Single Mom’s Tough Love Letter to 13-Year-Old Son Goes Viral
The teenage years can be challenging for both parents and children. As kids grow into young adults, they often experience growing pains, including asserting their independence, which can lead to conflicts. A single mother named Estella Havisham experienced this with her son Aaron and decided enough was enough. In 2015, she wrote a letter to her 13-year-old son outlining that if he continued to disrespect her authority, he would have to take on more “adult” responsibilities.
Estella’s letter took a tough-love approach, stating that if Aaron wanted to continue using certain items, such as his lamp and internet access, he would need to pay for his share of the costs, including rent, electricity, and food. Additionally, he would need to take on household chores, such as emptying the trash and cleaning his bathroom, and if he failed to do so, he would be charged a maid fee.
While some criticized Estella’s approach as harsh, many others supported her use of tough love. The letter, which Estella had intended to send only to a few family members, went viral and inspired other parents to take a similar approach with their unruly teenagers. By the time Estella realized what had happened, she decided to leave the letter up as it was providing much-needed inspiration to other parents.
In summary, Estella’s tough-love letter to her son went viral after she outlined the consequences of his disrespectful behavior, including taking on adult responsibilities and paying his share of household expenses. While some criticized her approach, others saw it as a much-needed reminder that teenagers need to respect their parents’ authority.
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.”
Unintentionally Viral
Estella had no intention of the letter’s picture going viral, nor did she plan to make it public. Her original plan was to send it to a handful of family members. However, when she realized that the letter had gone viral, she chose not to remove it because it was motivating other parents to take a tough-love approach with their own unruly teenagers.