It can be hard to be a parent to a child, especially when they start to act rudely and think they deserve better. Heidi Johnson, a woman from an unknown place, had to deal with this problem with her 13-year-old son Aaron. She was brave when she chose to teach him a lesson he would never forget.
Heidi sent Aaron a letter by hand that was full of her deepest thoughts and worries about his behaviour. But what really made this letter stand out was the detailed bill she included for food, rent, and other costs, which added up to over $700. It was clear what she wanted: if Aaron treated her like a friend, she would do the same for him.
Heidi only planned to share the letter with her Facebook friends at first, but it quickly went viral. Some parents didn’t like how she made her choice, but Heidi stuck to it. She told him that she didn’t want to put too much financial stress on Aaron, but she did want to teach him the value of hard work and the good things their family had.
Heidi’s way of dealing with things was not the norm, but it came from love and a need to teach her son a good lesson. She said, “I want him to take pride in his home, his space, and appreciate the gifts and blessings we have.” She made it clear that the bill was just a way to stress how important it is to be thankful and respectful.
The reactions to the story going viral have been mostly positive. Aaron has said sorry for what he did and Heidi’s friendship with him is still strong. Heidi has also become an unlikely source of inspiration and help for parents who want to know how to deal with similar problems with their own teens.
Her story is a strong warning that being a good parent doesn’t mean always being liked and popular by our kids.
