Heidi Johnson says she thought only her friends and family would see it, when posting a letter to her son on Facebook, but after clicking “public” by “accident,” the letter has gone viral to mixed reviews.
Johnson says she was only trying to teach her 13-year-old son, Aaron, a lesson, and not publicly shame him. But some are accusing her of exactly of that.
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Her letter to him starts out, “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.” Johnson says in the letter that her son is making his own money now and throwing that fact in her face. She says it will be easy for him to buy back all the items she’s bought for him in the past. She goes on to say, “if you would like your lamp/light bulbs or access to the internet, you will need to pay your share of costs:” The mom says she will also charge him a $30 maid fee if he doesn’t start cleaning up after himself.
After Johnson’s post went viral with over 160,000 shares, she explained it in another Facebook post. “I see that a lot of people have varying opinions on my letter to my son. It was originally intended for friends, but I clicked public on accident. It’s out there; and I am not ashamed of what I wrote. I am not keeping it out for likes, dislikes, or anything like that. People can feel free to read and take whatever they like from it.” h/t fox8
Johnson says since she posted the letter, her son has apologized and is trying harder.
