Heidi Johnson, a creative and determined mom from Temple, Arizona, knows the importance of teaching her thirteen-year-old son, Aaron, the value of respect and responsibility. When she discovered that Aaron was not only disrespecting her but also neglecting his homework, she knew she had to find a way to get through to him. Aaron, on the other hand, believed that he didn’t have to do his homework because of the money he was earning from his YouTube videos. Determined to teach him a lesson, Heidi decided to take a creative approach.
In a note addressed to Aaron, Heidi laid down the law, reminding him that she is the parent and he is only thirteen years old. She made it clear that he would not be getting a free ride in their Arizona household. Heidi wrote, “Since you seem to have forgotten…that you won’t be controlled, I guess you will need a lesson in independence.” She also mentioned that if Aaron wanted to use the things she had bought for him, like the lamp, lightbulbs, and internet access, he would have to contribute his fair share towards the household expenses.
Heidi listed out the bills that Aaron would need to help pay if he wanted to continue being an “independent man” in their household. These included $116 for rent, an additional $21 for internet, and $150 per month for food. While these amounts may seem low to adults, Heidi was giving her son a reasonable option to understand the real costs of living.
Not stopping there, Heidi also outlined several additional tasks for Aaron to handle if he wanted to continue living as an independent roommate. These tasks included emptying the trash on specific days, sweeping and vacuuming, keeping his bathroom clean, preparing his own meals, and cleaning up after himself. Failure to do so would result in a $30 maid fee for each day Heidi had to take care of these chores. However, Heidi also offered Aaron an alternative – to renegotiate their terms if he chose to be her child again instead of a roommate.
Heidi ended her note with a simple “Love, Mom,” reminding Aaron that she is the one in charge and not the boy who has recently started earning money from his YouTube videos. While some people criticized Heidi for being too hard on her son, she defended her actions, explaining that she wrote him a “bill” to make a point, emphasizing that nothing comes for free and that sacrifices are made along the way.
Many people applauded Heidi’s approach, praising her for using tough love to teach her son important life lessons. One person commented, “Good job, Mom! More parents need to follow your lead. Too many kids nowadays lack respect at home.”
Now, the question remains – do you approve of this Arizona mom’s note to her teenage son?
