her son “a rude awakening” had a lot of parents cheering. On the other hand, others criticized her over it too.
In response, the mom added an update on Facebook that answered people’s questions and provided background. She also wrote a long and heartfelt update that contains even more details.
So, did the letter work?
According to Heidi, Aaron naturally wasn’t happy finding the letter on his door, and also discovering that many of his possessions had been taken. He immediately crumpled it up and walked off.
The mom made sure that both of them got some cool-off time (and there were some tears too). Heidi explained:
“…after about an hour, he had removed some electronics and items I missed that he felt he should have to earn back for his behavior. He apologized, and asked what could he do to make things better and start earning items back.”
That night, he did manage to earn some of his favorite clothes and comforter back.
Aaron seemed to learn a lot from Heidi’s lesson, and he right away showed improvement in his responsibilities. The mom also shared a photo of a contract she created that addressed things like bedtime, chores, homework, consequences, screen time, and more.
It’s not easy being a parent, and there aren’t always easy and perfect solutions. But for Heidi, her tough-love approach did indeed help in their situation.
In the end, she taught him a valuable lesson about appreciation and respect he’ll surely never forget!
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