“A mother’s letter to her 13-year-old son has become an internet sensation. The letter was written by a mom using the username Estella Havisham on Facebook after her teenage son expressed a desire to make his own rules. Feeling the need to impart a lesson about independence, she penned the now-famous letter.
Originally intended to be shared only with her friends, the letter accidentally went public due to an active “public” viewing button on her account. As a result, the letter, which humorously addresses the challenges of adulthood, quickly went viral on social media. In the letter, the mom, referred to as Estella Havisham, named her son Aaron.
In the heartfelt letter, Estella Havisham humorously warned her son that he would face “greater consequences” if he continued treating her like a doormat. She playfully threatened to assign adult responsibilities to him, such as contributing to the rent, food expenses, and any “maid service” she provided.
The letter read as follows:
“Dear Aaron,
It seems you’ve forgotten that you’re only 13 and I’m the parent, and that you won’t be controlled. Well, it looks like you’ll need to learn a lesson in independence. Also, since you mentioned making money now, it will be easier to buy back all the items I’ve bought for you in the past. If you want to keep your lamp/lightbulbs or have access to the internet, you’ll need to pay your share of the costs: Rent: $430, Electricity: $116, Internet: $21, Food: $150.
Additionally, you’ll need to take out the trash on Mon, Wed & Fri, and do some sweeping and vacuuming on those days. You’re responsible for keeping your bathroom clean weekly, preparing your own meals, and cleaning up after yourself. If you fail to do so, I’ll charge you a $30 maid fee for every day I have to do it. But hey, if you decide you’d rather be MY CHILD again instead of a roommate, we can negotiate terms.”
To Estella Havisham’s surprise, her letter resonated with a massive audience, receiving over 85,000 likes and being shared more than 160,000 times on Facebook. Following its popularity, she explained in a second post that the letter was never meant to publicly shame her son; it was simply an accident.
Opinions about her parenting approach were divided. Some praised her for instilling discipline and responsibility in her child, while others felt she was too tough. Nonetheless, the letter seems to have been effective, as Heidi and Aaron (not their real names) established a contract with rules that Aaron willingly followed.
In response to the criticism, Estella Havisham clarified that she wasn’t a bully dictator, but a parent exercising her right to set rules, expectations, and consequences for her child.
So, what do you think? Do you believe Estella was too harsh on her son, or was she right to stand her ground and share her letter online? Feel free to share this article with your friends on Facebook if you believe in the importance of providing children with a proper education!”
